Overview
The Kansas Payment Center (KPC) provides employers the option to submit support payments electronically through the banking network known as the Automated Clearing House (ACH). If you offer employees the option to have their pay directly deposited into their bank accounts, you are already participating in the ACH. Making support payments electronically is a similar process.

Advantages

• EFT provides assurance that support payments are received by the KPC and distributed to families accurately and efficiently.
• EFT provides security,eliminates delayed, lost and stolen checks.
• The use of EFT reduces the need for mail opening and data entry staff, thereby reducing the time for payment processing.

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Submitting Payments to the KPC

1. Obtain the data necessary to identify each support payment submitted. This information includes employee name, social security number, child support case number, amount withheld and the date of withholding.
2. Convert the data into a standard ACH format. This requires a fairly detailed knowledge of ACH. If you employ a payroll service they may be able to provide this service. Your bank may also be able to provide this service. Software packages are available to generate ACH files.
3. Submit the ACH file into the ACH network. Only a financial institution may submit files into the ACH network. Most, but not all, financial institutions are capable of performing this activity known as originating ACH transactions. You will need to provide data to your financial institution in a standard ACH format or some other agreed upon format.

Where to Start
If you utilize a payroll service, ask them if they can submit your child support withholdings through the ACH. Otherwise, contact your bank and ask to speak to someone about ACH origination. Tell them you are interested in originating ACH credits in a CCD+ or CTX format. Let them know that you wish to employ the ACH convention for submitting child support payments. If they aren't familiar with this convention, they can obtain a copy of a booklet developed by the Bankers EDI Council titled Child Support Application Banking Convention: A guide for Child Support Enforcement Entities & Their Financial Institutions. This publication is available through the National Automated Clearing House Associations (NACHA).

The ACH Convention for Child Support Withholding
A standard ACH file includes numerous record types (file header, company/batch header, entry detail, addenda, company/batch control, file control) and is reasonably complex. However, it is fairly simple for someone familiar with the ACH files to understand the child support convention. The entry detail record constitutes the financial transaction. The addenda record provides details about each child support payment. The CCD+ format includes on addenda record for each entry detail record. The CTX format includes one or many addenda records for each entry detail record. The child support convention provides a very specific format for the data within the addenda record, i.e., the data used to provide credit for child support payments.

Steps to Follow
If you are interested in EFT, please contact the Employer EFT Coordinator at the Kansas Payment Center. A prenote is suggested to test the movement of information through the ACH used by your bank to verify format, content and transfer process.

Resources Available
For general information and information about participation in this program contact the Kansas Payment Center at 1-877-729-6367. Ask to be connected to the Employer EFT Coordinator. See the following list for further resources.

For information about ACH

• Contact your local financial institution.
• Contact your regional association of the National Automated Clearing House Association.
• Contact the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) at (703) 561-1100 or visit their web site at www. nacha. org
• Attend a class. Regional clearing house associations provide periodic training sessions to promote the use of ACH.
• Obtain a copy of the Electronic Payments Review & Buyers Guide published by NACHA.
• Contact a treasury management association such as the American Payroll Association.

For assistance interpreting the format of the child support addenda record

• Contact the Kansas Payment Center at 1-877-729-6367. Ask to be connected to the Employer EFT Coordinator.

For information about ACH origination software

• Contact your local financial institution.
• Contact your regional ACH association.
• Contact NACHA.
• Search the internet.

    PLEASE CONTACT THE EMPLOYER EFT COORDINATOR AT THE KANSAS PAYMENT
    CENTER, 1-877-729-6367, PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR FIRST ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS.

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The Employer Payment Template is an EXCEL spreadsheet used to enter employee information. Complete the form, print it, and return it with your check when sending information about employee withholdings to the KPC. Employers will send only one check with their completed form to the KPC. This template also includes a key to County Codes, which you will need to fill out the form.
Click here for an Employer Payment Template. ( Employer_Template )

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What is the Kansas Payment Center?
The Kansas Payment Center (KPC), located in Topeka, Kansas, is the payment processing center for all Kansas child support, maintenance and support related payments. All payroll deductions are collected and disbursed by the KPC.

What are centralized collections?
Each state child support enforcement agency is required to have a centralized, computerized unit for the collection and disbursement of child support. The Kansas Payment Center receives and disburses support collections for the State of Kansas.

What is Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)?
EFT electronically transfers monies from your bank account to the KPC bank account. The payment identification information is transmitted via an Electronic Data Interface (EDI) following the NACHA formats. The KPC can accept employer remittance for income withholding either as a Cash Concentration and Disbursement (CCD+) or Corporate Trade Exchange (CTX) formatted file.

How do I enroll in EFT?

For general and participation information or to enroll in EFT/EDI:

Call 1-877-729-6367 Ask to be connected to the Employer EFT coordinator.

How do I receive an Employer Payment Template?
The Employer Payment Template is on the KPC web site and may be downloaded free of charge for you to complete and send with your check. It is no longer necessary to send a separate check for each employee. Click here to download an Employer Payment Template. ( Employer_Template )

Do I send all child support maintenance and support related money to the KPC?
No. If the order received directs you to send the support payments directly to another state, please send payments as directed.

Who can I contact for more information or assistance?
Employers should call the Kansas Payment Center at 1-877-729-6367.  Customer Service Representatives are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central Time, except for holidays.

Where should employers mail their payments?

Payments should be mailed to:

Kansas Payment Center Post Office Box 758599 Topeka, KS 66675-8599

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