Does Tally Have Katcha Accounting Provision? – Complete Explanation

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Introduction

Tally is one of the most widely used accounting software in India, especially by small and medium businesses. Many business owners and accountants often ask whether Tally provides a “Katcha Accounting” provision.
To understand this clearly, we must first know what Katcha accounting is, how Tally works, and what is legally allowed.

What is Katcha Accounting?

Katcha accounting refers to informal, unofficial, or incomplete accounting records maintained by businesses for internal or personal use. These records may:

• Not be supported by proper bills

• Exclude taxes like GST

• Show approximate figures

• Be used to hide actual income or expenses

Katcha accounts are not legally recognized and are mainly used for internal reference or cash tracking.

What is Pakka Accounting?

Pakka accounting is proper, legal, and compliant accounting, where:

• All entries are supported by valid bills

• Taxes like GST are properly recorded

• Books match bank statements and returns

• Records are audit-ready

Tally is primarily designed for Pakka accounting.

Does Tally Have a Separate Katcha Accounting Provision?

❌ No, Tally does not have any separate or official “Katcha Accounting” provision.

Tally:

• Is built to follow accounting principles

• Supports GST, Income Tax, and statutory compliance

• Encourages accurate and transparent bookkeeping

There is no feature or option named “Katcha Accounting” in Tally.

Why People Think Tally Supports Katcha Accounting

Although Tally does not officially support Katcha accounting, people believe it does because:

1. Flexibility of Data Entry
   Tally allows manual entries, so users can enter:

   • Cash transactions

   • Estimates

   • Provisional figures

2. Optional GST Configuration
   Users can:

   • Disable GST

   • Use accounts without tax ledgers

3. Multiple Companies Feature
   Users may maintain:

   • One company for official records

   • Another company for internal or rough tracking

These features are misused by some users for Katcha-style records, but Tally itself does not promote or label this as Katcha accounting.

Is It Legal to Do Katcha Accounting in Tally?

⚠️ No, maintaining Katcha accounts for tax evasion or hiding income is illegal.

As per Indian laws:

• GST Act

• Income Tax Act

• Companies Act

Businesses must maintain true and fair books of accounts.

Using Tally for unofficial records is user responsibility, not Tally’s provision.

Tally’s Stand on Accounting Practices

Tally officially supports:

• Transparent accounting

• Audit trails

• Edit Log (permanent change tracking)

• Compliance with laws

With features like Edit Log, Tally actually discourages Katcha accounting by recording every change made in books.

Can Businesses Maintain Rough Records in Tally?

For internal management purposes, businesses may:

• Maintain provisional entries

• Use memo vouchers

• Track estimates or budgets

Frequently Asked Questions