Download Xero Chart of Accounts (CSV, PDF) with nominal code or account code

In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficient financial management is crucial. One of the key tools for maintaining organized financial records is the Chart of Accounts. If you’re using Xero accounting software, you can easily export your Xero Chart of Accounts into CSV or PDF formats.

This guide will walk you through the steps to download your Xero Chart of Accounts template with nominal codes, helping you streamline your financial reporting and data integration processes.

The Chart of Accounts is a vital financial tool for businesses, organizing all the financial transactions into categories. Exporting this data from Xero allows for comprehensive analysis, reporting, and integration with other systems.

Step-by-Step Guide on Download Xero’s Chart of Accounts

Step 1: Log in to Xero

Go to go.xero.com, and log in or register for a new account.

Step-1-Log-in-to-Xero

Step 2: Navigate to the Accounting Section

Click the “Accounting” menu on the dashboard page and navigate to the Accounting section.

Screenshot of an online accounting software dashboard highlighting the "Accounting" menu tab with a yellow arrow. The dashboard displays account balances, recent transactions, and account watchlist.

Step 3: Access the Chart of Accounts Tab

Select “Chart of Accounts” from the menu. Access the Chart of Accounts tab.

A screenshot of the Xero accounting software interface showing the "Chart of Accounts" section highlighted with an arrow pointing to it. Other menus like "Dashboard" and "Contacts" are visible at the top.

Step 4: Export the Data

Click the “Export” button to export data into a CSV file.
Click “Print PDF” to generate a PDF copy of the formatted Chart of Accounts.

Screenshot of accounting software interface showing a 'Chart of accounts' section and highlighting a button labeled 'Export' with a yellow arrow.
Screenshot of an accounting software interface displaying a "Chart of accounts" page. An arrow points to a button labeled "Print PDF" highlighted in a box for emphasis.

Account Types with Nominal Code Patterns in Xero

The table below shows the account types arranged by their categories and the nominal code patterns used in Xero.

CategoryAccount TypeNominal Code Patterns
USAUK
AssetBank, Current Asset, Fixed Asset, Inventory, Non-current Asset, Prepayment1200-1599600-799
LiabilitiesCurrent Liability, Liability, Non-current Liability2000-2999800-900
EquityEquity3000-3999901-999
ExpensesDepreciation, Direct Costs, Expense, Overhead8100-8999300-599
RevenueOther Income, Revenue, Sales4000-4999200-299

Xero Demo Company Chart of Accounts with Account Codes / Nominal Codes

Assets

CodeNameTypeDescription
620PrepaymentsCurrent AssetAn expenditure that has been paid for in advance.
710Office EquipmentFixed AssetOffice equipment that is owned and controlled by the business
711Less Accumulated Depreciation on Office EquipmentFixed AssetThe total amount of office equipment cost that has been consumed by the entity (based on the useful life)
720Computer EquipmentFixed AssetComputer equipment that is owned and controlled by the business
721Less Accumulated Depreciation on Computer EquipmentFixed AssetThe total amount of computer equipment cost that has been consumed by the business (based on the useful life)

Liabilities

CodeNameTypeDescription
825Employee Tax PayableCurrent LiabilityThe amount of tax that has been deducted from wages or salaries paid to employees and is due to be paid
826Superannuation PayableCurrent LiabilityThe amount of superannuation that is due to be paid
830Income Tax PayableCurrent LiabilityThe amount of income tax that is due to be paid, also resident withholding tax paid on interest received.
835Revenue Received in AdvanceCurrent LiabilityWhen customers pay in advance of work/services.
850SuspenseCurrent LiabilityAn entry that allows an unknown transaction to be entered, so the accounts can still be worked on in balance and the entry can be dealt with later.
880Owner A DrawingsCurrent LiabilityWithdrawals by the owners
881Owner A Funds IntroducedCurrent LiabilityFunds contributed by the owner
855Clearing AccountCurrent Liability

Revenue

CodeNameTypeDescription
200SalesRevenueIncome from any normal business activity
260Other RevenueRevenueAny other income that does not relate to normal business activities and is not recurring
270Interest IncomeRevenueInterest income

Equity

CodeNameTypeDescription
970Owner A Share CapitalEquityThe value of shares purchased by the shareholders

Expense

CodeNameTypeDescription
300PurchasesDirect CostsGoods purchased with the intention of selling these to customers
310Cost of Goods SoldDirect CostsCost of goods sold by the business.
400AdvertisingExpenseExpenses incurred for advertising while trying to increase sales
404Bank FeesExpenseFees charged by your bank for transactions regarding your bank account(s).
408CleaningExpenseExpenses incurred for cleaning business property.
412Consulting & AccountingExpenseExpenses related to paying consultants
416DepreciationExpenseThe amount of the asset’s cost (based on the useful life) that was consumed during the period
420EntertainmentExpenseExpenses paid by company for the business but are not deductible for income tax purposes.
425Freight & CourierExpenseExpenses incurred on courier & freight costs
429General ExpensesExpenseGeneral expenses related to the running of the business.
433InsuranceExpenseExpenses incurred for insuring the business’ assets
437Interest ExpenseExpenseAny interest expenses paid to your tax authority, business bank accounts or credit card accounts.
441Legal expensesExpenseExpenses incurred on any legal matters
445Light, Power, HeatingExpenseExpenses incurred for lighting, powering or heating the premises
449Motor Vehicle ExpensesExpenseExpenses incurred on the running of company motor vehicles
453Office ExpensesExpenseGeneral expenses related to the running of the business office.
461Printing & StationeryExpenseExpenses incurred by the entity as a result of printing and stationery
469RentExpenseThe payment to lease a building or area.
473Repairs and MaintenanceExpenseExpenses incurred on a damaged or run down asset that will bring the asset back to its original condition.
477Wages and SalariesExpensePayment to employees in exchange for their resources
478SuperannuationExpenseSuperannuation contributions
485SubscriptionsExpenseE.g. Magazines, professional bodies
489Telephone & InternetExpenseExpenditure incurred from any business-related phone calls, phone lines, or internet connections
493Travel – NationalExpenseExpenses incurred from domestic travel which has a business purpose
494Travel – InternationalExpenseExpenses incurred from international travel which has a business purpose
505Income Tax ExpenseExpenseA percentage of total earnings paid to the government.

Information

Here is the list of accounts downloaded from the Xero demo organization:

Further Reading:
Crack the Code: How Unified Nominal Codes Simplify Multi-Company Financial Reporting?

Conclusion

When creating your Chart of Accounts, you can use the same nominal code series or adjust it based on the size of your organization. For large organizations, consider using 4 or 5-digit nominal codes, especially if there are multiple locations and departments, to differentiate expense accounts while keeping other accounts as 3-digit codes.

Article by

Chintan Prajapati

Chintan Prajapati, a seasoned computer engineer with over 20 years in the software industry, is the Founder and CEO of Satva Solutions. His expertise lies in Accounting & ERP Integrations, RPA, and developing technology solutions around leading ERP and accounting software, focusing on using Responsible AI and ML in fintech solutions. Chintan holds a BE in Computer Engineering and is a Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Certified Azure Solution Developer, Certified Intuit Developer, and Xero Developer.Throughout his career, Chintan has significantly impacted the accounting industry by consulting and delivering integrations and automation solutions that have saved thousands of man-hours. He aims to provide readers with insightful, practical advice on leveraging technology for business efficiency.Outside of his professional work, Chintan enjoys trekking and bird-watching. Guided by the philosophy, "Deliver the highest value to clients". Chintan continues to drive innovation and excellence in digital transformation strategies from his base in Ahmedabad, India.