How to upload a payment

Uploading a file of your employee payments is a convenient option when you use Minnesota Child Support Online (MSCO). It is a time saving option, especially if you are submitting payments for at least 25 employees.

Select the 'Payroll management' tab to get started.

Set up new or select an existing payroll group:

select ‘Payroll groups’ submenu option
if setting up new, provide company contact information
if setting up new, enter bank account data

Upload a payment file:

select ‘Upload payment’ submenu option
select a payroll group
enter the Pay date for the payroll group
enter the Withdrawal date (the date it will be withdrawn) from your bank account
enter Total withholdings (the total amount of all records in the file)
select the File format you wish to upload
select the File to upload
select ‘Continue’ to upload the file

If needed, review identified errors and make corrections. Go back to step 2.

Receive confirmation of successful upload.

Once you receive confirmation, you can view your payments by navigating to the ‘Payment history’ page.

Employers have an opportunity to make additional updates or delete payment records until 6:00 PM CST, while the status on the ‘Payment history’ page is ‘Confirmed’.

File upload file formats

The following file types are supported:

.xls or .xlsx - Excel spreadsheet
.csv - comma separated values

All file formats must contain the following:

Required Field Order	Field Name	Field Length	Type/Format	Required Data	Notes
1	Last Name	30	Alpha	Yes	Mixed case allowed
2	First Name	30	Alpha	Yes	Mixed case allowed
3	Middle initial	1	Alpha	No	If no middle initial, a blank field must be present
4	Social Security Number	9	nnnnnnnnn	Yes	SSN must fit federal format Do not include dash (-) In Excel, all cells containing an SSN beginning with zero (0) must be formatted as Text
5	Withholding Amount	9	nnnnnn.nn	Yes	Commas (,) not allowed Dollar sign ($) not allowed If no decimal, will assume whole dollar amount Withholding Amount cannot exceed $500,000.00 Maximum of nine characters allowed which includes the decimal

NOTE: If the file contains error(s) no records will upload. A list displaying the specific row and corresponding error message will display. You can correct and re-submit the file.

Requirements for all file formats

Data fields must be in the correct order
All required fields must contain valid data
If a non-required field does not contain data, the field must be left blank
File cannot contain additional columns or data
Duplicate Social Security Numbers are not allowed
The Total withholdings amount entered on the Upload payment web page must equal the sum of all Withholding Amounts within the upload file
Field headers and totals are not allowed within the file
The sum of all individual payments cannot exceed $500,000.00
Maximum of 500 employee records allowed per file upload

Additional requirements and information specific to Excel (.xls or .xlsx)

Only records on the first sheet of a spreadsheet will upload. Records entered on subsequent sheets will not be processed
If an employee record does not have a Middle Initial, cell must remain empty
Cell formulas are not allowed
All cells containing a Social Security Number beginning with zero (0) must be formatted as Text
Cannot hide rows or columns

Example of .xls containing 4 employee records:

Benson	Ben	B	431123456	350.60
Danson	Dan	D	123456789	999.99
Ericson	Eric	e	411123456	575
Johnson	John		112233445	123456.15

Additional requirements and information specific to Comma Separated Values (.csv)

Data fields cannot contain commas. Commas may only be used to separate data fields within a record
If a record does not contain a Middle Initial, denote it with a double comma

Example of .csv containing 4 employee records:
Benson,Ben,B,431123456,350.60
Danson,Fred,D,123456789,999.99
Ericson,Eric,e,411123456,575
Johnson,John,,112233445,123456.15