How to Change Current Period in Tally ERP 9 – Step-by-Step Guide for Users

Published on: 29-10-2025 Call CA Tally HelpDesk +91 9205471661, 8368262875

Tally ERP 9 has long been one of India’s most popular accounting and business management software solutions. It allows businesses to maintain accurate records, generate financial reports, and handle taxation compliances with ease. One of the most common tasks accountants and business owners perform in Tally ERP 9 is changing the current period—especially at the start of a new financial year or when reviewing past data.

This article explains how to change the current period in Tally ERP 9, why it’s important, and what precautions you should take before switching accounting years.

Understanding “Current Period” in Tally ERP 9

The Current Period in Tally ERP 9 defines the financial year or accounting range within which you are working.
For example, if your financial year runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, that range is your current period. Tally uses it to restrict voucher entry dates and organize reports accordingly.

When the financial year changes or you need to view older data, you don’t have to create a new company. You can simply change the current period and continue working in the same data file.

When Do You Need to Change the Current Period?

You may need to update or switch the period in several cases:

• Start of a New Financial Year – when moving from one accounting year to the next.
• Viewing Past Transactions – to audit, correct, or verify previous-year data.
• Posting Late Entries – when entries were missed in an older period.
• Company Continuity – to continue the same books without duplicating company data.

Changing the current period allows you to keep all data in one company file and still move between years freely.

Steps to Change the Current Period in Tally ERP 9

Follow these simple steps to change the financial period quickly and safely:

1. Open Tally ERP 9
   Launch the software and load the company whose period you want to modify.
2. Go to Gateway of Tally
   On the Gateway of Tally screen, look at the top portion — you’ll see the current period and current date displayed.
3. Press the Shortcut Key Alt + F2
   This opens the Change Period window.
4. Enter the New Period
   Type the start and end dates for your new financial year.
   Example:
   • From: 01-04-2025
   • To: 31-03-2026

Press Enter after each field.

1. Verify the Change
   The new current period will appear on the top-right corner of the screen. You can now record or review transactions within the newly set range.

Important Tips Before Changing the Period

• ✅ Take a Backup: Always back up your company data before changing the current period.
• ✅ Carry Forward Balances: Use Split Company Data or Copy Opening Balances features if you’re starting a fresh year.
• ✅ Check Financial Year Consistency: Ensure you’ve completed finalization for the previous year before making entries in the new period.
• ✅ Verify Reports: After changing, open the Trial Balance and Ledger Reports to confirm that all balances appear correctly.

Difference Between Changing Period and Splitting Data

Many users confuse changing the period with splitting company data.

• Changing the Period simply shifts your working range—no data is deleted or separated.
• Splitting Company Data creates two separate company files: one for past years and another for new year’s.

If your file has grown very large, you can use Split Company Data to improve performance; otherwise, just changing the current period is sufficient.

Benefits of Changing Current Period Instead of Creating New Company

1. Continuity of Data: You retain complete historical records and audit trails.
2. Simplified Management: No need to recreate ledgers or GST details.
3. Faster Year-Opening: Only a few keystrokes are needed to start the new financial year.
4. Easy Reporting: Compare performance across multiple years within the same data file.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Never enter new-year transactions in the old financial period. Always confirm the period at the top of the screen before making any voucher entries. Using the wrong date range can distort your Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet.

Conclusion

Changing the current period in Tally ERP 9 is a simple but essential step to maintain accurate books across financial years. By pressing Alt + F2 and setting new start and end dates, users can continue accounting smoothly without creating a new company. Always back up your data, verify reports, and ensure balances carry forward correctly. Mastering this small feature can save you hours of setup time and keep your accounting workflow consistent year after year.

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