Your chart of accounts is the backbone of your accounting system in Xero. It helps organize transactions, track income and expenses, and generate accurate reports. But adding accounts one by one in Xero can be time-consuming, especially if you're setting up a new file or migrating from another system.
That’s where SaasAnt Transactions for Xero comes in. It lets you upload your entire chart of accounts from Excel or CSV in just a few clicks, saving hours of manual effort.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through adding a chart of accounts in Xero using SaasAnt Transactions step by step.
Manually adding each account in Xero isn’t practical when dealing with dozens or hundreds of accounts. With SaasAnt, you can import your chart of accounts in bulk with full control and accuracy.
Import accounts in bulk from Excel or CSV
Easily map columns to Xero fields
Preview your data before it’s uploaded
Avoid entry errors
Ideal for accountants, bookkeepers, and business owners
Start by creating a simple Excel or CSV file with your accounts. SaasAnt accepts a range of fields, but at a minimum, includes the following columns:
Field | Description |
Code | The account code (e.g., 200, 4001) |
Name | The account name (e.g., Sales Revenue, Rent Expense) |
Type | Account type (e.g., Revenue, Expense, Current Asset) |
Description | (Optional) A short note about the account |
Enable Payments To/From This Account | (Optional for bank accounts) |
Go to the SaasAnt Transactions for Xero page.
Log in with your SaasAnt credentials.
Click Connect to Xero if you haven’t already done so.
Authorize access and choose the correct Xero organization.
On the SaasAnt dashboard, click the Import button.
Choose Chart of Accounts from the transaction type list.
Upload your Excel or CSV file.
SaasAnt will show you a screen to match your file’s columns with Xero’s required fields.
Example mappings:
Your column “Code” → Map to “Account Code”
“Name” → Map to “Account Name”
“Type” → Map to “Account Type”
“Description” → Map to “Account Description”
Click Next to let SaasAnt review your file. The tool will flag any issues like:
Missing required fields
Invalid account types
Duplicates
You can correct errors right from the validation screen. Once it’s clean, you’re ready to go.
Click Import to Xero to upload your chart of accounts. Once done, SaasAnt will confirm the import, and your accounts will appear in Xero immediately under Settings > Chart of Accounts.
Here’s when bulk importing accounts is advantageous:
Migrating from QuickBooks, Excel, or another accounting system
Creating a custom chart for a specific industry
Managing multiple Xero organizations as an accountant or bookkeeper
Setting up recurring client files or templates
Stick to Xero-supported account types like Revenue, Expense, Bank, Asset, etc.
Make sure account codes are unique and not already used in Xero.
Use descriptive names to make reports easier to read later.
Only enable “Payments To/From” for Bank or Credit Card accounts.
Save your import map in SaasAnt to reuse it for future clients or files.
Manually adding a chart of accounts in Xero can take a lot of time, especially when starting from scratch or migrating from another platform. With SaasAnt Transactions, you can bulk import your full chart of accounts in minutes with confidence and control.
Whether you're setting up books for a new client, rebuilding a chart, or just wanting to save time, SaasAnt makes it simple.
Yes, absolutely. With SaasAnt Transactions for Xero, you can import your entire chart of accounts in bulk using an Excel or CSV file. This saves you from entering accounts one at a time inside Xero.
You can use a CSV or Excel (XLS/XLSX) file. Ensure your file includes basic columns like Account Code, Account Name, and Account Type.
Xero allows the import of a chart of accounts through CSV, but it’s limited and doesn’t have advanced features like validation, error-checking, or bulk editing. SaasAnt Transactions simplifies this process and helps you catch mistakes before importing.
You can import all standard Xero account types, including:
Revenue
Expense
Current Asset
Fixed Asset
Current Liability
Non-Current Liability
Equity
Bank
Credit Card
Ensure your file's account type matches Xero’s accepted naming conventions.
Yes. You can update existing chart of accounts entries by importing a file with updated details and selecting the “Update” option in SaasAnt before importing.
Yes. One of SaasAnt's best features is its error validation. It will highlight missing fields, invalid account types, or duplicate entries before anything is pushed into Xero.
Yes. SaasAnt lets you save your column mapping, so if you’re regularly importing chart of accounts or setting up multiple organizations, it’ll save you even more time.
Only enable payments for bank or credit card accounts. Leave this setting turned off for standard income or expense accounts.
Yes. SaasAnt is a trusted Xero app partner that syncs your data using secure, encrypted connections. You authorize access through your Xero account, and you stay in control at all times.
Go to SaasAnt Transactions for Xero, create an account, and connect your Xero organization. You can start with a free trial—no credit card required.
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