Learn TallyLesson 5 of 20
Voucher types in TallyPrime
Every transaction is entered through one of a small set of voucher types. Choosing the right type is half of entering it correctly.
What a voucher is
In accounting, a voucher is the document that supports an entry. In Tally, a voucher is the entry itself: a screen on which you record one transaction, with its date, the ledgers debited and credited, the amounts and a narration. To record vouchers, choose Vouchers from Gateway of Tally. Tally opens a voucher screen, and the function keys on the right change it to the type you want.
Accounting vouchers
| Voucher | Key | Used for | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contra | F4 | Movement of money between cash and bank, or between two bank accounts | Dr Bank, Cr Cash |
| Payment | F5 | Money paid out, in cash or from the bank | Dr expense or party, Cr Cash or Bank |
| Receipt | F6 | Money received | Dr Cash or Bank, Cr party or income |
| Journal | F7 | Adjustments with no cash or bank: depreciation, provisions, transfers, corrections | Dr one ledger, Cr another |
| Sales | F8 | Sale of goods or services, cash or credit | Dr customer or Cash, Cr Sales and output tax |
| Purchase | F9 | Purchase of goods or services, cash or credit | Dr Purchases and input tax, Cr supplier or Cash |
| Credit Note | Alt+F6 | Sales return, or reducing the amount a customer owes | Dr Sales and tax, Cr customer |
| Debit Note | Alt+F5 | Purchase return, or reducing the amount owed to a supplier | Dr supplier, Cr Purchases and tax |
Inventory and order vouchers
| Voucher | Key | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Order | Ctrl+F8 | Recording an order received from a customer, before the sale |
| Purchase Order | Ctrl+F9 | Recording an order placed on a supplier |
| Delivery Note | Alt+F8 | Goods sent to a customer, when the invoice follows later |
| Receipt Note | Alt+F9 | Goods received from a supplier, when the bill follows later |
| Rejection In | Ctrl+F6 | Goods returned by a customer (stock record) |
| Rejection Out | Ctrl+F5 | Goods returned to a supplier (stock record) |
| Stock Journal | Alt+F7 | Moving stock between locations, or recording production |
| Physical Stock | Ctrl+F7 | Recording the result of a physical count |
| Payroll | Ctrl+F4 | Salaries, when the payroll feature is used |
These keys are as listed on Tally's own help site when we read it on 12 November 2026. The order and inventory vouchers appear only when the related features are switched on. Pressing F10 on the voucher screen lists all voucher types.
How to choose the type
Ask three questions in order.
- Is it a sale or a purchase of goods or services? Use Sales (F8) or Purchase (F9), whether paid at once or on credit. A return uses a Credit Note or Debit Note.
- If not, did cash or bank move? Money out: Payment (F5). Money in: Receipt (F6). Money only moving between your own cash and bank accounts: Contra (F4).
- If no money moved, it is a Journal (F7).
| Transaction | Voucher |
|---|---|
| Deposited cash into the bank | Contra |
| Paid shop rent by cheque | Payment |
| Customer paid his bill by bank transfer | Receipt |
| Bought goods on credit | Purchase |
| Sold goods for cash | Sales |
| Customer returned damaged goods | Credit Note |
| Depreciation on furniture at the year end | Journal |
| Bought a computer on credit | Journal (or Purchase, if the office records fixed assets that way with GST) |
| Owner withdrew cash for personal use | Payment |
| Owner brought in more capital by cheque | Receipt |
Parts of a voucher screen
- Voucher type and number at the top left. Numbers run automatically for each type.
- Date at the top right. Press F2 to change it. Tally keeps the last date used, so check it for every voucher.
- Ledgers and amounts in the body.
- Narration at the bottom: a line saying what the transaction was. Write one always; in a year's time nobody will remember.
Voucher modes
Several voucher types can be entered in more than one layout. Press Ctrl+H (Change Mode) on the voucher screen to see the choices. Sales and purchase vouchers can be entered as an Item Invoice (with stock items, quantities and rates), as an Accounting Invoice (ledgers only, used for services), or As Voucher (plain debit and credit lines). Payment, receipt and contra vouchers can be entered in single entry mode, where you choose the cash or bank account once and list the other ledgers, or in double entry mode with Dr and Cr lines. The accounting result is the same; the mode only changes how the screen is laid out.
The lessons that follow show each voucher as debit and credit lines, because that is the form that makes the accounting clear whichever mode your office uses.
Saving, changing and removing vouchers
- Save: Enter through the last field, or press Ctrl+A.
- See and change: open the Day Book from Gateway of Tally, select the voucher and press Enter.
- Delete: Alt+D on the voucher. Cancel (keeps the number but removes the effect): Alt+X.
- Duplicate a voucher from a report: Alt+2. Insert one: Alt+I.
Questions learners ask
Which key opens the sales voucher in TallyPrime?
F8 opens the Sales voucher and F9 the Purchase voucher. F4 is Contra, F5 Payment, F6 Receipt and F7 Journal.
Which voucher is used for depositing cash in the bank?
A Contra voucher (F4), because money only moves between your own cash and bank accounts.
What is the difference between a Payment voucher and a Journal voucher?
A Payment voucher records money going out of cash or bank. A Journal voucher records adjustments in which no cash or bank account is involved.
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An independent learning site. Tally and TallyPrime are trademarks of Tally Solutions Private Limited. This site is not connected with, approved by or paid by Tally Solutions, and uses none of its logos, screens or course material. Keys and menu paths were checked against Tally's own help site on 12 November 2026; the software changes with each release, so if your screen differs, follow Tally's help (press Ctrl+F1). Tax treatment in the examples is for learning only: ask your accountant.