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AP Process

How do I find out the payment status of an invoice or reimbursement?

Payment status is available in Ariba using the Payment Loop feature for BPO, PO and Non-PO invoice payments, as well as Payment to Individual (XP), eReimbursement (XR), and eTravel Expense Report (ER) transactions.

For BPO, PO and Non-PO invoice payments, such as payment dates and payment numbers will show on the Payments tab, which can be reached by clicking through from the Summary tab > Invoices tab >  Invoice ID > Reconciliation tab > Reconciliation ID > Payments tab > Payment ID.

For Payment to Individual (XP), eReimbursement (XR), and eTravel Expense Report (ER) transactions, payment status and details are shown in the Payment Details section on the Summary page of the XP, XR or ER once the transaction has been fully approved and payment has been processed.

See guidance on our website: https://finance.uw.edu/ps/how-to-pay/payment-status-terms-timelines-delays

Please note that wire payment details are not included with the Payment Loop feature.

What do I do when I find a duplicate payment?

If you discover a duplicate payment for an order, contact Procurement Customer Service at pcshelp@uw.edu. Please include the date of the original and duplicate payments, the budget number(s), the PO number(s), and the account code(s) charged. We will assist you in getting a refund for the duplicate payment.

Once my ARIBA invoice says Reconciled, how long does it take for the Payments tab to show the information?

When Invoice Reconciliation has started in ARIBA (an IR is available on the Reconciliation tab), the Payments tab will show up as well.

  • On the day the invoice status changes from Reconciling to Reconciled, the Approved Amount of the invoice will show on the Payments tab.
  • The following day, more payment information will begin showing up in the ARIBA Payments tab, like the Doc Seq Invoice No. (DSI number) and Invoice Status, followed by the Scheduled Pay Date and the Check Number, and finally with the Check Date, which is the date the payment is issued.
    • Funds availability for ePayables is indicated by receipt of the Remittance Advice document the supplier will receive when funds are available on the card.
    • Funds availability for ACH payments is based on the supplier's bank's posting procedures.
  • The Check Clear Date will show when the information is available, and also depends on processing by the supplier and payment type (paper checks may take 30 days or more to update).

Note: This is the best-case scenario, assuming there are no errors (such as a closed budget number) that would prevent the payment from being processed.

What does "Scheduled" mean on the Payments tab information? I thought we were not scheduling ARIBA payments yet.

Currently the UW is not able to schedule the payment date for ARIBA invoices.

The Payments tab does show a status of "Scheduled" which cannot be changed.

To view the payment information for an ARIBA invoice:

  1. Verify the Invoice status is Reconciled and the Reconciliation status is Paying
  2. Click the Reconciliation ID to see the Payments tab
  3. After clicking on the Payment ID, you will be able to view the Transaction Details for the payment information, which will gradually fill in as the payment goes through processing.

See more guidance for the ARIBA Payment Loop on our website: https://finance.uw.edu/ps/how-to-pay/payment-status-terms-timelines-delays

Ariba

How do I find out the payment status of an invoice or reimbursement?

Payment status is available in Ariba using the Payment Loop feature for BPO, PO and Non-PO invoice payments, as well as Payment to Individual (XP), eReimbursement (XR), and eTravel Expense Report (ER) transactions.

For BPO, PO and Non-PO invoice payments, such as payment dates and payment numbers will show on the Payments tab, which can be reached by clicking through from the Summary tab > Invoices tab >  Invoice ID > Reconciliation tab > Reconciliation ID > Payments tab > Payment ID.

For Payment to Individual (XP), eReimbursement (XR), and eTravel Expense Report (ER) transactions, payment status and details are shown in the Payment Details section on the Summary page of the XP, XR or ER once the transaction has been fully approved and payment has been processed.

See guidance on our website: https://finance.uw.edu/ps/how-to-pay/payment-status-terms-timelines-delays

Please note that wire payment details are not included with the Payment Loop feature.

What is the reason that budget changes can only be made from the same budget type?

Central Office has strict rules about what can be verified as appropriate charges on a budget. Because we can’t verify what is and is not allowable on budgets (nor should we since they are not our budgets), we can only make budget changes to and from the same budget type. However, you as the department know what is allowable and can create an expense transfer in MyFD once the invoice posts to change it to whatever budget you deem appropriate. 

Once my ARIBA invoice says Reconciled, how long does it take for the Payments tab to show the information?

When Invoice Reconciliation has started in ARIBA (an IR is available on the Reconciliation tab), the Payments tab will show up as well.

  • On the day the invoice status changes from Reconciling to Reconciled, the Approved Amount of the invoice will show on the Payments tab.
  • The following day, more payment information will begin showing up in the ARIBA Payments tab, like the Doc Seq Invoice No. (DSI number) and Invoice Status, followed by the Scheduled Pay Date and the Check Number, and finally with the Check Date, which is the date the payment is issued.
    • Funds availability for ePayables is indicated by receipt of the Remittance Advice document the supplier will receive when funds are available on the card.
    • Funds availability for ACH payments is based on the supplier's bank's posting procedures.
  • The Check Clear Date will show when the information is available, and also depends on processing by the supplier and payment type (paper checks may take 30 days or more to update).

Note: This is the best-case scenario, assuming there are no errors (such as a closed budget number) that would prevent the payment from being processed.

What does "Scheduled" mean on the Payments tab information? I thought we were not scheduling ARIBA payments yet.

Currently the UW is not able to schedule the payment date for ARIBA invoices.

The Payments tab does show a status of "Scheduled" which cannot be changed.

To view the payment information for an ARIBA invoice:

  1. Verify the Invoice status is Reconciled and the Reconciliation status is Paying
  2. Click the Reconciliation ID to see the Payments tab
  3. After clicking on the Payment ID, you will be able to view the Transaction Details for the payment information, which will gradually fill in as the payment goes through processing.

See more guidance for the ARIBA Payment Loop on our website: https://finance.uw.edu/ps/how-to-pay/payment-status-terms-timelines-delays

Best Practices

If a payee is an independent contractor, do they still need to complete the supplier registration?

Yes. The supplier registration form is required to set up a vendor/supplier in the university vendor file. The information is required to assist 1099 tax reporting and to meet various state and federal reporting requirements.

How do I get a copy of a document?

UW Staff with a valid netID can access invoice copies through Procurement Desktop Reports (PDR). Additionally, most journal voucher copies, ARIBA payments, and a number of ISD or CTI copies can be located through your budget using the MyFinancial Desktop (MyFD) Reconciliation report.

Copies of checks can be requested by emailing pcshelp@uw.edu. Please include the check number and check date.

How do I pay an honorarium?

Honoraria payments may be made using Payments to Individuals (P2I) in Ariba. For more information on how to submit an honoraria payment through P2I and the paperwork needed, see the Honoraria web page.

What do I do when I find a duplicate payment?

If you discover a duplicate payment for an order, contact Procurement Customer Service at pcshelp@uw.edu. Please include the date of the original and duplicate payments, the budget number(s), the PO number(s), and the account code(s) charged. We will assist you in getting a refund for the duplicate payment.

How do I find out the payment status of an invoice or reimbursement?

Payment status is available in Ariba using the Payment Loop feature for BPO, PO and Non-PO invoice payments, as well as Payment to Individual (XP), eReimbursement (XR), and eTravel Expense Report (ER) transactions.

For BPO, PO and Non-PO invoice payments, such as payment dates and payment numbers will show on the Payments tab, which can be reached by clicking through from the Summary tab > Invoices tab >  Invoice ID > Reconciliation tab > Reconciliation ID > Payments tab > Payment ID.

For Payment to Individual (XP), eReimbursement (XR), and eTravel Expense Report (ER) transactions, payment status and details are shown in the Payment Details section on the Summary page of the XP, XR or ER once the transaction has been fully approved and payment has been processed.

See guidance on our website: https://finance.uw.edu/ps/how-to-pay/payment-status-terms-timelines-delays

Please note that wire payment details are not included with the Payment Loop feature.

How do I purchase gift cards for employee recognition?

Departments can purchase gift cards for employee recognition using their ProCard. The gift must be reported to Payroll because the gift is taxable. See the Employee Recognition webpage and the Employee Recognition FAQs.

The department should have a defined, documented and monitored procedure for how recognition works and the gift cards are given.

The gift cards must be treated like cash and managed using Cash Management controls.

The gift cards must be reported to Payroll as income by emailing the amounts of the recognition to pr-tax@uw.edu.

Note: Gift cards should not be purchased with one’s own credit card and then be reimbursed.

Do I need to print a copy of the Non-PO Invoice summary to keep with my invoice copy?

No. There is no need to print the Non-PO Invoice copy as it will remain in ARIBA for the full retention period. However, you may want to document the Non-PO Invoice number on the invoice obtained from the supplier for easy reference.

When should I consider inside delivery?

UW Procurement Services strongly recommends inside delivery for equipment weighing more than 100 pounds. Inside delivery includes uncrating, setting up the equipment at its intended location and removal of packaging debris. Inside delivery eliminates liability risks and is well worth the minor cost.
Here’s why:

  • It’s never a good idea to leave expensive equipment on an unsecured loading dock awaiting its final destination.
  • Employee safety: when employees try to install heavy equipment even with correct equipment, departments put themselves at risk for potential injuries to staff and L&I claims.
  • Internal delivery gives departments the ability to inspect equipment for hidden damages prior to signing the delivery receipt.
  • Inside delivery ensures the proper transfer of “chain of ownership” that makes it clear who is responsible for damage during the shipping or installation process.
What is the best practice for reimbursing an employee when the receipt is in someone else's name? (e.g. a spouse)

If the receipt is in someone's name other than the UW employee, the person who made payment should be reimbursed through eReimbursement for a Non-UW Employee. 

Ex: If a spouse orders the item through Amazon and it charges their credit card, even if the credit card and bank account are shared, the department should reimburse the spouse, not the employee. Use eReimbursement, select No for the UW Employee question, then select Other under UW Affiliation.

The instructions say to always enter the Non-PO invoice exactly as it appears, but my invoice is wrong. Can I just make the appropriate changes when I create the Non-PO Invoice in ARIBA?

Because there is no way to notify the suppliers as to why you changed the invoice to a different amount, you must contact the supplier and request a new invoice reflecting your changes. This will cut down on the number of phone calls you receive from the supplier when the amount paid does not match the amount of the original invoice.

I have an invoice over the "Direct Buy Limit," can I split this into two Non-PO Invoice transactions?

Absolutely not. According to new state regulations, purchases or payments between $10,000.00 and $100,000.00, excluding tax, are to be competitively bid and documented. These purchases and payments should be made through Ariba buying functionality. Learn more about the Direct Buy Limit.

Are per diem rates applicable to catering events?

Meals are held to the state required per diem rate. If there are any additional charges, they can be charged to a discretionary funding source only when approved by a Dean or Vice President. Keep a record of the number of attendees of the event. If the cost goes over the per diem rate, also keep a justification of why that supplier was chosen. 

Can I pay more than one invoice on a single Non-PO?

No. When we send payment to the supplier for your Non-PO Invoice, the information they are provided from your Non-PO is the invoice number, dollar amount and any remittance notes you have added. Because the invoice number field only allows for 15 characters, there is generally not enough room to enter multiple invoice numbers in the space. Also, without the proper invoice number, the supplier will not know where to apply your payment.

I selected the supplier in Non-PO, but there is no Remit-To address. What does this mean?

A blank Remit-To address box indicates that the supplier is not fully onboarded as a supplier with the UW and you may not make a payment to them until the Remit-To address is visible.

To be considered fully onboarded as a UW supplier, the supplier must complete both registration steps: First suppliers must fill out the Supplier Registration Form (SRF). Second, they must enroll for electronic payments if they are a domestic supplier.

If the Remit-To address is blank, the supplier has not enrolled for electronic payments. Best Practice is to verify that your chosen supplier is fully onboarded and ready to be paid in advance of providing the goods or service for which they will be invoicing. The supplier can contact vcontrol@uw.edu for more information.

Is your vendor requesting a money order or cashier's check?

As a state institution, we do not issue money orders or cashier's checks.

I can't find a good match for a commodity code? What should I do?

As best practice, we recommend that you do not try to get too detailed. For example, the Commodity Code of Computer Equipment and Accessories is sufficient for ordering items such as a keyboard or a mouse. You don't have to find the exact code for a keyboard. Please visit the Commodity Code page for further information: Commodity Codes. If you are still having difficulty in finding a commodity code, then email pcshelp@uw.edu for assistance.

Is it okay to ship to a home address?

Never ship to a home address, that is strictly forbidden.