How to Read Target EDI 850 Purchase Order Files

Why Reading Target 850 Files Correctly Matters

If you're a Target vendor, understanding how to read Target's EDI 850 purchase order files is critical for compliance. Target's Perfect Order Program (launched May 4, 2025) introduced strict penalties for vendors who fail to meet fill rate, ASN availability, and ASN accuracy requirements.

Misreading a Target 850 PO can lead to:

Fill rate violations: Ship less than 95% of requested quantity = 3% COGS fine on non-compliant items
ASN penalties: Missing or late EDI 856 ASN = $0.75 per carton (minimum $100 fine)
Wrong ship-to location: Shipping to the wrong Target DC causes routing delays and chargebacks
Incorrect item identification: Using UPC instead of TCIN (or vice versa) leads to receiving errors

🚨 May 2025 Compliance Change

Effective May 4, 2025 (May Week 1), Target's Perfect Order Program changed ASN penalties from 3% COGS to $0.75 per carton (minimum $100). This means a single missed ASN for a 200-carton shipment = $150 penalty, regardless of item value.

Target 850 File Structure & Key Segments

Target's 850 purchase orders follow the ANSI X12 EDI standard (version 4010 or 5010) with retailer-specific requirements. The file is plain text with delimiter characters separating data elements.

Standard X12 Delimiters

Delimiter	Character	Purpose
Element Separator	`*`	Separates data fields within a segment
Segment Terminator	`~`	Marks the end of a segment
Subelement Separator	`:`	Separates composite elements (rarely used)

Key Segments in Target 850 Files

Segment	Name	Purpose	Example
`ISA`	Interchange Header	File metadata (sender/receiver IDs)	`ISA00 00 ZZTARGET...`
`GS`	Functional Group Header	Transaction type (PO)	`GSPOTARGET*VENDOR...`
`ST`	Transaction Set Header	Starts 850 transaction	`ST8500001`
`BEG`	Beginning Segment	PO number and date	`BEG00SA1234567890*20250120`
`REF`	Reference ID	Department #, vendor #	`REFDP123` (Dept 123)
`DTM`	Date/Time Reference	Ship-by date, delivery date	`DTM00220250125` (ship by Jan 25)
`N1`	Name/Address	Ship-to DC, buyer info	`N1STTARGET DC T-0855920078742084489`
`PO1`	Baseline Item Data	Line items: TCIN, UPC, qty, price	`PO11100EA15.99WEVA*87654321`
`PID`	Product Description	Human-readable item name	`PIDF***Men's T-Shirt Blue XL`
`CTT`	Transaction Totals	Number of line items	`CTT*5` (5 line items)
`SE`	Transaction Set Trailer	Ends 850 transaction	`SE250001`

📄 Sample Target 850 Structure:

ISA*00*          *00*          *ZZ*TARGET         *ZZ*YOURCOMPANY    *250120*1045*U*00401*000234567*0*P*~
GS*PO*TARGET*YOURCOMPANY*20250120*1045*1*X*004010~
ST*850*0001~
BEG*00*SA*PO9876543210**20250120~
REF*DP*123~
REF*IA*VENDOR12345~
DTM*002*20250125~
N1*ST*TARGET DC T-0855*92*0078742084489~
N1*BY*TARGET CORPORATION*92*0078742000018~
PO1*1*100*EA*15.99*WE*VA*87654321*UP*012345678901~
PID*F****Men's Cotton T-Shirt Blue XL~
PO1*2*50*EA*24.99*WE*VA*87654322*UP*012345678902~
PID*F****Women's Jeans Denim Size 8~
CTT*2~
SE*13*0001~
GE*1*1~
IEA*1*000234567~

Translation: Target PO #9876543210 for Department 123, ship to DC T-0855 by January 25, 2025. Two line items: 100 units of TCIN 87654321 at $15.99 each, 50 units of TCIN 87654322 at $24.99 each.

Critical Fields: TCIN, Department Number, Fill Rate

1. TCIN (Target.com Item Number)

The TCIN is Target's internal item identifier, typically 8 digits (e.g., 87654321). It appears in the PO1 segment with qualifier VA (Vendor's Catalog Number).

Example PO1 Segment with TCIN:

PO1*1*100*EA*15.99*WE*VA*87654321*UP*012345678901~

PO1*1 = Line item #1
*100 = Quantity: 100 units
*EA = Unit: Each (EA = single unit, CA = case)
*15.99 = Unit price: $15.99
*WE = Price basis (WE = wholesale price per each)
*VA*87654321 = TCIN: 87654321 (VA qualifier = vendor catalog #)
*UP*012345678901 = UPC: 012345678901 (UP qualifier = UPC)

⚠️ TCIN vs UPC: Critical Distinction

TCIN (VA qualifier): Target's internal SKU number — use this for all ASN and invoice references. Target matches 856 ASNs and 810 invoices using TCIN.

UPC (UP qualifier): Standard barcode on product packaging — Target uses this for receiving scans but not for EDI matching.

Rule: Always reference the TCIN (VA*87654321) in your 856 ASN and 810 invoice. If you reference only the UPC, Target's three-way match system may fail, causing chargebacks.

2. Department Number

Target's department number appears in the REF segment with qualifier DP. This indicates which Target product category the item belongs to (e.g., apparel, electronics, home goods).

Example REF Segment with Department Number:

REF*DP*123~

Translation: This PO is for Department 123. You must include this department number on your 856 ASN and 810 invoice for proper routing to Target's systems.

Why it matters: Department numbers route items to the correct Target buyer and category management team. Omitting the department number from your ASN can cause receiving delays or ASN accuracy penalties ($0.75/carton as of May 2025).

3. Fill Rate Requirement (95%)

Target's Perfect Order Program requires vendors to ship at least 95% of the requested quantity on the original 850 PO (measured at the item level).

🚨 Fill Rate Violation Example

Scenario: Target 850 PO requests 100 units of TCIN 87654321. You ship 90 units (90% fill rate).

Result: 90% is below the 95% threshold. Target applies a 3% COGS penalty on all non-compliant items. If the item costs $10 wholesale, the penalty is $10 × 10 units short × 3% = $3 deduction. For high-value items, this adds up quickly.

Prevention: Carefully read the quantity requested in the PO1 segment. If you can't fulfill 95%+, notify Target's buyer immediately to adjust the PO (send an 855 PO Acknowledgment with quantity changes before shipping).

4. Ship-By Date (DTM Segment)

The DTM*002 segment indicates when Target expects the shipment to arrive at their distribution center (not when you must ship).

Example DTM Segment:

DTM*002*20250125~

Translation: Shipment must arrive at Target DC by January 25, 2025 (format: CCYYMMDD = 20250125 = Jan 25, 2025).

Important: This is the delivery deadline, not the ship date. Account for transit time when scheduling your shipment. Late deliveries can hurt your on-time performance metrics, though Target's Perfect Order Program currently focuses on fill rate and ASN compliance rather than strict on-time penalties.

Perfect Order Program (May 2025 Changes)

In February 2025, Target announced the Perfect Order Program, effective May 4, 2025 (May Week 1). This program introduced significant changes to vendor compliance penalties, particularly for ASN-related violations.

Key Compliance Metrics

1. Fill Rate Original (95%)

Requirement: Ship at least 95% of items requested on the original EDI 850 PO, measured at the item level (not line level).

Penalty: 3% COGS fine on all non-compliant items (items shipped below 95% threshold).

Example: PO requests 100 units. You ship 94 units = 94% fill rate = penalty applies to 6 units short × item cost × 3%.

2. ASN Availability (100%)

Requirement: Send error-free EDI 856 ASN before the in-yard date and time for the associated delivery trailer. Target requires ASNs for 100% of purchase orders on time.

Penalty (effective May 4, 2025): $0.75 per carton received without ASN (changed from 3% COGS). Minimum fine: $100 (unless Target rejects or can't acknowledge the 856).

Example: 200-carton shipment arrives without ASN = 200 cartons × $0.75 = $150 penalty.

3. ASN Accuracy (NEW for 2025)

Requirement: Target calculates this metric by the number of received cartons. Two sub-metrics:

Item-Level Accuracy: Vendor case pack information in EDI 856 must match actual received cartons
Shipment-Level Accuracy: BOL number in EDI 856 must be in correct format, store ship information must be accurate

Penalty: $0.75 per non-compliant carton, minimum fine $100.

Example: 150-carton shipment with incorrect BOL format in ASN = 150 cartons × $0.75 = $112.50 penalty.

4. Physical Barcode Accuracy (NEW for 2025)

Requirement: Number of cartons received at Target DC with a legible, scannable barcode (GS1-128 format).

Why it matters: Target DCs use automated scanning. Unreadable barcodes slow down receiving and can trigger manual processing fees.

💡 Cost Comparison: Old vs New ASN Penalty

Before May 4, 2025: Missing ASN = 3% COGS penalty. For a $10,000 shipment, penalty = $300.

After May 4, 2025: Missing ASN = $0.75/carton. Same $10,000 shipment with 200 cartons = $150 penalty.

Impact: Lower penalties for high-value, low-carton shipments. Higher penalties for low-value, high-carton shipments. The flat-rate model incentivizes accurate ASN submission regardless of item value.

How to Monitor Compliance

Target provides a Supplier Performance Management Dashboard (SPMD) where vendors can track:

Fill rate percentage (goal: 95%+)
ASN availability rate (goal: 100%)
ASN accuracy rate (goal: 100%)
Real-time defect alerts before chargebacks are applied

Pro Tip: Log in to SPMD weekly to catch potential defects early. If you see a fill rate dropping below 95%, investigate which items are causing shortages and communicate with Target's buyer team to adjust future POs.

Reading Line Items (PO1 Segment)

The PO1 segment contains the most critical data: what Target wants you to ship, how many units, and at what price. Each line item in the 850 PO has its own PO1 segment.

PO1 Segment Structure

Example PO1 Segment (Annotated):

PO1*1*100*EA*15.99*WE*VA*87654321*UP*012345678901~

PO1 = Segment ID (Baseline Item Data)

*1 = PO101: Line item number (sequential: 1, 2, 3...)

*100 = PO102: Quantity ordered (100 units)

*EA = PO103: Unit of measure (EA = Each, CA = Case, BX = Box)

*15.99 = PO104: Unit price ($15.99 per unit)

*WE = PO105: Price basis code (WE = Wholesale price per Each)

*VA = PO106: Product ID qualifier (VA = Vendor's catalog number = TCIN)

*87654321 = PO107: Product ID (TCIN: 87654321)

*UP = PO108: Product ID qualifier (UP = UPC Consumer Package Code)

*012345678901 = PO109: Product ID (UPC: 012345678901)

⚠️ Common Mistake: Confusing EA (Each) vs CA (Case)

EA (Each): Single unit. If Target orders 100 EA, ship 100 individual items.

CA (Case): Case quantity. If Target orders 100 CA and your case pack is 12 units, ship 100 cases = 1,200 individual units.

Failure scenario: PO says 100 CA (cases). You ship 100 EA (individual units) instead. You've shipped 1/12th of the requested quantity = massive fill rate violation = 3% COGS penalty.

Product Description (PID Segment)

The PID segment immediately follows the PO1 segment and provides a human-readable item description.

Example PID Segment:

PID*F****Men's Cotton T-Shirt Blue XL~

Translation: Free-form description (PID01 = F) of the item: "Men's Cotton T-Shirt Blue XL". This helps you match the TCIN/UPC to your internal SKU names.

Multiple Line Items Example

Target 850 PO with 3 Line Items:

PO1*1*100*EA*15.99*WE*VA*87654321*UP*012345678901~
PID*F****Men's Cotton T-Shirt Blue XL~
PO1*2*50*CA*89.99*WE*VA*87654322*UP*012345678902~
PID*F****Women's Jeans Denim Size 8 (Case of 6)~
PO1*3*200*EA*5.99*WE*VA*87654323*UP*012345678903~
PID*F****Travel Mug Stainless Steel 16oz~

Translation:

Line 1: 100 units (EA) of TCIN 87654321, $15.99 each = $1,599 total
Line 2: 50 cases (CA) of TCIN 87654322, $89.99 per case = $4,499.50 total (300 individual jeans if 6-pack cases)
Line 3: 200 units (EA) of TCIN 87654323, $5.99 each = $1,198 total

PO Total: $7,296.50

Ship-By Dates & Delivery Addresses

DTM Segments (Dates)

Target 850 POs include multiple date references. The most important is DTM*002 (delivery requested date).

DTM Qualifier	Meaning	Example
`DTM*002`	Delivery requested (must arrive by)	`DTM00220250125` (Jan 25, 2025)
`DTM*010`	Requested ship date	`DTM01020250122` (ship by Jan 22)
`DTM*063`	Do not deliver before	`DTM06320250120` (not before Jan 20)

💡 Date Format: CCYYMMDD

Target uses 8-digit dates: 20250125 = January 25, 2025. Always parse as: CCYY (century + year), MM (month 01-12), DD (day 01-31).

N1 Segments (Ship-To Address)

The N1 segment identifies the ship-to location (Target DC) and buyer information. Multiple N1 segments may appear with different qualifiers.

N1 Qualifier	Meaning	Example
`N1*ST`	Ship-to location (Target DC)	`N1STTARGET DC T-0855920078742084489`
`N1*BY`	Buying party (Target HQ)	`N1BYTARGET CORPORATION920078742000018`

Example N1 Ship-To Segment (Annotated):

N1*ST*TARGET DC T-0855*92*0078742084489~

N1 = Segment ID (Name/Address)

*ST = N101: Entity identifier (ST = Ship To)

*TARGET DC T-0855 = N102: Name (Target Distribution Center T-0855)

*92 = N103: ID code qualifier (92 = Assigned by buyer/purchaser)

*0078742084489 = N104: Identification code (Target's 13-digit GLN for this DC)

⚠️ Critical: Use the Correct DC GLN

The 13-digit GLN (Global Location Number) in the N1*ST segment uniquely identifies the Target DC where you must ship. Shipping to the wrong DC causes routing failures and chargebacks.

Always reference the GLN from the N1*ST segment in your 856 ASN and shipping labels. Target has multiple DCs, and the wrong DC can't forward your shipment internally.

Converting Target 850 to CSV (Recommended)

Reading raw X12 EDI files is error-prone and time-consuming. Manual data entry from a text file increases the risk of missing critical fields like TCIN, department number, or ship-by date.

Why Convert to CSV?

Eliminate parsing errors: No need to manually count asterisks (*) to find the TCIN in position PO107
Labeled columns: See "TCIN", "Quantity", "Unit Price", "Ship By Date" instead of raw codes
Import to systems: Load CSV directly into QuickBooks, ERP, or inventory management software
Audit trail: Save CSV files for compliance documentation if Target disputes fill rate or ASN accuracy
Fast processing: 30 seconds vs 2-4 hours of manual data entry (Aberdeen Group study)

How PlainEDI Converts Target 850 Files

Upload your Target 850 EDI file to PlainEDI (any file extension: .edi, .x12, .txt, .dat)
Preview instantly — see parsed data in 5 seconds (no account needed)
Download CSV with Target-specific columns:
- PO Number, PO Date, Ship By Date
- TCIN (VA qualifier), UPC (UP qualifier)
- Quantity, Unit (EA/CA/BX), Unit Price
- Department Number (from REF*DP)
- Ship To Name, Ship To GLN (from N1*ST)
- Item Description (from PID segment)
Import to your system — open in Excel, import to QuickBooks, or load into your fulfillment software

🎯 Example Transformation

Raw X12:
PO1*1*100*EA*15.99*WE*VA*87654321*UP*012345678901~PID*F****Men's T-Shirt Blue XL~

PlainEDI CSV Output:

Line #	TCIN	UPC	Quantity	Unit	Price	Description
1	87654321	012345678901	100	Each	$15.99	Men's T-Shirt Blue XL

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Convert any Target 850 PO to clean CSV in 30 seconds. Automatic extraction of TCIN, department number, ship-by date, and all line items. Avoid $0.75/carton ASN penalties.

Try Free Target 850 Converter →

Works with all Target EDI files: 850 PO, 855 PO Ack, 856 ASN, 810 Invoice, 820 Payment, 846 Inventory, 997 FA