How to Import Bank Statement into Tally ERP & Tally Prime

In this guide

  1. Why import bank statements into Tally?
  2. Two methods: XML import vs. manual entry
  3. Method 1 — PDF to Tally XML (recommended)
  4. Method 2 — Excel to Tally via ODBC
  5. Running bank reconciliation after import
  6. FAQ

Why Import Bank Statements into Tally?

Tally ERP 9 and Tally Prime include a built-in bank reconciliation module, but it requires transactions to already exist in your Tally ledger before reconciliation can run. Most small businesses in India enter bank transactions manually — a slow process prone to data entry errors.

Importing your bank statement directly creates the ledger entries automatically, allowing reconciliation in minutes rather than hours. It also eliminates transcription errors in amounts and dates.

Two Methods: XML Import vs. Manual Entry

Tally supports importing data in its proprietary XML format. The cleanest workflow for bank statements is:

  1. Convert your bank statement PDF to Tally-compatible XML
  2. Import the XML into Tally using Gateway of Tally → Import Data
  3. Run bank reconciliation to match imported entries with your existing vouchers

The alternative — exporting to Excel, reformatting manually, and using an ODBC connector — is more complex and error-prone. The XML method is strongly preferred.

Method 1: PDF to Tally XML (Recommended)

Step 1

Convert your bank statement PDF to Tally XML

Upload your PDF at bankstatementengine.com and select Tally XML as the export format. The converter extracts all transactions and formats them as Tally vouchers with the correct debit/credit entries against your bank ledger.

Step 2

Configure the ledger name

Before downloading, enter the exact name of your bank ledger as it appears in Tally (e.g., "HDFC Bank A/C" or "SBI Current Account"). The XML must reference the exact ledger name or Tally will create a new ledger on import.

Step 3

Import into Tally

Open Tally Prime or Tally ERP 9. Go to Gateway of Tally → Import Data → Vouchers. Browse to your downloaded XML file and click Import. Tally will show a summary of vouchers created, modified, and errors.

Step 4

Verify imported vouchers

Go to Gateway of Tally → Display → Account Books → Bank Book. Select your bank ledger and the date range of your statement. Confirm the opening balance, closing balance, and transaction count match the original statement.

Tally Prime vs ERP 9: The import path is the same for both versions. Tally Prime shows a more detailed import summary; ERP 9 shows a simpler count. The XML format exported by Bank Statement Engine is compatible with both.

Method 2: Excel to Tally via ODBC

This method uses Tally's ODBC interface to push data from an Excel spreadsheet. It's more complex and generally only used when you already have data in Excel from other sources.

  1. Download your bank statement as Excel from Bank Statement Engine
  2. Reformat columns to match Tally's required structure (Date, Narration, Debit Amount, Credit Amount, Ledger Name)
  3. Use a macro or a third-party Tally Excel import utility to push rows via ODBC
  4. Enable ODBC in Tally: Gateway of Tally → F12 Configure → Advanced Configuration → Enable ODBC Server → Yes

This method requires a third-party utility or custom VBA macro. The XML method is simpler for most users.

Running Bank Reconciliation After Import

After importing, your bank ledger entries exist in Tally. To reconcile:

  1. Go to Gateway of Tally → Banking → Bank Reconciliation
  2. Select your bank account
  3. Tally shows unreconciled vouchers. For each voucher, enter the bank transaction date (the date on your bank statement) in the "Bank Date" column
  4. When the bank date is entered, the transaction moves to the reconciled section
  5. The difference between "Balance as per Bank" and "Balance as per Company Books" should reach zero when all entries are matched

If the difference is non-zero after matching all transactions, check for: an incorrect opening balance, a missed transaction, or a data entry error in an amount.

Convert Your Bank Statement to Tally XML

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does it work with Tally on Cloud / Tally hosted services?

Yes — the XML file is imported the same way regardless of whether Tally runs locally or on a hosted server. You'll need to upload the XML file to the hosted environment first (via Remote Desktop or the hosting provider's file manager), then run the import from within Tally.

Can I import multiple months at once?

Yes. Upload a multi-month statement PDF and the converter will extract all transactions. The Tally XML will contain vouchers spanning the full date range. Tally imports them all in one go.

The imported amounts have the wrong sign — debits are showing as credits

This happens if the bank ledger is configured as a Bank Account (asset) but the XML is formatted for a liability ledger, or vice versa. In Tally, check Accounts Info → Ledgers → Alter for your bank account and confirm the group is set to "Bank Accounts" under Current Assets. Contact support if the issue persists after checking the ledger group.

Does the Tally XML support narration and cheque number fields?

Yes. Bank Statement Engine populates the Narration field with the transaction description and, where the bank statement includes reference/cheque numbers, those are included as well.

Will duplicate vouchers be created if I import the same statement twice?

Tally does not automatically detect duplicates on XML import — it will create new vouchers even if identical ones exist. Avoid importing the same date range twice. If you do, delete the duplicate vouchers via Day Book → select date range → delete duplicates.

Related: Bank Statement to Tally XML · Import Bank Statement in Tally Prime · Excel to Tally