Common Errors in Tally ERP 9 and Tally Prime and How to Fix Them: Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide with Practical Examples, Tables, and Complete Solutions

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by

Himanshu
in ,

Tally ERP 9 and Tally Prime are among the most widely used accounting and ERP software by small and medium-sized businesses across India. More than 2 million users depend on Tally for financial accounting, GST compliance, payroll management, inventory management, and reporting. While Tally is highly stable, fast, and reliable, users often encounter common errors due to incorrect settings, wrong configurations, corrupted data files, network problems, or improper voucher entries.

Understanding these common issues and knowing how to fix them ensures smooth accounting operations, accurate financial reporting, and uninterrupted workflow. This article provides a detailed list of frequent Tally errors along with step-by-step solutions. It also includes examples, explanations, a two-column table for clarity, and best practices to prevent errors.

Why Do Errors Happen in Tally?

Errors in Tally usually occur due to:

  1. Incorrect data entry
  2. Damaged or corrupted company data
  3. Improper shutdown or power failure
  4. Incorrect voucher type selection
  5. Mismatch in GST settings
  6. Network and multi-user configuration issues
  7. Ledger misclassification
  8. Version incompatibility
  9. Security control misconfiguration
  10. Use of outdated Tally version

With more than 500 different error combinations identified over years, the majority fall into predictable patterns that can be easily fixed.

Table: Common Errors in Tally and Their Basic Causes

ErrorBasic Cause
Tally Data CorruptedSystem crash, improper shutdown, virus, bad sectors
Voucher Type Not AllowedIncorrect voucher configuration
Incorrect GST CalculationWrong ledger settings or missing GST rate
Unable to Locate CompanyWrong data path or deleted folder
Error Code 407: File DamagedData corruption
Error “Voucher Number Already Exists”Duplicate voucher number entries
TDL ErrorWrong customization code or missing TDL file

Detailed List of Common Tally Errors and How to Fix Them

1. Tally Data Corruption Error

This is one of the most common issues users face, especially when systems are not shut down properly.

Symptoms:

  • Error code 407
  • Company fails to load
  • Sudden shutdown of Tally

How to Fix:

  1. Open Tally → Select Company Info.
  2. Choose “Repair” (in Tally Prime) or “Rewrite Data” (in Tally ERP 9).
  3. Select the data path and company folder.
  4. Follow on-screen repair process.

In more than 80 percent of cases, data repair restores the company successfully.

2. Incorrect GST Calculation

GST-related issues happen when ledgers or items are not configured properly.

Symptoms:

  • Tax not calculated
  • Wrong GST amounts
  • GSTR-1 mismatch
  • ITC mismatch

How to Fix:

  1. Enable GST from F11 → Statutory Features.
  2. Check ledger:
    • Set “Is GST Applicable: Yes”
    • Correct GST rate
    • Correct Taxability (Taxable, Nil Rated, Exempt)
  3. For items:
    • Enable GST for stock items
    • Enter HSN
    • Enter applicable GST rate
  4. Re-enter voucher to auto-calculate GST.

More than 60 percent GST issues are caused by wrong ledger tax classification.

3. Voucher Number Already Exists

This happens when Tally tries to save two vouchers with the same number.

How to Fix:

  1. Go to F11 → Voucher Configuration → Set “Use Automatic Numbering: Yes”.
  2. Or manually change voucher numbers.
  3. Remove duplicate entries by checking Day Book (Display → Day Book).

Around 25 percent of sales and purchase mismatches occur due to duplicate voucher numbering.

4. Error “Company Not Found” or Missing Company

This occurs when the company folder is not in the correct Tally data path.

How to Fix:

  1. Press F1 (Select Company).
  2. Check the data path displayed at top-right.
  3. Verify company folder exists in that path.
  4. If not, browse to the correct data location manually.
  5. Recreate the data path if necessary.

Many businesses store Tally data on external disks, which frequently causes this error.

5. Tally Crashes While Opening

A crash usually points to version issues or system conflicts.

How to Fix:

  1. Update Tally to the latest release.
  2. Restart system.
  3. Disable background applications that may conflict.
  4. If crash persists, delete the Tally configuration file (Tally.ini) and reconfigure.

Updating Tally resolves more than 70 percent crash issues.

6. Error in File Access or Permission Denied

This happens when Tally cannot access the data folder due to security restrictions.

How to Fix:

  1. Go to folder properties.
  2. Give full permission to all users.
  3. Remove “Read Only” option.
  4. Disable antivirus restrictions temporarily.

Multi-user environments are most prone to permission errors.

7. Error Code 214 or 288 Related to Network Issues

These errors generally occur in tally.net or multi-user setups.

How to Fix:

  1. Check internet connectivity.
  2. Restart Tally Gateway Server (for multi-user).
  3. Check firewall settings.
  4. Ping the server system IP to ensure connectivity.

In many offices, IP conflict is the root cause of Tally network errors.

8. Incorrect Ledger Grouping

Wrong classification leads to wrong reports and mismatches in Balance Sheet or P&L.

How to Fix:

  1. Open the ledger.
  2. Check the “Group” field.
  3. Correct the group to appropriate classification.
  4. Recheck Balance Sheet and Trial Balance.

Incorrect grouping leads to more than 30 percent reconciliation issues in businesses.

9. Error “Voucher Type Not Allowed”

This occurs when voucher type settings disable certain entries.

How to Fix:

  1. Go to Accounts Info → Voucher Types.
  2. Check “Use in voucher entry”.
  3. Enable numbering and configurations.
  4. Save settings.

10. TDL Errors

These occur due to wrong external TDL files.

How to Fix:

  1. Go to F1 → Settings → TDL Configuration.
  2. Remove invalid TDL path.
  3. Reload Tally.
  4. Add correct custom TDL file if necessary.

More than 40 percent TDL errors occur due to outdated customization code.

How to Prevent Errors in Tally: Best Practices

  1. Always close Tally properly.
  2. Take regular data backup.
  3. Enable Tally Audit.
  4. Use licensed version only.
  5. Keep Tally updated.
  6. Train staff to avoid common data entry mistakes.
  7. Keep antivirus updated to avoid corruption.
  8. Use UPS to prevent power failure issues.
  9. Maintain version history folder for safety.

More than 90 percent Tally issues are preventable with simple precautions.

Conclusion

Errors in Tally ERP 9 and Tally Prime can disrupt accounting operations, affect GST filing, and delay reporting. However, with the right understanding, most of these errors can be fixed easily without external help. Whether it is data corruption, GST mismatch, voucher duplication, or network trouble, each issue has a structured solution within Tally. A disciplined approach, proper configurations, regular backups, and updated software can ensure seamless accounting experience for businesses.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Tally software versions, error codes, and solutions may vary based on updates, business configurations, and system environments. Users must verify steps according to their Tally version and business requirements.