Exporting a trial balance from your accounting software
Statutory accounts start from a trial balance: every nominal account with its closing balance at the year end. Export it from your bookkeeping software for the exact financial year end, check that debits equal credits and that the year is closed, and keep the prior-year balances for the comparatives.
Export guides by software
How do I export a trial balance from Xero for my year end?
How to export a year-end trial balance from Xero for your statutory accounts: the date to use, the format, and the checks to make before uploading it.
How do I export a trial balance from QuickBooks Online for my year end?
How to run and export the Trial Balance report in QuickBooks Online UK for your year end, as Excel or CSV, and what to check before you upload it.
How do I export a trial balance from Sage 50 Accounts?
How to run the trial balance in Sage 50 Accounts for your year end, send it to Excel or export it to a file, and what to check before you upload it.
How do I export a trial balance from Sage Accounting?
How to run the Sage Accounting trial balance as of your year end, with opening and closing balances and summarised profit and loss values, and download it.
How do I export a trial balance from FreeAgent?
How to export the FreeAgent Trial Balance as at your year end, which CSV to choose, and the date range and VAT pitfalls to check before uploading.
How do I export a trial balance from KashFlow?
How to run the IRIS KashFlow Trial Balance for your year end, with opening balances, download it as CSV or PDF, and what to check before you upload it.
How do I export a trial balance from Zoho Books?
How to run the Trial Balance in Zoho Books UK for your year end, add the previous year with Compare With, set the accrual basis and export it.
How do I export a trial balance from Pandle?
How to run the Trial Balance report in Pandle for your company's year end, download it as CSV or PDF, and what to check before you upload it.
How do I export a trial balance from Clear Books?
How to find the Trial balance report in Clear Books, set the period to your year end, download it as CSV or PDF and check it before you upload it.
Trial balance spreadsheet template for statutory accounts
A trial balance layout for preparing statutory accounts from a spreadsheet: the columns, the signs, a worked example that balances, and the checks.
What a usable export contains
- The account code and name of every nominal account with a balance.
- The closing balance at the financial year end, as debit and credit columns or one signed column.
- Totals that balance: debits equal credits.
- The same report for the previous year end, for the comparatives.
Frequently asked questions
Which file format works best?
A spreadsheet export (Excel or CSV) of the trial balance report, with one row per account. A PDF works too, but it is harder to read reliably.
Should I export before or after year-end adjustments?
After. Post depreciation, accruals, prepayments and other year-end journals first, so the trial balance matches the accounts you will approve.
Do I need the previous year as well?
Yes, unless it is the company's first year. The accounts show last year's figures next to this year's for every item.
Prepare your statutory accounts
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Join the waitlistGeneral information about UK company law and tax, not legal or tax advice. The directors remain responsible for the accounts and returns they approve and file.