You can import tax slip adjustments. You can also import external employees and create their tax slips using Avanti.
Important Information
Be sure to extract employee data before importing the adjustments. If you extract or re-extract after you’ve imported your tax slips, it will overwrite your imported information, and you’ll need to import them again.
To import employees who do not have an Employee Profile in Avanti, go to the How To Import Employees for Tax Slip Creation section below.
Do you already know how to import tax slips and are just looking for the import the file formats? Go to Tax Slip Import File Format for more information.
If you don’t need to import employee tax slip information, skip to the next step in the tax slip checklist, Review, Modify, and Add Employee Tax Slips.
Amount of Import Files Required
If you're importing for employees in different tax slip groups, you’ll need to create a separate import file for each tax slip group. Additionally, you’ll need to create an additional import file to replace some information and update Avanti’s other information.
For example, you’ll need to create two import files if you have employees that you need to update the information in Avanti for Box 20 and 52, but replace the pension plan number in box 50, you’ll need to create two import files for each tax slip group.
How to Setup the File
The columns at the beginning of the file contain the information to identify the employee, the tax slip, and the employee’s province of employment and can be found in the first three columns of the import file.
The remaining columns identify the tax slip boxes and box amount. You can include as many tax slip boxes as you wish for each employee by entering the tax slip box in the next column, then the tax slip amount in the column after that, etc.
When you import the tax slip information, you can include all tax slip boxes for an employee on a single row or have multiple rows for an employee. Just make sure the columns identifying the employee and tax slip form are on each row.
The box amounts imported will populate the employee’s tax slip data and adjust the related boxes on the tax slip. For example, if you’re importing box 40 for a T4, box 14 is also adjusted.
How to Identify the Employee and Tax Slip in the Import File
If you’re importing tax slips for employees with an Employee Profile in Avanti, this will identify the employee and the tax slip you’re importing.
If you’re importing tax slips for employees without an Employee Profile in Avanti, you’ll need to import the employees into Avanti, then complete this section. For more information on importing employees, go to the How To Import Employees for Tax Slip Creation section below.
Step 1: Open your tax slip import file or a new excel. If your import file isn’t a .xls or .xlsx file, please save it as an excel file.
Step 2: Adjust the file so tax slip type is in Column A. This identifies the type of tax slip you’re creating or adjusting. Enter one of the following:
T4
T4A
RL1
RL2
NR4
T4ARCA
Step 3: Adjust the file so Column B is the employee number.
Additional Information
If you allow alphanumeric employee numbers, you’ll need to ensure the employee number is nine characters and includes all the leading zeros.
Step 4: Adjust the file so Column C features the two-character abbreviation of the province for the tax slip.
You can find the province abbreviation in the Provincial Codes section below.
Congratulations! You’re all done adjusting the file to identify your employees and are ready to add the tax slip boxes. Go to
How to Update the Import File for T4, RL-1, or T4A-RCA Slips
Step 1: Adjust the file so the box number is in the next column.
Additional Information
Your tax slip information should be on the same row as the employee information added in the How to Identify The Employee in the Import File section above.
If creating T4 tax slips, don’t include boxes 12, 10, 28, 29, or 54; these populate based on employee or T4 group information.
Step 2: Adjust the file so the amount to populate the box is in the next column.
Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 & 2 for each box you’d like to import.
Additional Information
If a box is in the import file more than once, the total amount will import.
Congratulations! You’re all done creating the tax slip import file. Skip to the How to Import Your File section below.
How to Update the Import File For T4A Slips
Once you have the import file identifying your employees, it will guide you through adding the information for T4As.
Step 1: Adjust the file so the box number is in the next column.
Additional Information
Your tax slip information should be on the same row as the employee information added in the How To Identify The Employee in the Import File section above.
Don't include T4A boxes 12, 13, 14 or 61; these populate based on employee or T4A group information.
Step 2: Adjust the file so the amount is in the next column.
Additional Information
The amount populates the tax slip box specified in the column to its left.
Step 3: Adjust the file so the T4A Footnote code is in the next column.
Additional Information
Most T4A boxes don’t require a footnote. Leave this column blank if it isn’t required.
Step 4: Repeat Steps 1 - 3 for each tax slip box you’d like to import.
Additional Information
If a T4A box is in the import file more than once, the total amount will import.
Congratulations! You’re all done creating the tax slip import file. Skip to the How To Import Your File section below.
How to Update the Import File for RL-2 Slips
Once you have the import file identifying your employees, it will guide you through adding the information for RL-2.
Step 1: Adjust the file so the Income Source is in the next column.
Additional Information
Your tax slip information should be on the same row as the employee information added in the How to Identify The Employee in the Import File section above.
Step 2: Adjust the file so the RL-2 Box is in the next column.
For example, enter C-4c if you’re importing Payments Received Under a Disability Pension.
Step 3: Adjust the file so the Box Amount is in the next column.
Additional Information
The amount populates the tax slip box specified in the column to its left.
Step 4: Repeat Steps 1 - 3 for each tax slip box you’d like to import.
Additional Information
If an RL-2 box is in the import file more than once, the total amount will import.
Congratulations! You’re all done creating the tax slip import file. Skip to the How to Import Your File section below.
How to Update the Import File for NR4 Slips
Step 1: Adjust the file so the next column is the Country Code (Box 12).
Additional Information
Your tax slip information should be on the same row as the employee information added in the How to Identify the Employee in the Import File section above.
Step 2: Adjust the file so the next column is the Income (Box 14).
Step 3: Adjust the file so the next column is the Currency Code (Box 15).
Additional Information
Go to CRA guide T4061 for valid currency codes.
Step 4: Adjust the file so the next column is the Gross Income (Box 16).
Step 5: Adjust the file so the next column is the NR Tax Withheld (Box 17).
Step 6: Adjust the file so the next column is the Exemption Code (Box 18).
Additional Information
Go to CRA guide T4061 for valid exemption codes.
Step 7: If you need to add line 2 for the employee’s NR4, repeat steps 1-6.
Congratulations! You’re all done creating the tax slip import file.
How to Import Your File
You can import employee tax slip information or import employees not paid in Avanti by following the guidelines below.
Important Information
Be sure to extract your employee data before importing your adjustments. If you extract or re-extract after importing, it will overwrite the imported information, and you’ll need to import again.
Step 1: Open Import External Tax Slip Data in the Avanti Desktop Application.
By default, this can be found in Canadian Payroll >> Tax Slip Processing.
Step 2: Select 2022 in the Tax Year, if not already selected.
Step 3: Select the correct group in the Tax Slip Group.
Step 4: Select if you would like to import the File from My PC or OneDrive.
Step 5: Select the arrow to the right of the Import File.
Step 6: Navigate to the location of the file you created and select the file. Then select Open.
Additional information
If you are importing a CSV file, you'll need to change the file type to CSV files (*.csv) for the file to be visible.