Overview

A Trial Balance is used to verify the accuracy of the double-entry bookkeeping system: In double-entry accounting, every financial transaction impacts at least two accounts, with one side of the entry recorded as a debit and the other as a credit. The Trial Balance confirms that for every debit entry made, there is an equivalent credit entry. If the totals do not match, it indicates potential errors in recording transactions, such as omissions, duplications, or incorrect amounts, which need to be investigated and rectified.

A Trial Balance is usually divided into main categories which include assets, liabilities, income, expense, and equity accounts.

These tutorials explain how to display a Trial Balance and verify that the records adhere to the double-entry bookkeeping system.

Navigation: Main Menu > Accounting > Trial Balance

How to Select Trial Balance Dates

1. Navigate to the Trial Balance.

2. Click the dropdown list next to Financial Year to select the financial year.

3. Select specific dates next to the two adjacent dropdown lists: Period ... to.

4. Click View (button). ​

How to Verify the Double-Entry System

1. Display a Trial Balance.

2. On the top-right is a field: Balance and a number next to it.

   1. If the number is zero every entry has a counterpart.

   2. If the number is not zero, there is a problem with the double-entry system that must be investigated. See Trial Errors for guidance.

How to View All the Accounts on the Trial Balance

Displaying accounts with zero balances, helps to identify missing accounting records.

1. Click the dropdown list next to Financial Year to select the financial year.

2. Check Show All to see all the individual accounts including those with zero balances.

3. Click View (button).

How to View Detailed Transactions from the Trial Balance

1. Display a Trial Balance.

2. Double-click any account to view the detailed transactions on the General Ledger account.

How to Show the Trial Balance by Account Number

1. Navigate to the Trial Balance.

2. Select a financial year.

3. Check Order by Account No. to order the Trial Balance by Account Number.

   • Note: If you are not using account numbers, the accounts are ordered randomly. 

4. Click View (button).

How to Print the Trial Balance

1. Display a Trial Balance.

2. Click Output (button) > Print to print the report to the default printer or click Print (Show Dialogue) to select a printer, for example, a .pdf printer.

How to Preview the Trial Balance

1. Display a Trial Balance.​

2. Click Output (button) > Preview.

• Note: Click the printer (icon) to print the statement to a printer of your choice, including PDF.

How to Email the Trial Balance

1. Display a Trial Balance.

2. Click Menu (button) > Email Excel to email the Trial Balance in Excel format, or

3. Click Output (button) > Email to email the Trial Balance in PDF format. 

How to Reset the Current Trial Balance Display

1. After displaying a trial balance using specific filters:

2. Click the Reset (button) to reset the filters.