--- title: How does mapping a payment file works? description: When you upload your pay file for the first time in the Instant Back Office you will need to map your Instant pay file. --- [Skip to content](https://help.instant.co/how-does-mapping-a-payment-file#main-content) [![Layer\_1](https://help.instant.co/hubfs/Layer_1.svg)](https://www.instant.co/) - [For Employers ✚](https://www.instant.co/employers/) Show submenu for For Employers ✚ - [Retail](https://www.instant.co/retail-payroll-solutions/) - [Hospitality](https://www.instant.co/hospitality-payroll-solutions/) - [Restaurant & QSR](https://www.instant.co/restaurant-payroll-solutions/) - [Transportation Logistics](https://www.instant.co/transport-logistics-payroll-solutions/) - [Staffing Agencies](https://www.instant.co/staffing-agencies-payroll-solutions/) - [Employees](https://www.instant.co/employees/) - Products ✚ Show submenu for Products ✚ - [Instant Pay](https://www.instant.co/pay/) - [Instant Card](https://www.instant.co/card/) - [Instant Tips](https://www.instant.co/tips/) - [Financial Wellness](https://www.instant.co/financial-wellness/) - Resources ✚ Show submenu for Resources ✚ - [Instant Videos](https://www.instant.co/videos/) - [Case Studies](https://www.instant.co/casestudies/) - [Whitepapers](https://www.instant.co/whitepapers/) - [Blog](https://www.instant.co/blog/) - [Podcast](https://www.instant.co/instant-payments-podcast/) - [About](https://www.instant.co/about) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [For Employers ✚](https://www.instant.co/employers/) Show submenu for For Employers ✚ - [Retail](https://www.instant.co/retail-payroll-solutions/) - [Hospitality](https://www.instant.co/hospitality-payroll-solutions/) - [Restaurant & QSR](https://www.instant.co/restaurant-payroll-solutions/) - [Transportation Logistics](https://www.instant.co/transport-logistics-payroll-solutions/) - [Staffing Agencies](https://www.instant.co/staffing-agencies-payroll-solutions/) - [Employees](https://www.instant.co/employees/) - Products ✚ Show submenu for Products ✚ - [Instant Pay](https://www.instant.co/pay/) - [Instant Card](https://www.instant.co/card/) - [Instant Tips](https://www.instant.co/tips/) - [Financial Wellness](https://www.instant.co/financial-wellness/) - Resources ✚ Show submenu for Resources ✚ - [Instant Videos](https://www.instant.co/videos/) - [Case Studies](https://www.instant.co/casestudies/) - [Whitepapers](https://www.instant.co/whitepapers/) - [Blog](https://www.instant.co/blog/) - [Podcast](https://www.instant.co/instant-payments-podcast/) - [About](https://www.instant.co/about) - [Support](https://www.instant.co/contact/) [Support](https://www.instant.co/contact/) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Instant Financial Help Center](https://help.instant.co/?hsLang=en) 2. [Admins](https://help.instant.co/admins?hsLang=en) 3. [Payments](https://help.instant.co/admins?hsLang=en#payments) # How does mapping a payment file works? ## When you upload your pay file for the first time in the Instant Back Office you will need to map your Instant pay file. When uploading your pay file for the first time in Instant or new locations have been added, you may need to map the file to specify which columns contain what data. If you change the file format, it will require remapping. To map your pay file, carefully follow the on-screen instructions and select the corresponding checkbox for each field. The fields must be mapped in the following order: - **Employee ID** - **Location ID** (required for all files) - **Full Employee Name** (hit “skip and map next column” if your pay file contains first name, last name) - **First Name** - **Last Name** - **Net Payment Amount** (may have to scroll to see column) For more information on how to handle exceptions, check [this](https://help.instant.co/how-do-i-handle-exceptions-to-payroll?hsLang=en) FAQ   - [Card Holder](https://help.instant.co/card-holder?hsLang=en#main-content) - [My Card](https://help.instant.co/card-holder?hsLang=en#my-card) - [My Account](https://help.instant.co/card-holder?hsLang=en#my-account) - [Instant Pay](https://help.instant.co/card-holder?hsLang=en#instant-pay) - [Sending Money](https://help.instant.co/card-holder?hsLang=en#sending-money) - [Receiving Money](https://help.instant.co/card-holder?hsLang=en#receiving-money) - [My Account](https://help.instant.co/my-account?hsLang=en) - [Admins](https://help.instant.co/admins?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Managing Admins](https://help.instant.co/admins?hsLang=en#managing-admins) - [Payments](https://help.instant.co/admins?hsLang=en#payments) - [Back Office Access](https://help.instant.co/admins?hsLang=en#back-office-access) - [Funding/Accounting](https://help.instant.co/admins?hsLang=en#funding-accounting) - [People & Employees](https://help.instant.co/people-employees?hsLang=en) - [Reporting](https://help.instant.co/reporting?hsLang=en) - [Product Release Notes](https://help.instant.co/product-release-notes?hsLang=en) - [Back Office](https://help.instant.co/back-office?hsLang=en) - [For Employers ✚](https://www.instant.co/employers/) - [Retail](https://www.instant.co/retail-payroll-solutions/) - [Hospitality](https://www.instant.co/hospitality-payroll-solutions/) - [Restaurant & QSR](https://www.instant.co/restaurant-payroll-solutions/) - [Transportation Logistics](https://www.instant.co/transport-logistics-payroll-solutions/) - [Staffing Agencies](https://www.instant.co/staffing-agencies-payroll-solutions/) - [Employees](https://www.instant.co/employees/) - Products ✚ - [Instant Pay](https://www.instant.co/pay/) - [Instant Card](https://www.instant.co/card/) - [Instant Tips](https://www.instant.co/tips/) - [Financial Wellness](https://www.instant.co/financial-wellness/) - Resources ✚ - [Instant Videos](https://www.instant.co/videos/) - [Case Studies](https://www.instant.co/casestudies/) - [Whitepapers](https://www.instant.co/whitepapers/) - [Blog](https://www.instant.co/blog/) - [Podcast](https://www.instant.co/instant-payments-podcast/) - [About](https://www.instant.co/about) [![InstantMainLogo\_White](https://help.instant.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20Assets%202021/InstantMainLogo_White.png?width=350&height=131&name=InstantMainLogo_White.png "InstantMainLogo_White")](https://www.instant.co/) [![face](https://help.instant.co/hubfs/2026%20Icons/face.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/getinstant)[![lin](https://help.instant.co/hubfs/2026%20Icons/lin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/instant-financial)[![x](https://help.instant.co/hubfs/2026%20Icons/x.svg)](https://twitter.com/beinginstant)![inst](https://help.instant.co/hubfs/inst.svg)  | Copyright ©Instant Financial Inc 2026. 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