IndiaAuditLens
Tally audit data preparation guide
A practical hand-off checklist for CA firms and clients preparing Tally, GST, bank, TDS and schedule files for statutory audit review. For audit teams and the client’s accountant; 5 parts · 20 checks.
Use this when
- A client sends Tally data late or in multiple versions.
- The audit team loses time cleaning ledgers and voucher exports.
- GST, bank, TDS and schedules arrive disconnected from books.
- Managers want a repeatable hand-off before audit import.
What you end up with
- Cleaner import, fewer missing-file loops, faster classification and a more reviewable audit file.
1. Before export
- Confirm the company name, financial year, books finalization status and audit period.
- Take a dated Tally backup before making audit-period changes.
- Keep a short note of accounting software version, edit-log status and export owner.
- Lock or document late postings after the data hand-off date.
2. Core Tally exports
- Company backup or XML export, depending on the agreed import route.
- Ledger masters, group masters, voucher register or day book, and trial balance.
- Outstanding receivables and payables, ageing schedules, and stock summary where relevant.
- Bank ledger, cash ledger, journal vouchers, debit notes, credit notes and year-end adjustments.
3. Statutory support files
- GSTR-2B, GSTR-1, GSTR-3B summaries, e-way bill or e-invoice reports where applicable.
- Bank statements, bank reconciliation statement and unreconciled item notes.
- Form 26AS, AIS/TIS extracts, TDS ledgers, challans, and vendor/customer PAN or GSTIN masters.
- Fixed asset register, loan schedules, related-party list and management representation drafts.
4. Quality checks before hand-off
- Review duplicate ledgers, unmapped groups, suspense accounts and unusual opening balances.
- Check negative cash, round-number postings, backdated vouchers and large year-end journals.
- Ensure GSTIN, PAN, vendor names, invoice numbers, voucher dates and narration fields are usable.
- Reconcile trial balance totals with financial statements or management accounts before import.
5. Folder and naming convention
- Use one folder per client and year, with subfolders for Tally, GST, bank, TDS, schedules and notes.
- Name files with client, year, source and export date, for example client-fy2025-26-tally-daybook-2026-04-30.xlsx.
- Keep a readme file with contact person, export assumptions, missing files and known accounting issues.
- Share source files once, then keep later changes as revised versions instead of silently replacing them.
Minimum file pack
- Use this as the first client-request list, then remove items that are not applicable to the engagement.
- Tally backup or XML: Primary accounting source for import and traceability.
- Ledger and group masters: Needed for classification, mapping and exception review.
- Voucher/day book export: Needed for voucher analysis, sampling and unusual-entry checks.
- Trial balance: Base for financial statement classification and balance checks.
- GST 2B and GST returns: Used for purchase, ITC and GST reconciliation review.
- Bank statements and BRS: Used for bank reconciliation and unmatched item review.
- TDS/26AS/AIS support: Used for tax deduction, income and party-level checks.
- Schedules and management notes: Used for fixed assets, loans, related parties and disclosures.
Where IndiaAuditLens does this for you
- For audit teams who start from the client's Tally: bring the books in once, by file or with the Tally Bridge, and work on them in the audit file instead of in exported sheets.
- Connect or import: Import Tally XML or JSON files, several companies at once, or pair the Tally Bridge on a Windows PC for live sync.
- Check and classify: Import checks show what came in. Ledgers are classified to Schedule III, with last year's mapping carried forward.
- Review the edit log: Tally's edit log is read in, each edited voucher shows its versions, and the team raises a finding where needed.
- Reconcile and test: Bank, GST 2B and TDS 26AS against the same books, then ledger scrutiny and samples.
Source and review note
- This is an operational preparation guide, not a legal opinion. For statutory interpretation, audit reporting requirements, Companies Act materials, GST law, tax audit and professional standards, use current official sources and firm-level review.
Frequently asked questions
Is this guide a replacement for statutory audit judgment?
No. It is a practical data-preparation checklist for audit teams and clients. The auditor still evaluates completeness, evidence, materiality, disclosures and professional judgments.
Does every audit need every file listed in the guide?
No. The required files depend on the client, audit scope, industry and applicable reporting requirements. Use the checklist as a starting point and mark non-applicable items clearly.
What should I bring to a demo?
Nothing. We show it on a sample company, from data import to the report. Bring your questions about your own clients and we will answer them.