Qatar accounts: Wages Protection System payment file changes

From 4 April, we recommend your WPS payment files submitted using File Upload or HSBC Connect match the WPS V1 file specifications.

This change impacts the following payment file formats submitted using Instruction Level Authorisation (ILA) or File Level Authorisation (FLA): SIF, iFile, and XML v3

Please note: The examples below are provided for the purposes of demonstrating the changes and they may not exactly match your payment files. The following changes only apply to the WPS V1 file format specifications.

1. Salary Information File (SIF)

Input field to add notes / comments	Description
SIF Header – 11th position in Row 3 – SIF Version	Mandatory. A two digit numeric value ‘01’
SIF Records – 15th position in Row 5 - Notes / Comments	Mandatory if deduction amount is greater than zero and Deduction reason code is ‘99’ (Other Reasons).
SIF Records – 16th position in Row 5 – Housing Allowance SIF Records – 17th position in Row 5 – Food Allowance SIF SIF Records – 18th position in Row 5 – Transportation Allowance SIF Records – 19th position in Row 5 – Overtime Allowance	All allowance to be specified in Qatari Riyals. In case allowance is not applied, zero (0) value should be reported
SIF Records – 20th position in Row 5 – Deduction Reason Code	New ‘Deduction Reason Code’ introduced. The 2 digit code is mandatory if deduction amount is more than zero (0). 01 - Deductions related to working hours 02 - Deductions related to the work arrangements 03 - Deductions related to harm or damage 04 - Deductions related to advances payment 99 - Other Reasons

2. iFile

Input field to add notes / comments	Description
New file structure will be as follows: IFILE – File Header record BATHDR – Batch record with Remitter details SECPTY – Second party record with Employee details. WPSQA – WPS record with employee payroll details.	New Record type WPSQA is introduced to capture all WPS related information. Please contact your local Client Services representative for details of new iFile specification and sample files.

Input field to add notes / comments

Description

New file structure will be as follows:

IFILE – File Header record
BATHDR – Batch record with Remitter details
SECPTY – Second party record with Employee details.
WPSQA – WPS record with employee payroll details.

New Record type WPSQA is introduced to capture all WPS related information.

Please contact your local Client Services representative for details of new iFile specification and sample files.

3. XML v3

Input field to add notes / comments	Description
<RgltryRptg> <RgltryDtls> <Cd>NET</Cd> <Amt> <Inf>/NTS/XXXXXXXXXX</Inf> <Inf>/DRC/99</Inf>.	Notes information /NTS/xxxxxxxxxxxx – Conditional value - To be provided if there is any salary deduction and the deduction reason code is 99 (‘Other Reasons’). The note includes justification for any divergence in the payments and up to 300 characters supported (max. 150 characters for ILA files) split with 30 characters under multiple occurrence.
<RgltryRptg> <RgltryDtls> <Cd>HSG</Cd> <Amt> <Inf>/NTS/XXXXXXXXXX</Inf> <Inf>/DRC/99</Inf>	Mandatory if deduction amount is greater than zero and Deduction reason code is ‘99’ (Other Reasons).
<RgltryRptg> <Dtls> <Cd>XXX</Cd> <Amt Ccy="QAR">2.00</Amt> </Dtls>	Four new mandatory allowance codes to be added under Regulatory Reporting Details tags: HSG – Housing Allowance OTH – Food Allowance CON – Transportation Allowance OVT – Overtime Allowance

Note: when using the deduction reason code ‘99’, you must include additional information in the Notes/Comments field in your payment files.