Answer
The quickest and most accurate way to make bulk payments through Lightning Payroll is by using a Direct Entry (.ABA) file.
These files can be generated for pays and for super and then uploaded to most Australian banks, resulting in an automated, batch funds transfer. This means you can pay multiple employees at once, or multiple super funds at once.
Pays Direct Entry
In the desktop app: go to Pays >> Direct Entry.
In the online (web/mobile) app: go to Pays >> Direct Entry >> This Pay Run (for the current pay run) or Pays >> Direct Entry >> Multiple Pay Runs (to combine several pay runs into one file).
You can choose the file format (ABA or ISO 20022 pain.001) under Company >> Direct Entry in the desktop app, or Company >> Direct Entry Settings in the online (web/mobile) app. If you pay from a CommBank account and the run pays the same account twice, the save step of the wizard shows a Split into separate files when an account is paid twice tickbox (ticked by default), in which case the run is written as several files that must all be uploaded to your bank.
Super Direct Entry
To create a direct entry file for Super, click the Direct Entry button after sending SuperStream messages within:
- Super Fund Deposits >> Superstream Contribution >> Superstream Summary
- Super Fund Deposits >> Create Deposits >> Superstream Summary
- Super Fund Deposits >> Superstream Mailbox >> Direct Entry (at the bottom) - use this to recreate a super direct entry file at a later time.
If you need to regenerate a Direct Entry file, see: How Do I Regenerate an ABA Direct Entry File for Banking Upload?
Paying Each Super Fund
Each super fund is paid as its own separate payment, using the reference generated for that fund. Do not combine the funds into a single lump-sum transfer, and do not just pay the total shown at the bottom of the summary as one payment.
The simplest and most reliable method is to upload the generated Direct Entry (.ABA) file to your internet banking. The bank then pays each fund the correct amount with the correct reference automatically.
If you pay a fund manually instead, use that fund's ABA Reference exactly as shown (an 18-digit number) and do not change or shorten it. Super funds match each payment to its SuperStream message using this reference, so a single lump-sum payment, or an altered reference, can leave the money unallocated.
Uploading to Your Bank
Your bank can guide you through importing a direct entry file. Below are links to instructions for common Australian banks. These links may change over time - contact your financial institution for the most up-to-date guidance.
NAB Connect Instructions - (1300 888 413)
Westpac Instructions - (1300 655 505)
CBA CommBiz Instructions - (13 23 39)
ANZ Instructions - (13 33 50)
User ID / APCA Code
When creating a payment file you may be prompted for a User ID / APCA Code.
In the desktop app: this is stored under Company >> Bank Account >> User ID / APCA Code.
In the online (web/mobile) app: this is stored under Company >> Bank Accounts >> User ID / APCA Code.
This is always a six-digit number. For most major banks (ANZ, Westpac, NAB) it is six zeroes (000000). For CBA it is 301500. For any other financial institution, contact them and ask for the Direct Entry User ID or APCA ID. See also: What is a Direct Entry User ID?
