How to add or import benefits

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Overview
• FBT import template
  • Important note
  • Download FBT import template
  • Template guidelines
• Import benefits
• Manually add benefits
• Non-attributed benefits
• Troubleshooting
  • Your data isn't in a format we recognise
• What's next?

Overview

Benefit data can be imported using the FBT import template, or entered manually. When importing benefits it is important to ensure they are allocated to the right employees or pools.

The FBT import template is an Excel file, used to import an entity's benefits, vehicles, drivers, and employee data into TaxLab. It outlines the required structure and formatting to ensure the data is correctly imported.

FBT import template

Important note

• This template is a reference guide for preparing your source data, and should not be used for direct FBT data entry into TaxLab.
• Only specific columns are required for importing:
  • employee_id
  • description
  • asset_id
  • days_available_for_private_use
• Additional columns can be used to include any other information required for the benefits.
• Make sure to complete and import only the columns necessary for the calculation

Download FBT import template

1. Navigate to the Workpapers tab within the entity’s FBT calculation and select Benefits.
2. On the Benefits page, select the Import button.
3. In the Import Benefits pop up window, select Download Import Template.

Keep in mind, the template can be downloaded from any Import window within the FBT software.

Template guidelines

The template provided ensures the data is formatted correctly for import. It includes the following:

• Accepted column headings for the import.
• Examples showing the correct data format.
• Indicators showing whether a field is required or optional. Some fields are essential for calculations, while others can be included for reference or reporting.
• Descriptions of each data item.

To prepare data for import, follow these steps:

• Open the source data alongside the TaxLab template.
• Copy the Required column headings from the TaxLab template and paste them into the corresponding columns in tje source data, replacing any existing headings.

Import benefits

1. In Microsoft Excel, prepare the source data to meet the requirements of the template.
2. Select and copy the data (including the column headings).
3. In Taxlab, In the entity’s FBT calculation, select Workpapers > Benefits.
4. On the Benefits page, select the relevant Quarter tab.
5. Select Import.
6. Select the box and paste the data.
7. Select Import.

If the import is successful, a message displays in a green banner stating the number of records that were imported. Select the Close button.

It's recommended to check the imported data to ensure it is as expected.

Manually add benefits

1. On the Benefits page, select the relevant Quarter.
2. Select the benefit category that for the new Benefit.
3. Select New.
4. In the Search box, type the name of the employee receiving the benefit, then select the employee from the drop down list.
5. Enter the benefit amount and any other details.
6. Select Save.

Non-attributed benefits

To import non-attributed benefits, use one of the following as the ‘Employee ID’:

• For non-attributed benefits provided to major shareholder-employees, use ‘Shareholder Pool’ or ‘POOL1’.
• For non-attributed benefits provided to employees, use ‘Employee Pool’ or ‘POOL2’.  

Troubleshooting

Your data isn't in a format we recognise

• Check headers match the TaxLab FBT import template
• Check data in each field matches the relating header
  e.g. if the import is for vehicles and the Header field is Make > Data in that cell needs to be Ford etc.
• Character limits have not been exceeded in any cells
  50 character limit for
  employee_id, membership_number, asset_id, make, cost_centre