Tally shortcut keys are what make Tally fast for accountants. The function keys open vouchers, F8 for Sales and F9 for Purchase, while letter keys with Alt or Ctrl handle everything else: Alt + 2 duplicates a voucher, Alt + G jumps to any report and Ctrl + A accepts a screen.
This page lists the shortcut keys in Tally by task, compares TallyPrime with the older Tally ERP 9 where they differ, and links to each detailed guide on vouchers, notes, exports and the calculator.
Quick facts
Sales
F8Purchase
F9Duplicate voucher
Alt + 2Go To
Alt + GAccept
Ctrl + ASelect company
Alt + F3
Basic Tally shortcut keys for vouchers
| Key | Voucher |
|---|---|
| F4 | Contra |
| F5 | Payment |
| F6 | Receipt |
| F7 | Journal |
| F8 | Sales |
| F9 | Purchase |
| F2 | Change the voucher date |
| Ctrl + A | Accept and save |
| Esc | Go back without saving the line |
The full F1 to F12 map, including the Alt and Ctrl versions, is in Tally F1 to F12 keys. Sales entry in particular is explained in sales voucher shortcut.
Tally shortcut keys list by letter (TallyPrime)
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt + C | Create a master while entering, or open the calculator from an amount field |
| Alt + D | Delete |
| Alt + E | Export menu |
| Alt + G | Go To any report or voucher |
| Alt + I | Insert a voucher |
| Alt + K | Company menu |
| Alt + O | Import |
| Alt + X | Cancel a voucher |
| Alt + Y | Data menu |
| Alt + Z | Exchange menu |
| Alt + 2 | Duplicate the voucher |
| Ctrl + A | Accept |
| Ctrl + E | Export the current screen |
| Ctrl + G | Switch To another screen |
| Ctrl + H | Change mode |
| Ctrl + I | More details |
| Ctrl + M | Share or email |
| Ctrl + N | Calculator panel |
| Ctrl + P | Print the current screen |
This A to Z style list covers the letters people ask about most. The right side button bar in TallyPrime always shows the keys available on the current screen, so it is worth glancing at whenever you reach a new report.
Tally duplicate entry shortcut key
Find the earlier entry in the Day Book, keep it highlighted and use Alt + 2. Tally builds a fresh voucher carrying over the ledger names and figures, ready for a new date or small edits; this is how monthly rent or salary entries are repeated in seconds. Alt + I inserts a new voucher before the selected one, and Alt + D deletes it after confirmation. Voucher handling keys are gathered in Tally voucher shortcut keys.
Select company and shut company shortcut key in Tally
| Task | TallyPrime | Tally ERP 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Select or open another company | Alt + F3 | F1 at Gateway |
| Switch between open companies | F3 | F3 |
| Shut a company | Alt + K, then Shut | Alt + F1 |
| Company features | F11 | F11 |
| Change period | Alt + F2 | Alt + F2 |
Shutting a company you are not using keeps lists short and avoids posting to the wrong books, a real risk in offices that keep accounts for several businesses.
TallyPrime versus Tally ERP 9 keys
Most voucher keys are identical, but a few moved. Credit and debit notes are the classic trap: TallyPrime uses Alt + F6 for a Credit Note and Alt + F5 for a Debit Note, while ERP 9 used Ctrl + F8 and Ctrl + F9, which in TallyPrime now open Sales and Purchase Orders. Export moved too, from the Alt + E button in ERP 9 to Alt + E as a menu and Ctrl + E for the current screen in TallyPrime. See TallyPrime shortcut keys, Tally ERP 9 shortcut keys and credit and debit note keys.
Shortcut keys in Tally for reports and export
Alt + G followed by a few letters of a report name, such as Day Book, Balance Sheet or GSTR, opens it directly without menus. Inside reports, Ctrl + E exports the current view to Excel or PDF, Ctrl + P prints and Ctrl + M emails. Exports to a spreadsheet are covered in Tally export to Excel, and the built in calculator, opened with Ctrl + N, in Tally calculator shortcut.
Every Tally guide on this site
| Guide | Main shortcut | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Tally Prime | Vouchers: F4 to F9 | F8 sales, F9 purchase, Alt+G Go To, Ctrl+A save in TallyPrime |
| Export to Excel in Tally | Tally ERP 9: Alt + E | Alt + E opens Export in Tally ERP 9 and TallyPrime; Ctrl + E exports the report in Prime |
| Sales voucher in Tally | Sales voucher: F8 | F8 opens the sales voucher in Tally ERP 9 and TallyPrime |
| Credit and debit note | Credit Note, Prime: Alt + F6 | TallyPrime: Alt + F6 credit note, Alt + F5 debit note. ERP 9: Ctrl + F8, Ctrl + F9 |
| Tally ERP 9 | Vouchers: F4 to F9 | F4 to F9 vouchers, Ctrl + F8 credit note, Alt + F1 close company in ERP 9 |
| Tally vouchers | Accounting vouchers: F4 to F9 | F4 Contra, F5 Payment, F6 Receipt, F7 Journal, F8 Sales, F9 Purchase |
| Tally calculator | Open or hide calculator: Ctrl + N | Ctrl + N opens or hides the calculator panel in TallyPrime |
| Tally F1 to F12 | Date: F2 | F4 Contra, F5 Payment, F6 Receipt, F7 Journal, F8 Sales, F9 Purchase in Tally |
Learning Tally shortcuts for a job
- Learn F4 to F9 first; they cover most daily entries.
- Add Alt + G, Ctrl + A and Alt + 2 in the second week.
- Practise on a sample company before working on client books.
- On laptops, turn on Fn Lock so function keys work without Fn.
Accounts assistant job interviews in India often include a short Tally test, and speed with these keys makes a visible difference. If F keys change volume on your laptop instead, the fix is in the F1 to F12 guide. Other billing packages used by Indian shops have their own keys, compared in a separate guide to other billing software.
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic Tally shortcut keys?
The six voucher keys from F4 to F9, plus F2 for the date and Ctrl + A to accept.
What is the duplicate entry shortcut key in Tally?
Which key opens another company in Tally?
How do I shut a company in Tally?
TallyPrime: Alt + K, then Shut. ERP 9: Alt + F1.
How do I open any report quickly?
Are TallyPrime and ERP 9 keys the same?
Mostly, but credit notes, debit notes and export keys differ.