diff --git a/crates/madmin/src/user.rs b/crates/madmin/src/user.rs
index e98c2c23b..b9be66840 100644
--- a/crates/madmin/src/user.rs
+++ b/crates/madmin/src/user.rs
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer, de::Error as DeError};
 use serde_json::Value;
 use serde_json::value::RawValue;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use time::OffsetDateTime;
+use time::format_description::well_known::Rfc3339;
 
 use crate::BackendInfo;
 
@@ -492,6 +493,30 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for SRSessionPolicy {
     }
 }
 
+fn deserialize_vec_or_default<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Vec<String>, D::Error>
+where
+    D: Deserializer<'de>,
+{
+    Ok(Option::<Vec<String>>::deserialize(deserializer)?.unwrap_or_default())
+}
+
+fn deserialize_optional_service_account_expiration<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Option<OffsetDateTime>, D::Error>
+where
+    D: Deserializer<'de>,
+{
+    let expiration = Option::<String>::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+    let Some(expiration) = expiration else {
+        return Ok(None);
+    };
+
+    let expiration = OffsetDateTime::parse(&expiration, &Rfc3339).map_err(D::Error::custom)?;
+    if expiration.unix_timestamp() == 0 {
+        return Ok(None);
+    }
+
+    Ok(Some(expiration))
+}
+
 /// SRSvcAccCreate - create operation
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct SRSvcAccCreate {
@@ -503,6 +528,7 @@ pub struct SRSvcAccCreate {
     #[serde(rename = "secretKey")]
     pub secret_key: String,
 
+    #[serde(default, deserialize_with = "deserialize_vec_or_default")]
     pub groups: Vec<String>,
 
     pub claims: HashMap<String, serde_json::Value>,
@@ -516,7 +542,11 @@ pub struct SRSvcAccCreate {
 
     pub description: String,
 
-    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    #[serde(
+        default,
+        skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none",
+        deserialize_with = "deserialize_optional_service_account_expiration"
+    )]
     pub expiration: Option<OffsetDateTime>,
 
     #[serde(rename = "apiVersion", skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
diff --git a/rustfs/src/admin/handlers/user.rs b/rustfs/src/admin/handlers/user.rs
index d05b8a3ec..283236ea9 100644
--- a/rustfs/src/admin/handlers/user.rs
+++ b/rustfs/src/admin/handlers/user.rs
@@ -1120,6 +1120,7 @@ mod tests {
     };
     use rustfs_credentials::{Credentials, IAM_POLICY_CLAIM_NAME_SA};
     use rustfs_iam::error::Error as IamError;
+    use rustfs_madmin::user::SRSvcAccCreate;
     use serde_json::Value;
     use std::collections::HashMap;
 
@@ -1205,6 +1206,57 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(imported_service_account_status("unknown").is_none());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_service_account_import_accepts_null_groups_and_epoch_expiration() {
+        let payload = r#"{
+            "svcalpha": {
+                "parent": "useralpha",
+                "accessKey": "svcalpha",
+                "secretKey": "svcAlphaSecret123",
+                "groups": null,
+                "claims": {
+                    "accessKey": "svcalpha",
+                    "parent": "useralpha",
+                    "sa-policy": "inherited-policy"
+                },
+                "sessionPolicy": null,
+                "status": "on",
+                "name": "uploaderKey",
+                "description": "alpha upload key",
+                "expiration": "1970-01-01T00:00:00Z"
+            }
+        }"#;
+
+        let svc_accts: HashMap<String, SRSvcAccCreate> = serde_json::from_str(payload).unwrap();
+        let svc = svc_accts.get("svcalpha").unwrap();
+
+        assert!(svc.groups.is_empty());
+        assert!(svc.expiration.is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_service_account_import_preserves_non_zero_expiration() {
+        let payload = r#"{
+            "svcalpha": {
+                "parent": "useralpha",
+                "accessKey": "svcalpha",
+                "secretKey": "svcAlphaSecret123",
+                "groups": [],
+                "claims": {},
+                "sessionPolicy": null,
+                "status": "on",
+                "name": "uploaderKey",
+                "description": "alpha upload key",
+                "expiration": "2030-01-02T03:04:05Z"
+            }
+        }"#;
+
+        let svc_accts: HashMap<String, SRSvcAccCreate> = serde_json::from_str(payload).unwrap();
+        let svc = svc_accts.get("svcalpha").unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(svc.expiration.map(|expiration| expiration.unix_timestamp()), Some(1893553445));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_group_policy_mappings_use_regular_user_type() {
         assert_eq!(GROUP_POLICY_MAPPING_USER_TYPE, rustfs_iam::store::UserType::Reg);