Import chart of accounts and opening balances

Open Settings → Import data and import the chart of accounts first, then opening balances. Accounts are created with a type and code; balances are posted as one journal, dated the day before your start date, with any difference going to Opening Balance Equity. Afterwards, the trial balance should match your old system's.

Which columns does the accounts import read?

Existing accounts are matched by code, then by name ignoring capitals, and are skipped, never changed.

How do Tally groups and Zoho account types map?

Each Tally ledger is classified by the default group it sits under, following custom groups up to one of Tally's own groups. Zoho Books exports an Account Type on every row, which maps directly.

Which accounts does the importer skip?

Five accounts are owned by SimpleERP, so rows that resolve to them are skipped with a note.

• Accounts receivable: filled party by party from customers.
• Accounts payable: filled party by party from suppliers.
• Inventory: filled from opening stock on products.
• Opening Balance Equity: takes the other side of every opening figure.
• Retained earnings: past profit; Tally's Profit & Loss A/c balance lands here.

What happens to bank ledgers?

Every bank ledger becomes a bank account in SimpleERP, but without the account number, IFSC or UPI ID, because exports do not carry them reliably. Open Settings → Accounting and complete each bank account; the setup checklist keeps asking until you do. The details are needed to print bank details on invoices.

How are opening balances matched and posted?

Each row names an account and an amount in a debit or credit column, or one signed balance with Dr or Cr. The account is matched by code, then by name, then by a list of common names from other software.

• Synonyms: Tally and Zoho tax ledgers go to CGST, SGST or IGST payable or input credit; "Cash" goes to your cash account; "Profit & Loss A/c" goes to Retained earnings.
• Unmatched names are not errors: the card shows a "Choose an account" picker beside each one, and you pick where it belongs.
• Receivables, payables and stock are skipped: customers, suppliers and products already posted them, so taking them again would double the figure.
• Balancing line: whatever the lines do not balance goes to Opening Balance Equity.
• Posting: needs the right to approve journals; without it the journal is saved as a draft for someone who has it.

When customers, suppliers, products and these balances are all in, Opening Balance Equity should be zero and the trial balance should equal the old system's, line for line.

A worked example

Suppose Lakshmi Steel Furnitures starts on 1 April 2026. Its customers (₹2,31,000), suppliers (₹1,84,700) and stock (₹2,19,000) are already imported. This is its trial balance from Tally Prime as of 31 March 2026.

1. 1

   Import the accounts

   Plant and machinery, accumulated depreciation, the term loan and capital are created. HDFC Bank becomes a bank account. Sundry Debtors, Sundry Creditors and stock rows are skipped with a note.

2. 2

   Check the opening balances

   Nine lines match; three are skipped. The posted lines total ₹10,28,700 debit and ₹12,94,000 credit, so ₹2,65,300 goes to Opening Balance Equity as a debit.

3. 3

   Import

   One journal is posted, dated 31 March 2026, and appears under Accounting → Opening balances.

4. 4

   Confirm Opening Balance Equity is zero

   Customers credited it ₹2,31,000 and stock ₹2,19,000; suppliers debited it ₹1,84,700 and this journal ₹2,65,300. The four cancel out.

5. 5

   Compare the trial balance

   Run Accounting → Reports → Trial balance as of 31 March 2026. It totals ₹14,78,700 on each side, the same as Tally.

Where do I see the result, and how do I change it?

The journal shows under Accounting → Opening balances, exactly as if it had been typed there, and is locked once posted. To change it, reverse it first; the import refuses to post a second opening balances journal while one is posted.