Why doesn't my trial balance balance?

In software that enforces double entry, an unbalanced trial balance usually comes from the export or a spreadsheet: a row left out, a subtotal included, a balance typed on the wrong side, or digits transposed. In a manual ledger, it can also be a posting recorded on one side only.

What does it mean if the difference is divisible by 9?

Transposed digits and misplaced decimal points always produce a difference that divides evenly by 9. Check amounts whose digits could have been swapped to create that gap.

What does half the difference tell me?

An amount entered as a debit instead of a credit, or the reverse, moves the totals apart by twice the amount. Divide the difference by two and look for that amount.

How do I export a trial balance to CSV?

Run the trial balance report for the period in your accounting software and export it to Excel or CSV. If it opens in Excel, save it as CSV before dropping it here.

My export has one balance column. Does that work?

Yes. Choose “One balance column” and pick it; positive values are read as debits and negative values as credits.

Is my trial balance uploaded?

No. The file is read and checked in your browser.

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From QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, or a spreadsheet: account, then debit and credit columns, or one balance column.

What it checks

Debits equal credits

Every account line is totalled on its side and the two totals compared to the cent. Total and subtotal rows in the export are recognised and left out, so nothing is counted twice.

Half the difference

An amount listed on the wrong side puts a trial balance out by twice that amount. Any account whose balance equals half the difference is named as the first place to look.

Divisible by 9

Swapping two digits (1,530 as 1,350) or slipping a decimal point always leaves a difference that divides evenly by 9. When the gap does, that is said plainly.

Balances on the unusual side

When the export includes account types, an asset or expense with a credit balance, or a liability, equity, or income account with a debit balance, is flagged. Contra accounts such as accumulated depreciation are left alone.

Lines that break the format

An account with amounts in both columns, a negative number in a debit or credit column, and the same account appearing twice are each pointed out, since each distorts the totals.

Any export layout

Debit and credit columns, or one signed balance column, with account names, numbers, and types where the export has them. The column guess is shown and can be changed.

Questions

Why doesn't my trial balance balance?: In software that enforces double entry, an unbalanced trial balance usually comes from the export or a spreadsheet: a row left out, a subtotal included, a balance typed on the wrong side, or digits transposed. In a manual ledger, it can also be a posting recorded on one side only.
What does it mean if the difference is divisible by 9?: Transposed digits and misplaced decimal points always produce a difference that divides evenly by 9. Check amounts whose digits could have been swapped to create that gap.
What does half the difference tell me?: An amount entered as a debit instead of a credit, or the reverse, moves the totals apart by twice the amount. Divide the difference by two and look for that amount.
How do I export a trial balance to CSV?: Run the trial balance report for the period in your accounting software and export it to Excel or CSV. If it opens in Excel, save it as CSV before dropping it here.
My export has one balance column. Does that work?: Yes. Choose “One balance column” and pick it; positive values are read as debits and negative values as credits.
Is my trial balance uploaded?: No. The file is read and checked in your browser.

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