If you are importing a custom Excel file, match the column headers to the corresponding Sovos headers to import your data correctly.

1. At the Column mapping step of the import process, click Create a map.
   
2. Enter a map name (required) and map description (optional).
   These will help you find the map when you want to use it in the future.
3. Match your file's column headers to the Sovos headers.

   You must map all the headers in the Required section before you can save the map.

   
   • Click Auto map to match headers whose names are identical to the names of Sovos headers automatically.
   • For headers whose names do not match the names of Sovos headers, select the import file's column header, then select the corresponding Sovos header.
   Tip: If you selected the wrong headers, hover over their row in the Review map section, and click the More options icon. Then select Delete.
4. To specify how the software should read a column in your file, or modify the data after the import, click Add function.

   This is most commonly used for states, dates, ZIP codes, and TINs.

   
   1. Click the Function type dropdown and select either Convert, Date, or Pad.
   2. Enter the necessary information and click Apply.
   • Convert: Converts data in your import file to a specific value. For example, you can convert state names to their 2-letter abbreviations.
   • Date: Specifies the date format used in your import file. For example, if the date format in your import file is 2028/01/14, enter YYYY/MM/DD into the Format field.
   • Pad: Adds characters to the left of a string of characters. This is most commonly used for adding a "0" to the beginning of ZIP codes and TINs when Excel drops the leading zero.
5. Click Save.