Tally Shortcut Keys for Faster Accounting: Complete Guide to Boost Speed and Productivity in Tally Prime

Nov 7, 2025

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in Educational News, Tally ERP 9 Training

Speed and accuracy are the two pillars of modern accounting. Whether you are managing daily vouchers, generating GST reports, or reconciling bank statements, time plays a crucial role in efficiency. Tally Prime, one of India’s most widely used accounting software, offers a powerful solution to this challenge — shortcut keys.

Shortcut keys in Tally are simple key combinations that let users perform common operations instantly, without navigating through menus. A good accountant not only knows Tally’s features but also masters its keyboard shortcuts to save time and minimize errors.

This article provides a detailed guide to the most useful Tally shortcut keys that every accountant, business owner, and data entry operator should know.

Why Shortcut Keys Matter in Tally Prime

Learning Tally shortcut keys isn’t just about convenience — it’s about transforming the way you work. The average accountant spends several hours each day performing repetitive tasks. Using shortcuts can increase productivity by 30% to 50%, according to industry estimates.

Key Advantages of Using Shortcut Keys

Advantage	Description
Speed	Execute commands in seconds without using the mouse
Accuracy	Fewer clicks mean reduced chances of misclicks or wrong entries
Efficiency	Enables faster navigation between modules and reports
Professionalism	Reflects mastery of software tools and enhances work output
Reduced fatigue	Continuous mouse movement and clicks are minimized

In large organizations, efficient use of shortcuts can save hundreds of man-hours per year, significantly improving workflow.

1. Shortcut Keys for Company Management

These shortcuts help you handle company creation, selection, and closure operations quickly.

Function	Shortcut Key	Description
Create a new company	Alt + F3	Opens the company creation window
Alter existing company	Alt + F3	Also used for modifying company details
Select a different company	F1	Displays the list of existing companies
Shut company	Alt + F1	Closes the active company
Quit Tally	Ctrl + Q	Exits without saving changes
Save company data	Ctrl + A	Accepts the screen and saves details

These are essential when managing multiple business entities in Tally, especially for accountants handling several clients.

2. Shortcut Keys for Voucher Entry

Voucher entry is at the heart of Tally accounting. Using these keys can significantly reduce data entry time.

Voucher Type	Shortcut Key	Description
Sales Voucher	F8	Opens sales entry window
Purchase Voucher	F9	Records purchase transactions
Receipt Voucher	F6	Used for recording receipts
Payment Voucher	F5	Used for payment transactions
Journal Voucher	F7	For adjustments and non-cash transactions
Contra Voucher	F4	Used for fund transfer between cash/bank accounts
Credit Note	Ctrl + F8	For returns or sales reversals
Debit Note	Ctrl + F9	For purchase returns or expense reversals
Memorandum Voucher	Ctrl + F10	Temporary entries for review
Reversing Journal	Ctrl + F10	Used for year-end adjustments

Efficient use of voucher shortcuts ensures that large volumes of transactions can be entered seamlessly and with minimal delay.

3. Shortcut Keys for Navigation

Navigating between screens in Tally becomes effortless with these shortcuts.

Function	Shortcut	Description
Open Gateway of Tally	Ctrl + M	Returns to main screen
Previous Screen	Esc	Goes back to the last screen
Delete Line	Alt + D	Deletes selected entry or voucher
Duplicate Voucher	Alt + 2	Creates an exact copy of selected voucher
Print Current Screen	Alt + P	Opens print configuration window
Export Data	Alt + E	Exports data in desired format
Email Report	Alt + M	Sends report via email directly
Change Period	Alt + F2	Alters reporting period
Change Date	F2	Modifies voucher date instantly

These shortcuts allow users to switch between modules, modify entries, or print reports without interrupting their workflow.

4. Shortcut Keys for Masters (Ledger, Group, and Stock Management)

Creating and managing masters like Ledgers, Groups, and Stock Items is a frequent task in Tally.

Task	Shortcut	Description
Create Ledger	Alt + C	Opens Ledger Creation from any entry screen
Alter Ledger	Ctrl + Enter	Opens ledger alteration screen
Create Stock Item	Alt + C	Adds a new stock item while entering voucher
Create Unit of Measure	Alt + C	Adds measurement units on the fly
Display Chart of Accounts	Ctrl + F9	Shows all master records
Create Group	Alt + C	Used while grouping accounts
Delete Master	Alt + D	Deletes selected master entry

These shortcuts help streamline master data entry and prevent constant back-and-forth navigation.

5. Shortcut Keys for Reporting and Analysis

Reports are the most critical component of Tally. Accountants frequently access Balance Sheets, Profit & Loss, and Day Books.

Report	Shortcut Key	Description
Display Balance Sheet	F1 (Accounts Info) → B	Quickly opens the balance sheet
Profit & Loss Account	F1 (Accounts Info) → P	Displays income and expense summary
Day Book	Ctrl + F12	Lists all transactions for the selected period
Trial Balance	Ctrl + F9	Summarizes all ledger balances
Stock Summary	Ctrl + F5	Displays item-wise stock status
Ratio Analysis	Ctrl + F8	Shows financial performance ratios
Outstanding Report	Ctrl + F6	Lists receivables and payables
Cash Flow / Fund Flow	Alt + F5	Analyzes cash and fund movements

With these keys, accountants can access financial insights instantly and make faster business decisions.

6. Shortcut Keys for GST and Taxation

GST compliance is integral to Tally Prime. Shortcut keys simplify navigation and report generation related to taxation.

Function	Shortcut Key	Description
Open GST Report	Alt + G + S	Opens the GST returns summary
Display Tax Computation	Alt + F12	Shows GST liability computation
Print Tax Invoice	Alt + P	Opens the invoice print configuration
Change Tax Classification	Alt + C	While creating or editing stock/item ledger
View GSTR Reports	Ctrl + F5	Displays GST summaries and filing data

Mastering these saves a substantial amount of time during month-end tax preparation and compliance reviews.

7. Shortcut Keys for Inventory and Stock

For trading and manufacturing firms, inventory reports are as critical as accounting data.

Function	Shortcut	Description
Stock Summary	Ctrl + F5	Displays stock item details
Godown Summary	Ctrl + F7	Shows stock by location
Stock Transfer	Alt + F7	Opens stock journal entry
Reorder Status	Alt + F6	Displays reorder levels
Physical Stock Verification	Alt + F10	Updates actual stock position

Efficient use of these keys keeps inventory management accurate and timely.

8. Shortcut Keys for Printing, Exporting, and Emailing

Documentation is a daily part of accounting. These shortcuts make sharing and storing data effortless.

Task	Shortcut	Description
Print any report	Alt + P	Opens print setup
Export data	Alt + E	Allows exporting to Excel, PDF, XML, etc.
Email report	Alt + M	Sends reports directly via email
Print Preview	Ctrl + P	Displays preview before final print
Print Configuration	Ctrl + F10	Adjusts printer setup

Using these shortcuts ensures faster reporting and documentation, crucial during audits or client reviews.

9. Productivity Tips for Using Tally Shortcuts Effectively

Memorize in Categories – Learn voucher, report, and navigation shortcuts separately.
Use Alt + C and Ctrl + Enter frequently to create or alter ledgers on the go.
Avoid mouse usage – challenge yourself to complete a session using only the keyboard.
Customize key combinations in Tally’s configuration settings to match your workflow.
Train your team – sharing these shortcuts improves collective productivity across departments.

Using keyboard shortcuts consistently can reduce the average time per transaction by up to 40 seconds, which adds up to substantial savings over hundreds of entries each week.

Conclusion

Efficiency in accounting is not just about recording data — it’s about recording it faster, smarter, and more accurately.
Tally’s extensive set of shortcut keys transforms how accountants and business owners operate, providing a seamless experience without mouse dependence.

Whether you are entering vouchers, preparing GST returns, analyzing reports, or managing stock, mastering shortcut keys in Tally Prime is the fastest route to becoming a professional-grade user. The more familiar you become with these key combinations, the more efficient your accounting process becomes.

Disclaimer

This article is intended purely for informational and educational purposes. The shortcut keys mentioned are based on standard configurations of Tally Prime and may vary depending on software updates or custom settings. Users are advised to verify shortcut functionality in their version of Tally before use.

About the author

I’m Himanshu Dhar, a dedicated MIS trainer proudly associated with I Turn Institute. My journey in the realm of data management and automation spans over 14 enriching years. My passion for this field extends to freelancing projects, where I bring real-world practicality into my teaching. My impact in education is marked by the success of over 25,000 students I’ve had the privilege of mentoring, hailing from diverse backgrounds. Beyond the classroom, I’ve had the honor of conducting corporate training sessions and seminars, catering to the unique needs of businesses. Let’s unlock your potential together in the realm of data analysis and automation.