Import File Format
Acceptable characters in CRA XML submissions
Columns and rows containing “NULL” in their first cell will not be imported.
Cell A1 of the import file must contain an indicator for the type of data being imported. For example, when entering T4 data, Cell A1 MUST contain “T4”, and when entering Relevé 1 data, Cell A1 MUST contain “R1”.
The Column Headings in the tables that follow are used by AvanTax Filing Services to identify the information in the column so that it can be imported into the correct fields in the resulting data file.
If you wish to include your own data in any row or column of the import file, but do not want AvanTax Filing Services to import that data, enter “NULL” into the first cell of that row or column. AvanTax Filing Services will not import information from any row or column with the word “NULL” in its first cell.
Where applicable, default data that will be used if a field is empty (or not represented in the import file); these values are listed in the Comments & Examples column in bold print. The various formats used are described below:
- Text - Text fields may contain letters, numbers, spaces and punctuation. In some cases, they must be in upper case (such as Province, Postal and Country codes); otherwise, mixed case is acceptable.
- X, Yes, Blank, No - X, Yes, Blank, No fields contain logical data and consist of “Y”, “1”, “Yes” or “X” for “Yes”; “N”, “0”, “No” or leave the field blank for “No.”
- Currency - Currency fields contain dollar amounts and are formatted either in dollars and cents or in dollars only. If no decimal value is entered a whole dollar amount will be assumed.
- Numeric - Numeric fields may only contain numbers; either integer or decimal. The number of decimal places will be specified if applicable.