How do I export a trial balance from Zoho Books?
In Zoho Books, open the Reports module and click Trial Balance under the Accountant folder. Use Customise to set the date range to end on your financial year end, choose the accrual report basis, and under Compare With select one previous period to get last year's figures beside this year's. Then export or print the report.
Key facts
| Where | Reports (left sidebar) > Accountant > Trial Balance |
|---|---|
| Date range | Customise Report > General > Date Range: a week, month, quarter, year or a custom period |
| Comparatives | Date Range > Compare With > Previous Period(s), then the number of periods |
| Report basis | Customise Report > General > Report Basis: Accrual or Cash |
| Output | Print or PDF described in Zoho's help; check the export menu for a spreadsheet format |
As at 28 October 2026.
Export the trial balance
- Open the report. Go to the Reports module in the left sidebar and click Trial Balance under the Accountant folder.
- Customise. Click the Customize icon at the top right and open the General tab.
- Set the period and basis. In Date Range choose the financial year, or a custom period ending on the year end, and set Report Basis to Accrual.
- Add last year. In Compare With, select Previous Period(s), enter 1 and click Run Report.
- Export. Zoho's help describes printing and PDF output; use a spreadsheet export if the report screen offers one, otherwise save the PDF.
Check before you upload
| Check | Why |
|---|---|
| The report date is the last day of the financial year | The accounts are made up to the accounting reference date, or a date up to 7 days either side of it |
| Year-end journals are posted | Depreciation, accruals, prepayments, stock and the tax charge belong in the trial balance you export |
| Debits equal credits | If the totals differ, something is wrong in the books; the accounts cannot balance |
| Last year's closing balances are the opening balances | The comparatives must agree with last year's accounts |
| The director's loan account is right | An amount a director owes the company is disclosed in the notes and may lead to s455 tax |
| VAT and PAYE accounts agree to the returns | They are creditors for taxation and social security, which the balance sheet formats show separately |
| Suspense and clearing accounts are empty | A balance there is an unexplained item that has to be cleared before the accounts are prepared |
Zoho notes that the Report Basis in the layout options changes only what is displayed; set the basis in Customise Report so the figures themselves are on an accrual basis.
Work out any s455 tax on a director's loan with the s455 calculator, and the filing date with the filing deadline calculator.
Zoho Books specifics
- Comparatives in one report. Compare With puts the previous period next to the current one, which saves running a second report. Check that the comparative column agrees with last year's filed accounts.
- Accrual or cash. Accrual records amounts when transactions are created; cash records them when payment is received. Statutory accounts need the accrual figures, including unpaid invoices and bills.
- Spreadsheet export. Zoho's UK help on managing reports describes printing and PDF output. If your plan offers a spreadsheet export of the Trial Balance, use it; it keeps the accounts in columns.
Using the export with StatutoryAccounts.io
StatutoryAccounts.io is built to read a trial balance export as Excel, CSV or PDF, suggest the Companies Act line item for each nominal account with AI and let you confirm the mapping. A spreadsheet export is best; a PDF can be read too. Keep last year's trial balance as well, unless the comparatives come from the accounts filed at Companies House.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the trial balance in Zoho Books?
In the Reports module, under the Accountant folder: click Trial Balance.
Can Zoho Books show last year's trial balance alongside this year's?
Yes. In Customise, Date Range, use Compare With and select Previous Period(s), then run the report.
Should the Zoho Books trial balance be on accrual or cash basis?
Accrual, set in Customise Report under Report Basis, so that unpaid invoices and bills are included.
Sources
Prepare your statutory accounts
Create an account and set up your company from the Companies House register; your first set of accounts is free. The trial balance import and the CT600 are in preparation.
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.