Submitting Contributions via Secure File Transfer Protocol - Sftp - Employer accounts

In this demo, we'll show you how to submit contributions using secure file transfer or SFTP. This is useful for uploading large CSV or XML files, as there's no limit to file size. You may want to use SFTP if you intend to automate your process. You'll also have the option to collect return files from NEST via SFTP. SFTP should only be used by employers who are comfortable with using the technology. You can refer to the How to set up and use file transfer protocol guide on our website. To connect to our server and transfer files using SFTP, you'll need SFTP client software. To set up SFTP both you and NEST must generate public and private keys and then exchange public keys with each other. There's more detail on the process of setting up SFTP on our website. Once you've set up your SFTP account and prepared your CSV or XML file you're ready to transfer it to NEST. You'll need to follow the instructions from your SFTP software to send the file. To help with the quality of your files, use our CSV templates and XSD schemas. You'll find technical information in our Employer payroll guide. NEST then processes your file. The time this takes depends on the number of member records included in the file and the time of day we receive it. If your file is received before 6 pm and contains fewer than 1000 workers, it will be processed within 2 hours or overnight for files with more than 1000. NEST checks the file to ensure that the file is in the correct format and structure, for example, whether it is an XML or a CSV file plus it has header, detail and trailer sections. We then check that the mandatory data fields are completed such as the Employer Reference Number. The next step is data validation of the members you have supplied data for. For example, do the level of contributions tie in with earnings information supplied and the group settings? Members' records will be marked as valid or invalid. Invalid records are caused by things like contributions differing from the expected levels or a zero contribution amount that isn't explained by a reason code. We check that we recognise all the members on the file. If we do not recognise a member, for example if the National Insurance number isn't right, you'll get an error. You need to correct all invalid records and errors before you can make a payment for those members. If you've asked to receive return files, NEST then produces a successful contributions file telling you that the schedule has been successfully processed. This will be in the contribution schedules outbox subfolder, as will all files we produce for this process. Log into the NEST file gateway using your SFTP client and collect the successful contributions file. If there are invalid records or errors you'll receive an unsuccessful contributions file containing records that need fixing plus a contributions error log detailing the errors for you to check. You can fix and resubmit your schedule data in the corrected contributions error file or you can fix errors and invalid records one-by-one online by opening the contribution schedule on screen and correcting the individual member records. Refer to our separate demo Submit your contributions manually. Once you're happy with your contribution schedule and you have resolved any errors, you can submit the schedule for payment by transferring the payment submission file back to NEST. Remember to do this or submit the contribution schedule online so that the payment reaches us by the legal due date. A payment submission file is the successful contributions file with the process payment flag field in the header changed from P to A. No other details should be changed. NEST will check this file to ensure that all the member details submitted in the contribution schedule are correct and haven't changed since the initial file was submitted. Otherwise, we'll create a payment submission error file. A payment submission outcome file will include the total amount to be paid, payment reference (direct credit only) and how many records are invalid. If paying by direct credit or debit card you'll need to ensure we receive your payment before the legal due date. You'll also need to make sure you pay exactly the right amount and for direct credit include the correct reference number. If you pay by Direct Debit, we'll automatically take the exact amount stated in the payment submission outcome file you accepted before. If there is a problem with a payment we'll tell you. This could be because you have not paid the exact amount expected or used the wrong payment reference. You'll need to correct this and pay again in time to avoid a late payment. If anyone has opted out after you've submitted the contribution schedule we'll let you know in the opt-out file, so you know how much to refund. And we'll refund any money due to you as well. To find out how to submit contributions manually or by file upload, please visit our website.