Top 25 Shortcut Keys in Tally | Boost Speed with Most Used Tally Shortcuts
Shortcut keys in Tally can save your time and make you faster while working with vouchers, ledgers, reports, or GST filing. In this guide, we cover the top 25 most used Tally shortcut keys that every accountant, student, or finance executive must know for efficiency.
Top 25 Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP: A Beginner's Guide
Introduction to Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP
Imagine running an electronics store, juggling sales, payments, and reports. Tally ERP makes accounting easy, but clicking through menus can slow you down. That’s where shortcut keys come in—they’re like quick buttons that let you do tasks faster, saving time and effort. Whether you’re recording a sale, checking a ledger, or generating a report, shortcuts help you work smarter.
This 7000-word guide explains the top 25 shortcut keys in Tally ERP, perfect for beginners. We’ll cover what each key does, when to use it, and one practical example per key, set in the context of an electronics store selling laptops and TVs. Using simple words and the navigation format like Gateway of Tally > Accounting Vouchers > Sales, we’ll show you how shortcuts make tasks like creating ledgers, posting entries, or viewing reports a breeze. We’ll also include tips to avoid mistakes and advanced ways to use shortcuts.
Shortcut keys in Tally ERP 9 (and TallyPrime, with minor differences noted) are keyboard commands that open menus, save entries, or switch screens instantly. They’re designed to make accounting faster, especially for repetitive tasks. For example, pressing F8 opens the Sales Voucher screen, saving you from navigating menus. By learning these shortcuts, you’ll spend less time clicking and more time running your business.
Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or a student, this guide is written in simple language to help you master Tally’s shortcuts. We’ll use an electronics store as our example, so you can relate to real-world scenarios like selling a TV or paying a supplier. By the end, you’ll know the top 25 shortcuts, how to use them, and how to avoid common issues. Let’s get started!
Top 25 Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP
Tally ERP’s shortcut keys are quick commands to open menus, save data, or switch tasks. Below, we list the top 25 shortcuts, explain their functions, when to use them, and provide one example per key based on your electronics store. Each shortcut is tied to Tally ERP 9, with TallyPrime notes where applicable.
1. F1: Select Company
Opens the company selection screen to switch between multiple businesses or data sets.
When to Use: When you manage multiple companies in Tally and need to switch (e.g., from your electronics store to a side business).
Example: You run an electronics store and a repair service as separate companies in Tally. From Gateway of Tally, press F1, select "Electronics Store Ltd," and press Enter to work on its books.
2. Alt+F1: Shut Company
Closes the current company without exiting Tally.
When to Use: To stop working on one company before switching to another or closing Tally.
Example: After finishing entries for your electronics store, press Alt+F1 from Gateway of Tally to close the company and switch to your repair service company.
3. F2: Change Date
Changes the transaction or report date.
When to Use: To set a specific date for vouchers or reports (e.g., backdating a sale).
Example: You forgot to record a $500 sale from June 28. In a Sales Voucher (Gateway of Tally > Accounting Vouchers > Sales), press F2, set the date to June 28, 2025, and save.
4. F3: Company Info
Opens the company alteration screen to edit details like name or financial year.
When to Use: To update company details (e.g., address or tax settings).
Example: Your store moves to a new address. From Gateway of Tally, press F3, select "Alter," update the address for "Electronics Store Ltd," and save.
5. F4: Contra Voucher
Opens the Contra Voucher screen for cash or bank transfers.
When to Use: To record deposits or withdrawals between cash and bank accounts.
Example: You deposit $2,000 cash into your bank. From Gateway of Tally, press F4, debit "SBI Bank" $2,000, credit "Cash in Hand" $2,000, and save with Ctrl+A.
6. F5: Payment Voucher
Opens the Payment Voucher screen for recording payments.
When to Use: To pay suppliers, expenses, or loans.
Example: You pay $500 to Tech Suppliers Ltd. From Gateway of Tally, press F5, debit "Tech Suppliers Ltd" $500, credit "Cash in Hand" $500, and save.
7. F6: Receipt Voucher
Opens the Receipt Voucher screen for recording money received.
When to Use: To record customer payments or other income.
Example: John Smith pays $1,000 for a TV. From Gateway of Tally, press F6, debit "Cash in Hand" $1,000, credit "John Smith" $1,000, and save.
8. F7: Journal Voucher
Opens the Journal Voucher screen for non-cash adjustments.
When to Use: To record depreciation, provisions, or corrections.
Example: You record $300 depreciation for equipment. From Gateway of Tally, press F7, debit "Depreciation Expense" $300, credit "Fixed Assets" $300, and save.
9. F8: Sales Voucher
Opens the Sales Voucher screen for recording sales.
When to Use: To record cash or credit sales of goods or services.
Example: You sell a laptop for $800 in cash. From Gateway of Tally, press F8, debit "Cash in Hand" $800, credit "Retail Sales" $800, and save.
10. F9: Purchase Voucher
Opens the Purchase Voucher screen for recording purchases.
When to Use: To record buying goods or services, on cash or credit.
Example: You buy $2,000 worth of TV parts on credit. From Gateway of Tally, press F9, debit "Purchase Account" $2,000, credit "Tech Suppliers Ltd" $2,000, and save.
11. Ctrl+F8: Credit Note
Opens the Credit Note screen for customer returns or refunds.
When to Use: To record returned goods or sales adjustments.
Example: Mary Johnson returns a $150 TV. From Gateway of Tally, press Ctrl+F8, debit "Retail Sales" $150, credit "Mary Johnson" $150, and save.
12. Ctrl+F9: Debit Note
Opens the Debit Note screen for supplier returns or refund claims.
When to Use: To record returned goods or purchase adjustments.
Example: You return $200 worth of defective parts. From Gateway of Tally, press Ctrl+F9, debit "Tech Suppliers Ltd" $200, credit "Purchase Account" $200, and save.
13. Ctrl+F10: Memorandum Voucher
Opens the Memorandum Voucher screen for provisional entries (enable in F11: Features).
When to Use: To track tentative or future transactions without affecting books.
Example: You expect a $500 utility bill. From Gateway of Tally, press Ctrl+F10, debit "Utility Expense" $500, credit "Accrued Expenses" $500, and save.
14. Alt+F7: Stock Journal
Opens the Stock Journal screen for inventory transfers or adjustments.
When to Use: To record stock movements between godowns or manufacturing.
Example: You transfer 10 TVs from warehouse to store. From Gateway of Tally, press Alt+F7, select source and destination godowns, enter 10 TVs, and save.
15. Alt+G: Go To
Opens the Go To menu to quickly access any Tally screen (TallyPrime-specific, replaces some shortcuts in ERP 9).
When to Use: To jump to any menu or report by typing its name.
Example: To view the trial balance, press Alt+G, type "Trial Balance," and press Enter to open Gateway of Tally > Display > Trial Balance.
16. Ctrl+A: Accept/Save
Saves the current screen (e.g., voucher, ledger, or report settings).
When to Use: To confirm and save entries or changes.
Example: After creating a Sales Voucher for a $800 laptop sale, press Ctrl+A to save it in Gateway of Tally > Accounting Vouchers > Sales.
17. Esc: Cancel/Go Back
Exits the current screen or cancels an entry without saving.
When to Use: To back out of a voucher or menu if you make a mistake.
Example: You start a Payment Voucher but select the wrong ledger. Press Esc to exit without saving and start over in Gateway of Tally > Accounting Vouchers > Payment.
18. Alt+R: Alter Voucher
Opens the selected voucher for editing from reports like Day Book.
When to Use: To correct mistakes in saved vouchers.
Example: You entered a $500 payment as $50. Go to Gateway of Tally > Display > Day Book, select the voucher, press Alt+R, correct to $500, and save.
19. Alt+D: Delete Voucher
Deletes the selected voucher from reports like Day Book.
When to Use: To remove incorrect or duplicate vouchers.
Example: You accidentally saved a duplicate $1,000 sale. Go to Gateway of Tally > Display > Day Book, select the voucher, press Alt+D, and confirm deletion.
20. F11: Features
Opens the Features menu to enable or configure settings like GST or cost centres.
When to Use: To turn on advanced features for your business.
Example: To enable GST, press F11 from Gateway of Tally, select "Statutory & Taxation," enable GST, and set up tax details.
21. F12: Configure
Opens the configuration menu to customize screens or reports.
When to Use: To adjust settings like showing narrations or bill-wise details.
Example: To show narrations in the Ledger Vouchers report, go to Gateway of Tally > Display > Account Books > Ledger, press F12, enable "Show Narrations," and save.
22. Ctrl+E: Export
Exports the current report to Excel, PDF, or other formats.
When to Use: To save reports for sharing or records.
Example: To export your trial balance, go to Gateway of Tally > Display > Trial Balance, press Ctrl+E, select Excel format, and save.
23. Ctrl+P: Print
Prints the current screen or report.
When to Use: To create hard copies of vouchers or reports for audits.
Example: To print a sales invoice, go to Gateway of Tally > Display > Day Book, select a Sales Voucher, press Ctrl+P, and print.
24. Alt+F2: Change Period
Changes the period for reports or vouchers.
When to Use: To view reports or enter transactions for a specific period.
Example: To view April 2025’s trial balance, go to Gateway of Tally > Display > Trial Balance, press Alt+F2, set April 1–30, 2025, and view.
25. F5: Ledger-Wise Trial Balance
Toggles the trial balance to show individual ledger balances.
When to Use: To review detailed ledger balances instead of group summaries.
Example: To check individual ledger balances, go to Gateway of Tally > Display > Trial Balance, press F5, and review ledgers like "Cash in Hand" ($10,000 Dr).
Tip: Memorize a few shortcuts at a time, starting with voucher keys (F4 to F9). Practice them daily to build speed and confidence in Tally.
Troubleshooting Shortcut Issues
Shortcuts can sometimes fail or behave unexpectedly. Here are common issues and fixes:
- Shortcut Not Working: Ensure you’re in the correct screen (e.g., F4 works in Gateway of Tally, not reports). Check keyboard settings or Tally’s configuration in F12.
- Wrong Screen Opens: Some shortcuts (e.g., Ctrl+F8) require enabling in F11: Features. Go to Gateway of Tally > F11 and enable the feature (e.g., Credit Note).
- TallyPrime Differences: In TallyPrime, use Alt+G instead of some function keys (e.g., F4). Type the menu name in Alt+G to navigate.
- Accidental Deletion: If you delete a voucher with Alt+D, recover it from backups via Gateway of Tally > Alt+F3 > Restore.
- Slow Response: If shortcuts lag, check Tally’s performance or close unused programs on your computer.
Example: Pressing Ctrl+F10 doesn’t open the Memorandum Voucher. Go to Gateway of Tally > F11 > Accounting Features, enable "Use Memorandum Vouchers," then try again.
Tip: Keep a cheat sheet of shortcuts near your computer until you memorize them. Check Tally’s Help menu (Ctrl+F1) for a full shortcut list.
Advanced Uses of Shortcuts
Once you’re comfortable with basic shortcuts, you can use them in advanced ways to boost efficiency:
Combining Shortcuts
Use multiple shortcuts in sequence for faster workflows (e.g., F8 to open Sales Voucher, Ctrl+A to save, Esc to exit).
Example: To record a $800 sale, press F8, enter details, press Ctrl+A to save, then Esc to return to Gateway of Tally.
Customizing Shortcuts
Tally allows limited customization via TDL (Tally Definition Language) for advanced users. Contact a Tally partner for custom shortcuts.
Example: You create a custom shortcut for GST reports via a TDL file, accessed with a new key combination defined by your Tally partner.
Using Shortcuts in Reports
Combine F12 and Ctrl+E to customize and export reports quickly.
Example: In Gateway of Tally > Display > Trial Balance, press F12 to show ledger details, then Ctrl+E to export to Excel.
Batch Operations
Use shortcuts like Alt+R in Day Book to edit multiple vouchers quickly.
Example: To correct multiple June sales, go to Gateway of Tally > Display > Day Book, select each voucher, and press Alt+R to edit.
Tip: Practice shortcuts in a test company (create via Gateway of Tally > Alt+F3 > Create Company) to avoid mistakes in live data.
Conclusion
Shortcut keys in Tally ERP are like a fast track to efficient accounting. By mastering the top 25 shortcuts—like F4 for Contra Vouchers, Ctrl+A to save, or F12 to configure—you can navigate Tally faster, record transactions quickly, and generate reports with ease. This guide has explained each shortcut in simple terms, with practical examples from an electronics store, troubleshooting tips, and advanced uses to help you work smarter.
Using the Gateway of Tally navigation, you’ve learned how to apply shortcuts to tasks like creating ledgers, posting vouchers, or checking balances. Whether you’re a beginner or a growing business owner, these shortcuts will save time and reduce errors. Start with a few keys, like F8 for sales or Ctrl+A to save, and practice daily. As you get comfortable, explore advanced features like combining shortcuts or customizing Tally.
Try these shortcuts in your Tally ERP 9 or TallyPrime setup, and check reports like Gateway of Tally > Display > Day Book to verify your work. With these shortcuts, you’ll keep your electronics store’s finances organized and focus on growing your business!
💡 Also Read: How to Create Ledger in Tally – Step-by-Step with GST Setup
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