The edit log in TallyPrime records who created, changed or deleted a transaction or master, and when, and it keeps the earlier version so you can compare. In the standard release it is a setting you can turn on. In the dedicated Edit Log release it is always on. An auditor checks that it was on for the whole year, that users could not turn it off, and then reads the edited and deleted entries.
Last reviewed: 17 October 2026. Facts checked. We opened Tally Solutions' page "Audit Trail (Edit Log) in TallyPrime" on tallysolutions.com (published 7 April 2022, updated 3 May 2024). We did not open help.tallysolutions.com, and we did not test the software ourselves. The Tally page gives no menu path for viewing the log itself, and no version numbers. Confirm the steps in your own release. For the legal rule, see our audit trail rule article.
What the edit log records
Per Tally's page, the edit log tracks:
- Creation, alteration and deletion of transactions
- The same for masters such as ledgers, stock items and groups, and company details
- The user who made each change, with date and time
- Earlier versions, so the old and new entries can be compared and the changed elements seen
Day books and voucher registers can be filtered or sorted to show edited and deleted transactions.
How it is enabled
Tally's page describes two situations.
| Release | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| TallyPrime Edit Log release | On by default. Tally states there is no option to disable it. Recommended for companies covered by the MCA rule |
| Regular TallyPrime | You can turn it on or off |
For the regular release, Tally's page gives these steps: press Alt+K to open the Company menu, choose Alter, press F12 (Configure), enable "Set Edit Log Applicability", then set "Enable Edit Log" to Yes on the company alteration screen. A new company follows the same path from F12.
The page also says that from 1 April 2023, companies in scope of the MCA rule must keep an audit trail for all transactions. This is why a switch that can be turned off matters to an auditor.
Edit log versus audit trail
People use the two words as if they mean the same. They overlap, but they are not identical.
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Edit log | Tally's record of changes to entries and masters |
| Audit trail | The wider legal idea: every transaction traceable, with a log of changes that cannot be disabled |
Tally's feature is the edit log. The audit trail duty is the company's. The software feature is one input to it.
How auditors review it
Here is a practical sequence.
- Confirm the release and setting. Is the company on the Edit Log release, or on the regular release with the option enabled? Ask for a screenshot, and check it yourself on the live company.
- Confirm it was on all year. Ask when it was enabled. If the company switched it on mid-year, earlier entries have no log. Record this.
- Check user rights. Who can alter company settings? An administrator who can switch the log off defeats the control. Ask for the user list and the rights.
- Pull edited and deleted entries. Use the day book or voucher register filters. List them by user, date and amount.
- Look for patterns. Edits after period end, edits just before the audit, many edits by one user, deleted entries on large amounts.
- Trace a sample. Compare the old and new versions. Ask for the approval or reason behind each change.
- Check retention. Confirm the data, with its log, is backed up and kept as the rules require. Our rule article covers retention.
Test checklist
| Test | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|
| Edit log enabled from the start of the year | Screenshot, date of enabling, release name |
| No user could disable it | User rights list, admin approvals |
| Edited and deleted entries reviewed | Extract filtered by date and user |
| Late edits explained | Approval email or note for each |
| Log preserved in backups | Backup record and restore test |
Where it falls short
The edit log covers changes made inside Tally. It does not cover changes made to the data file outside the software, or entries made in another system and imported. If the company uses an add-on or a data import, ask how that is logged. Also ask whether entries are posted from another system at all.
For the full checklist, use our audit trail compliance checklist template. If you pull Tally data into working papers, see our Tally to audit working papers guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the edit log the same as the audit trail?
Not exactly. The edit log is Tally's feature. The audit trail is the legal requirement. The feature helps meet the requirement.
Can the edit log be turned off in Tally?
Per Tally's page, in the Edit Log release there is no option to disable it. In the regular release you can turn it on or off.
Does the edit log record deleted entries?
Yes. Tally's page says it tracks deletions of transactions and masters.
What should the auditor do if the log was enabled mid-year?
Record the date, treat earlier entries as having no log, and consider the effect on the audit report and procedures.
Where do I see edited entries?
Tally says day books and voucher registers can filter or sort edited and deleted transactions. Check the exact steps in your release.
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