Answer
The Xero export wizard lets you submit your pay run as a manual journal entry directly to Xero from the online (web/mobile) app. This feature requires the Accounting Integration Add-On. See What Is the Accounting Integration Add-On? for pricing details.
Starting the Export
Navigate to the Pays screen, then click the Reports button and select Xero Export from the menu.
If you do not have the Accounting Integration Add-On, you will see an Upgrade required notice with an option to add the add-on to your subscription.
Logging In to Xero
The first step of the wizard is the login step. If you have already authorised Xero for this company, Lightning Payroll will automatically detect your existing token and advance past this step. If no valid token is found, the app will redirect your browser to Xero for authorisation. Follow the prompts to log in and grant access.
Once you return to Lightning Payroll, click Check For Token if prompted to confirm the login completed successfully.
First-Time Setup: Default Account Codes
On your first submission for a company, you will be asked whether to use the basic Xero default account codes. If you accept, Lightning Payroll pre-fills your GL codes with the standard Xero chart of accounts. You can review or change these codes at any time under Company >> GL Codes.
Selecting Pays to Export
The Select Pays To Export To Xero screen lists all pays for the current pay run. Tick the pays you want to include. Pays that have already been exported to Xero are shown in red ÔÇö only re-export these if the original submission failed or if you have voided the journal in Xero under Manual Journals.
Use the Show pays already submitted to Xero? toggle to show or hide previously exported pays.
Reviewing the Journal
The Review Pay Run Before Export screen shows the total debit and credit entries that will be submitted. Review the amounts carefully. You can also select which Xero organisation (tenant) to submit to using the tenant selector ÔÇö use Add Another Company/Tenant Connection if you need to connect a different Xero organisation, or Disconnect to remove one.
Tick Submit as Draft Only? if you want the journal created as a draft in Xero so you can review it before posting. When you are ready, click Submit To Xero.
Submission Result
If the submission succeeds, you will see a Xero journal submitted successfully confirmation. Any errors or warnings returned by Xero will be displayed on this screen. Warnings do not block submission; errors must be resolved before the journal can be posted.
Summary and PDF Report
After a successful submission, the Summary screen shows the status, submission date, tenant name, and pay run details. Use the Print/Preview button to download a PDF record of the submission.
Correcting a Mistake
If you need to correct a submitted journal, you can resubmit the affected pays ÔÇö they will appear in red on the pay selection screen. You must also void the original journal entry in Xero by going to Accounting >> Reports >> Journal Report in Xero and clicking Go to manual journals.
Viewing Submission History
To review past Xero submissions, go to Reports and open the Xero Submissions report.
For full details on GL account codes, department tracking, and bank transaction exports, see How Can I Send Data To Xero From Lightning Payroll?
