Using $.ajax to POST XML to MVC Controller method

var payload = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><data>XML_GOES_HERE</data>';
$.ajax({
    url: "/Data/SaveXML/",
    type: "POST",
    processData: false,
    contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
    data: JSON.stringify({ payload: payload })
})

contentTypeSet to application/json, the data becomes an object, which is then JSON.stringifyrun through the method to ensure querystringa variety of characters can be sent.