Check a Decimal-Time CSV Before a Payroll Import

By Intious · Updated September 7, 2026

Quick answer

Confirm the expected unit, decimal separator, row rounding and treatment of overtime before importing a converted time column.

Confirm the destination format

A field named hours might accept decimal hours, hours:minutes, minutes or a spreadsheet time fraction. Check the importer’s documented format and run a small test in its supported preview or validation screen. Use a recognizable sample such as 1:30, which should be 1.5 decimal hours or 90 minutes. Do not send a complete live payroll file merely to discover the required unit.

Keep identifiers outside the public tool

The Intious converter only needs anonymous duration values, one per line. It does not need employee names, payroll identifiers, bank details or salary records. Retain the row order in your private worksheet and reconcile it after conversion. Blank lines are ignored by the tool, so an export with blank employee rows must be cleaned or matched carefully before values are pasted back.

Compare row counts and control totals

Count the input durations and compare that count with the converter’s entry count. Sum the source durations independently when practical, then compare the total hours. Investigate large differences before importing. A dropped row changes the count; treating 8:30 as 8.30 changes the unit; importing minutes into an hours field multiplies the apparent time dramatically. Each error needs a different correction.

Inspect the file that will actually be imported

The downloaded CSV is a calculation breakdown, not a universal payroll import template. Rename or select columns only according to the receiving system’s specification. Spreadsheet software can reinterpret a duration as a time of day, especially for totals above 24 hours. Preserve the original CSV, verify the displayed and stored values in your spreadsheet, and retain the importer’s validation result with your reconciliation notes.

Try it with your numbers

Convert a list of hours:minutes or decimal hours, add the total and download the results.

Decimal Hours Calculator & Bulk Timesheet Converter

Official guidance

U.S. Department of Labor: hours worked · U.S. Department of Labor: regular rate of pay

Next steps

Calculation limitations · Report a correction

Frequently asked questions

Can I upload the Intious CSV directly to any payroll system?

No. Payroll products use different column names and schemas. The export is a conversion table; adapt it only to the documented format of your own system.

Does a total over 24 hours reset to zero?

The converter treats values as durations and keeps total hours above 24. A spreadsheet may display those values differently, so check its duration formatting.

What should I check when a converted row looks 60 times too large?

Check whether the receiving field expects hours but received minutes. A 90-minute duration is 1.5 hours; importing 90 as hours changes the unit rather than the formatting.

Check the assumptions against the Decimal Hours Calculator & Bulk Timesheet Converter and keep the inputs alongside your result. For a discrepancy, send an anonymous worked example rather than private employee records.

Explore more in Hours & Pay Calculators and Guides.