Accounting exports
Download your issued invoices or accepted supplier invoices as the import file of Zoho Books, Xero, QuickBooks Online or Tally.
Alya Books writes the files these programs import: one CSV row per invoice line for Zoho Books, Xero and QuickBooks Online, and an XML voucher file for Tally. Sales exports carry issued invoices, credit notes and debit notes; purchase exports carry accepted supplier invoices.
Export invoices
- Go to Invoices and click Export → Accounting export.
- Choose the Accounting software. The note under the field says where to import the file in that program.
- Pick the Tax period or type From/To dates. The period matches your VAT return periods.
- Check the Tax codes: they are prefilled with common names, but must match the tax rates set up in your accounting software (for example "5% VAT on Income" in Xero). Type the exact names.
- Enter the income account (Xero, QuickBooks) or the sales ledger and VAT ledger (Tally) if they differ from the defaults.
- Tick Include test documents only for a trial run.
- Click Download. Import the file in your accounting software and review the preview it shows before confirming.
Export supplier invoices
On Incoming Invoices, click Export → Accounting export. Only accepted invoices of the period are included; the account becomes the expense account or purchase ledger.
What is in the file
| Program | File | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Zoho Books | CSV | Invoice/bill number, dates, customer or vendor with TRN, place of supply, one row per line with quantity, price, tax and tax type, reference, project |
| Xero | CSV | Xero's sales invoice / bill template: contact, number, reference, dates, line description, quantity, unit amount, account code, tax type, tax amount, project as tracking |
| QuickBooks Online | CSV | QuickBooks' invoice / bill import layout with item, description, quantity, rate, amount, tax code and tax amount |
| Tally | XML | Sales, Purchase, Credit Note and Debit Note vouchers with the party ledger, the sales or purchase ledger per VAT category and the VAT ledger |
Credit notes are written with negative amounts (Zoho, Xero, QuickBooks) or as credit note vouchers (Tally).
Good to know
- The export is a file, not a live connection. The Connectors page keeps the Zoho Books sync; Xero, QuickBooks and Odoo connectors are planned.
- Documents in a foreign currency keep their currency; make sure the target company allows multi-currency.
- The same files are available through the API (
GET /exports/accounting), the MCP server and the command-line tool (npm package@alyabooks/cli, commandalyabooks, for examplealyabooks export accounting). - Keep the downloaded file with your VAT return of the period.