The WPS file template above is a table where you enter each employee's ID number, IBAN and pay components: every IBAN and ID number is checked, and net pay and the total transfer are calculated. Then download the file as TXT, CSV or Excel and arrange its columns in the order your bank or the Mudad platform asks for.
Net = basic + housing + other allowances − deductions. The example has seven employees and a total transfer of SAR 42,250.00, with one highlighted row because its IBAN has 23 characters instead of 24.
What a WPS file is and what it does
A WPS file (wage protection file) is a monthly list of each employee's pay, ID number and IBAN that a company uploads to show that wages were paid in full and on time. The Wage Protection System in Saudi Arabia is run by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and private-sector companies were brought into it in phases set by the Ministry. Mudad is one of the channels for uploading the file and sets the upload template and its required columns, while some banks ask for a plain TXT file with their own column order.
How to prepare a WPS TXT file
- Copy names, ID or Iqama numbers and IBANs from your employee records, and wages from the month's approved payroll in Excel or your system.
- Fix every highlighted row; hover over the red cell to see the reason.
- Match the total transfer against net pay on the payroll. Any difference means a missing employee or an unrecorded deduction.
- Download the file as TXT: eight comma-separated columns in UTF-8 encoding, so names keep their characters.
- Arrange the columns to your bank's guide or the platform template, upload it, and tick the items on the Before you upload tab.
| Column | What you enter |
|---|---|
| National ID or Iqama no. | Ten digits: a national ID starts with 1 and an Iqama with 2. |
| IBAN | 24 characters with no spaces: SA, two check digits, then 20 digits. |
| Basic and housing | As in the registered contract, because the platform compares what is paid with the registered wage. |
| Deductions | Absence, loan instalments and penalties, with the reason in the Note column in Advanced mode. |
WPS upload errors and how to avoid them
- An IBAN with spaces, a letter O instead of a zero, or a missing digit. The table checks the length and the MOD-97 check digits, as in Anil Kumar's row in the example; correct it from the IBAN certificate.
- An ID number with nine digits or starting with something other than 1 or 2. The check is on format only, so compare it with the ID itself.
- A comma inside a name breaks the columns of a text file. The downloaded file wraps such a name in quotation marks.
- Net pay that does not match the payroll, or a leaver still on the list. Match the total before you download.
- A basic wage that differs from the registered contract, or salary paid into a relative's account.
WPS PDF form vs the TXT file
The TXT or CSV file is what actually gets uploaded once its columns are arranged. The PDF is for internal review and approval: the accountant and the HR manager sign it, and it is filed with the month's payroll and the transfer advice, but it is never uploaded. The Excel file keeps the net pay formula and totals so you can edit it next month.
Regulatory notes
Upload deadlines, required compliance rates and penalties change by Ministry decision; check the latest from the Ministry and Mudad [verify]. The column order and file type are set by the platform and the bank, and this page does not claim to match them. The IBAN check here follows ISO 13616 for format and check digits and does not contact any bank.
When preparing the wage file becomes a monthly chore
Microtec accounting software brings sales, purchasing, inventory and finance together, with an HR module, so employee records and pay stay in one place.
WPS file FAQ
When is the WPS file uploaded?
Every month after salaries are paid, within the window set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Mudad. The window changes by decision, so check it on the platform rather than relying on a figure copied from elsewhere.
Do I upload one file a month or more?
One file is enough when all salaries are paid from one account. If they are paid from more than one bank or for more than one establishment, prepare a file for each group as the platform and the bank require.
How do I fix a rejected WPS file?
Read the rejection reason, correct the row in the table above until it is no longer highlighted, then download the file again and upload it. Do not edit the text file by hand, or its columns may break.
Does the WPS TXT format differ between banks?
Yes. Each bank may use its own column order, separator and header line. The downloaded file has fixed columns that you rearrange to your bank's guide and then save.
How does the WPS file relate to payroll?
Payroll is an internal sheet with every allowance, deduction and GOSI line; the WPS file holds the transfer data that gets uploaded. Net pay in both must match, so build the file from the approved payroll.