STP error from ATO - An unexpected error occurred. Please try again


Hi Brain Trusts
has anyone received this error message for the ATO when submitting the STP? Its not being very helpful. I have checked new employees and a new payroll item for set up.
Answers
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Hi Karren
re created and relodged 4 times and still not working.😔
Usually I can work out what employee it is by the codes but as there are no codes to the error it is making life very difficult.
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As far as I am aware there was 1 new employee, who has an ' in his name. Is this an allowable character?
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Could you please try removing the apostrophe (’) from the employee's name and then resubmit?
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Hi Karren
last successfull lodgement was on the 14.08.25
Yes there was 1 new employee and 1 new payroll item. I have check both the setup. the new employee does have a ' in his name. However I would expect there to be codes in the error message to say this isnt acceptable character.
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Yes, we are having the same issue! I have been trying since Wednesday.
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Wouldnt taking out the ' set up an incorrect profile at the ATO?
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Hi @ShelleyG,
At the moment, there doesn't appear to be any system maintenance ongoing with ATO. However, since we do not have specific details, we will need to review any changes made since the last successful submission in order to identify the potential causes of the issues.
Best regards,
Karren
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Hi, yes, exactly the same. And I have been on the phone to Reckon numerous times. We have tried many different things, and our accountant has also tried to lodge with no luck.
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We have tried to lodge 15 times since Wednesday, resulting in this same error.
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Hi @KelseyAWMA and @ShelleyG,
I am sorry you have to go through that.
I will further investigate this matter and provide an update shortly.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Karren
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Hello @klaura - Do you have a time frame for this investigation? We urgently need to lodge this STP this morning.
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Hi Folks,
I will escalate this matter to the development team. Although I do not have an estimated timeframe at the moment, I will provide you with an update as soon as I receive any new information.
Additionally, I have sent you a private message to gather further details.
Bes regards,
Karren
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I would blame the ATO and wait a day or 2 if you have checked everything at your end. Sometimes I can’t even login to the business portal. Whilst lodging STP should be done weekly sometimes that just can’t happen for various reasons, it will throw out the prefill figures on the BAS or IAS, but they can be overwritten.
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Has been a week between submissions and no luck with solving the error
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oh ok I understand your frustrations, hope it’s sorted soon
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Maybe check with the ATO on whether any of these submissions actually did go through. Sometimes I've noticed they do even though they say it hasn't.
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We have checked and it definitely hasn't unfortunately.
We have also tried to call the ATO for assistance, but they refer you to their online assistant - they don't take phone calls.
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This error appears to be related to the payroll data configuration/format (although it does normally give some idea as to the specific issue(s) so you know where to look ! 🤦♀️)
Consider what's occurred since your last successful submission - I suspect it will be related to a new Payroll Item / Employee (or change(s) to an existing one) or editing of Company Information.
Shaz Hughes Dip(Fin) ACQ NSW, MICB
*** Reckon Accredited Partner (AP) Bookkeeper - specialising EXCLUSIVELY in Reckon Accounts / Hosted ! *** Bookkeeping & 1-on-1 customised software Training/Troubleshooting ***
* Regd BAS Agent (No: 92314 015)* ICB-Certified Bookkeeper* Snr Seasonal Tax Consultant since 2003 *
Accounted 4 Bookkeeping Services
Ballajura, WA
(NB: Please give my post a Like or mark as Accepted Answer if I have been able to resolve your query as this helps others when seeking solutions!)
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I found this on the ATO community chat. It looks like apostrophes are acceptable for STP lodgments.
It's important to distinguish between:
- Characters permitted in the product field. Yes, apostrophe is of course acceptable
- Characters permitted to be included in the surname field in the pay event report. Note: ATO absolutely does accept apostrophe for STP/STP2. Characters they accept: 0-9 a-z A-Z . , ? ( ) { } : ; ' | - _ = \ / @ # $ % & " as per the technical document defining field requirements (PAYEVNTEMP.[Removed by moderator] MST)
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@ShelleyG I would never rely on any “advice“ on the ATO Community forum as the moderators/staff on there are just admin (eg not qualified in accounting/payroll/tax) 😳
Having said that, some of that info is accurate … But contextual.
Yes, the ATO does accept other non-alphanumeric characters … providing they are the relevant format for that label!
For instance - An apostrophe in a name field is fine (some people do have a name that contains an apostrophe) …
BUT … it would generate an error if it’s in a phone number field, as apostrophes are not typical phone number format 😬
Shaz Hughes Dip(Fin) ACQ NSW, MICB
*** Reckon Accredited Partner (AP) Bookkeeper - specialising EXCLUSIVELY in Reckon Accounts / Hosted ! *** Bookkeeping & 1-on-1 customised software Training/Troubleshooting ***
* Regd BAS Agent (No: 92314 015)* ICB-Certified Bookkeeper* Snr Seasonal Tax Consultant since 2003 *
Accounted 4 Bookkeeping Services
Ballajura, WA
(NB: Please give my post a Like or mark as Accepted Answer if I have been able to resolve your query as this helps others when seeking solutions!)
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@Acctd4 @ShelleyG We had a new employee for the week - we removed them from the file and it still wouldn't lodge. We changed the branch number in our company information as directed to by Reckon Support, and it still did not lodge. I have just tried AGAIN, and it still isn't working.
We need this lodged by Monday before we can start processing for our next pay week :(
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@KelseyAWMA I'm happy to take a look via a quick remote session if you need ? 😊
(Just an FYI … you don't need to submit the last STP file before you can process the next pay run. STP doesn't specifically report each pay run's figures - Instead, it just updates all YTD balances each submission. Therefore, when you eventually submit your next STP file, it will automatically contain - & report - all pay amounts YTD, as at that point 😊)
Shaz Hughes Dip(Fin) ACQ NSW, MICB
*** Reckon Accredited Partner (AP) Bookkeeper - specialising EXCLUSIVELY in Reckon Accounts / Hosted ! *** Bookkeeping & 1-on-1 customised software Training/Troubleshooting ***
* Regd BAS Agent (No: 92314 015)* ICB-Certified Bookkeeper* Snr Seasonal Tax Consultant since 2003 *
Accounted 4 Bookkeeping Services
Ballajura, WA
(NB: Please give my post a Like or mark as Accepted Answer if I have been able to resolve your query as this helps others when seeking solutions!)
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Hello,
This is also happening to us - on BOTH company files.
"An unexpected error occurred. Please try again. Contact Reckon support if the problem remains"
I have uploaded each company 3 times since last wednesday anticipating it was an internal error but all three times on BOTH companies it has come up with this error. I have check all new employees and they are all correct….what is the solution here, as this does not seem like an isolated issue…0 -
When did you last manage to lodge STP successfully? Have you looked for any odd symbols, like dashes or apostrophes in the company name details or new employees. Sometimes a typo in a postcode can cause a problem as well.
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Did these particular submissions for both your company files include new employees who have not been part of previous successful submissions?
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@Simone_9171542 @Rav
We have now tried 25 times. We removed the new employee, amongst a lot of other tests, and still nothing. We have sent our json file to Reckon last week, and still haven't heard back. I have called numerous times as well. Really hoping this is resolved soon. There is at least 4 cases now noted above of it happening.1 -
We are also having the same issue. Our last 2 pay runs have the same error message.
"An unexpected error occurred. Please try again. Contact Reckon support if the problem remains"
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I successfully lodged one yesterday and this morning without any issues
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@Kris_Williams - Did you have any issues though previously like us?
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No, normal way - export file, save, portal opens automatically and upload. And I just checked it has been processed
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I have successfully lodged STP's for the other 2 companies I mange. I verified date and rebuilt 3 times over weekend then tried again to lodge for the company having issues, but still no success.
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@gcamm @ShelleyG @Simone_9171542
Have you called Reckon Support? We have called again this morning but no action.
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Have you tried downloading the STP file to the computer and then lodging it via a browser at portal.reckon.com
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Yes i have, doesn't change anything unfortunately
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@Kris_Williams Yes we have. Still have the same error.
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Quick question, when you send your submission, does this error message appear immediately after sending OR does it go into Pending status for a while and then return that message shortly after?
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@Rav Ours goes to pending for a little while and then the error.
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