This guide lists the most common STP errors. So you can quickly find the error you're experiencing and follow the recommended solution.

💡 Tip: Use Ctrl + F on Windows or ⌘ + F on Mac to search for your error code.

Before you start

When an STP submission fails:

Open the affected Pay Run in Payroo.
Review the STP submission error.
Copy the ATO error code.
Search for the error code in this article.
Follow the recommended solution.
Once the issue is corrected, revert, republish, and refile the pay run as instructed.

⚠️ Important: Don't create another pay run just because an STP submission has failed. In most cases, you should correct the existing pay run and resubmit it.

Error code	What does it mean?	How to fix it?
`CMN.ATO.GEN.XML03`	General XML validation error. The ATO has rejected one or more values in the STP file because they don't meet the required format.Common causes include unsupported characters in employee names or addresses, invalid phone numbers, branch numbers containing leading zeros, pay amounts with more than two decimal places, or unsupported characters in allowance notes.	👤 Employee address, phone number or name Go to Employees → Select Employee → Personal Information & Contact Information. Check the employee's address, phone number, and name. Remove unsupported characters and make sure the information is entered correctly. 🏢 Branch ID Go to Settings → General → Business Details → Branch ID Check the Branch ID. If required, update the Branch ID and select Save. 💵 Allowance notes Open the affected Pay Run. Under Employee Pay Details → Allowances, check the allowance notes/description. Remove unsupported special characters and save the pay run. 💰 Pay amounts Check the affected pay run for amounts with more than 2 decimal places and correct them where required. After correcting the relevant information, revert → republish → File Now to resubmit the STP.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM98452`	ABN is not active. The ATO cannot process the STP submission because the business ABN is not currently active.	🔎 Check the business ABN status with the Australian Business Register and ensure the ABN is active before submitting STP. Once active, revert → republish → refile the pay run. 🔗 Check your ABN status
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM41469`	The submission being replaced cannot be found by the ATO. The original submission may never have reached the ATO.	🔄 The submission needs to be lodged as a new submission rather than a replacement. Pay Run → Click on the green arrow → Revert Pay Run to Draft → Publish → File Now.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM41432`	The file being replaced has already been replaced. The ATO has already received a later replacement.	🆘 Contact Support so we can check the submission history and determine the correct submission to lodge. Don't create another pay run while this is being investigated.
`CMN.ATO.GEN.500164`	Invalid Withholding Payer Number (WPN). The WPN failed the ATO's validation. This may occur when the business should be lodging with an ABN instead.	⚙️ Go to Settings → General → Business Details. Check the WPN and confirm whether the business should lodge using an ABN instead. 🆘 Contact Support if you're unsure which number should be used.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNTEMP.000282`	The employee's cessation date is before the commencement date.	🆘 Contact Support with employee details to correct the dates, then revert → republish → refile.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM14160`	Multiple submissions were found to replace.The ATO cannot determine which previous submission should be replaced.	🆘 Contact Support. Do not repeatedly submit the pay run, as this can create additional duplicate submissions.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNTEMP.000358`	Country code is missing. The employee has an income stream such as `FEI`, `WHM` or `IAA`, which requires a country code.	👤 Go to Employees → select the employee → Taxes→Tax Details→ Add country of origin to the employee's record. Save the employee, then revert → republish → refile the pay run.
`CMN.ATO.GEN.200012`	Invalid Withholding Payer Number (WPN). The WPN failed the ATO checksum validation.	⚙️ Go to Settings → General → Business Details Check the WPN and confirm whether the business should lodge using an ABN instead. 🆘 Contact Support to update the changes
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNTEMP.000277`	Non-employee information is inconsistent. Employment Basis `N` (non-employee) has been reported with information that is only valid for employees.	👤 Go to Employees → select the employee → Taxes → Employment details.Check the Employment Basis. If the person is an employee, update the employment basis accordingly. Then revert → republish → refile.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM92169`	Submission is more than 5 years old. The ATO does not accept STP amendments for submissions outside the five-year amendment window.	🏛️ Contact the ATO directly to determine how the correction should be made.This type of correction cannot be resolved by repeatedly resubmitting the Payroo pay run.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNTEMP.000271`	Invalid employee commencement date. The commencement date is before 1 January 1950 or is otherwise invalid.	👤 Go to Employees → select the employee → Taxes → Employment details.Check the Joining Date and enter a valid commencement date on or after 1 January 1950. Then revert → republish → refile.
`SBR.GEN.FAULT.SERVICEACTIONDENIED`	ATO/SBR service rejected the request. This can be a temporary ATO/SBR service issue or an authorisation/service configuration issue.	🔄 Wait a few minutes and try again. Then revert → republish → refile. If the error continues, 🆘 contact Payroo Support.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNTEMP.000389`	Employee YTD gross has become negative.This can occur when a reversal or adjustment is greater than the amount previously reported.	📊 Review the employee's recent pay runs, reversals and adjustments.Check for negative earnings or deductions that have caused the YTD gross to fall below zero.If you're unsure how to correct the YTD values, 🆘 Contact Support before making further adjustments.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNTEMP.000253`	Invalid tax treatment code.The employee's tax settings have produced a tax treatment code that isn't recognised by the ATO.	Review the employee's tax declaration and check the tax residency, tax-free threshold, and study/training loan settings. 👤 Go to Employees → select the employee → Taxes →Tax Details & Other criteria. Correct the employee's tax settings, then revert → republish → refile.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM41551`	BMS ID does not match the ATO record. The Business Management Software ID submitted doesn't match the ID held by the ATO.	🆘 Contact Support. We'll check the BMS ID recorded for the business and determine the correct configuration.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM92172`	Submission ID has already been used. The ATO already has a submission with the same submission ID.	⚠️ Don't repeatedly submit the pay run. 🆘 Contact Support so we can check whether the ATO has already received the submission and determine whether a correction is required.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM92166`	The branch number is incorrect. The branch number doesn't match a branch registered against the business ABN.	⚙️ Go to Settings → General → Branch ID. Check and correct the Branch ID. Save the change, then revert → republish → refile the pay run.
`SBR.GEN.FAULT.GENERALERRORINCORE`	Temporary SBR Core Services error.The issue occurred within the ATO's SBR Core Services rather than because of the payroll data.	🔄 Wait a few minutes and try again. Revert → republish → refile the pay run.If the error continues, 🆘 Contact Support.
`SBR.GEN.FAULT.AGENCYNOTRESPONDING`	ATO did not respond within the required time. The ATO service was reached, but no response was received within the required timeframe.	🔄 Wait a few minutes and try again. Revert → republish → refile the pay run.If it continues, 🆘 Contact Support.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNTEMP.000034`	Invalid Australian postcode. The postcode is outside the valid Australian range of `0200–9999`.	Check the employee's address and postcode.Enter a valid Australian postcode between `0200` and `9999`. 👤 Go to Employees → select the employee → Taxes → Profile → Contact Information → Code. Save the employee, then revert → republish → refile.
`CMN.ATO.PAYEVNT.EM99507`	Previous BMS ID cannot be found . The Previous BMS ID provided during a payroll system transition doesn't match the ATO's records.	🔄 Check the Previous BMS ID used during migration ⚙️ Go to Settings → ATO → Opening Balances → Business Management Software (BMS ID). If you're unsure which ID should be used 🆘 Contact Support before submitting again.
`CMN.ATO.GEN.ILLFORMEDDOCUMENT`	Invalid XML document . The STP file isn't well-formed XML and was rejected before normal business validation.	🆘 Contact Support. Provide the business name, pay run details, error code, and screenshot of the error so the file can be investigated.
`CMN.ATO.AUTH.008`	🔐 You are not authorised to lodge STP for this business. Your ATO agent authorisation doesn't cover STP lodgements for the client.	🏛️ Check the client's authorisation in ATO Online Services for Agents. Make sure the client is linked to your practice and your agent authorisation covers STP. Once authorisation is confirmed, try the submission again.