How many accounts are in the default Xero Chart of Accounts?

The default Xero demo company includes 69 accounts across categories such as assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. Businesses can add or customize accounts based on operational needs.

What are nominal codes in Xero?

Nominal codes in Xero are numeric identifiers assigned to each account in the Chart of Accounts. They help organize financial data, improve reporting clarity, and maintain structured accounting records.

How do I download the Chart of Accounts from Xero?

To download the Chart of Accounts in Xero, log in to your account and navigate to the Accounting menu from the dashboard. From there, select Advanced, then click on Chart of Accounts. Once you’re on the Chart of Accounts page, choose the Export option. You can download the file in CSV format or print it as a PDF, depending on your reporting or sharing requirements.

Can I customize the Chart of Accounts in Xero?

Yes, Xero allows you to add, edit, archive, or reorganize accounts. Customizing your Chart of Accounts helps align financial reporting with your business structure and growth strategy.

Does Xero require a specific nominal code format?

No, Xero does not enforce a fixed digit format for nominal codes. Businesses can use flexible numbering structures depending on reporting complexity and internal preferences.

Why is a properly structured Chart of Accounts important?

A well-structured Chart of Accounts improves financial visibility, simplifies tax reporting, supports audits, and ensures accurate Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reporting. Poor structure can create long-term reporting complications.

Download Xero Chart of Accounts (CSV, PDF) with Nominal Code or Account Code

February 15, 2026 11 min read

Download-Xeros-Chart-of-Accounts-with-Nominal-Code-or-Account-Code

Introduction

In today’s rapidly changing business environment, efficient financial management is necessary.

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 lead you through:

How to download your Xero Chart of Accounts with nominal codes
What a Chart of Accounts is and why it matters
How nominal codes work
Best practices and common mistakes
When you might need customization support from experts
Step-by-step export instructions

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
Enhanced reporting
Effortless integration with other systems
Better financial visibility

What is a Chart of Accounts in Xero?

A Chart of Accounts (COA) is a structured list of all financial accounts your business uses to record transactions. In Xero, this includes assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expense accounts.

It forms the foundation for key financial reports like Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reports.

A well-organized COA enables:

Accurate financial reporting
Clean bookkeeping
Easier analysis across departments
Smoother integration with other systems

Understanding Nominal Codes in Xero

Nominal codes (also called account codes) are numerical identifiers assigned to each account in your Chart of Accounts.

They help standardize accounts and make reporting consistent and easy to interpret.

Your Xero COA may contain typical nominal patterns like:

Category	Account Types in Xero	Example Nominal Codes
Bank	Bank Accounts	90, 91
Assets	Current Asset, Inventory, Fixed Asset	120, 130, 140, 710, 720
Liabilities	Accounts Payable, Current Liability	800, 825, 830
Revenue	Revenue	200, 260
Expenses	Direct Costs, Expense	300, 400, 404, 477, 489
Equity	Equity	970, 980

This structure provides flexibility for different business sizes and reporting standards.

Step-by-Step Guide on Downloading 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 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 (Specifically for USA & UK)

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

Category	Account Type	Nominal Code Patterns
		USA	UK
Asset	Bank, Current Asset, Fixed Asset, Inventory, Non-current Asset, Prepayment	1200-1599	600-799
Liabilities	Current Liability, Liability, Non-current Liability	2000-2999	800-900
Equity	Equity	3000-3999	901-999
Expenses	Depreciation, Direct Costs, Expense, Overhead	8100-8999	300-599
Revenue	Other Income, Revenue, Sales	4000-4999	200-299

Xero Demo Company Chart of Accounts with Account Codes / Nominal Codes (Latest)

Bank

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
90	Checking Account	Bank	Tax Exempt (0%)
91	Savings Account	Bank	Tax Exempt (0%)

Accounts Receivable

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
120	Accounts Receivable	Accounts Receivable	Tax Exempt (0%)	Outstanding invoices the company has issued out to the client but has not yet received in cash at balance date.

Current Assets

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
130	Prepayments	Current Asset	Tax Exempt (0%)	An expenditure that has been paid for in advance.

Inventory

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
140	Inventory	Inventory	Tax Exempt (0%)	Value of tracked inventory items for resale.

Fixed Asset

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
150	Office Equipment	Fixed Asset	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Office equipment that is owned and controlled by the business
151	Less Accumulated Depreciation on Office Equipment	Fixed Asset	Tax Exempt (0%)	The total amount of office equipment cost that has been consumed by the entity (based on the useful life)
160	Computer Equipment	Fixed Asset	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Computer equipment that is owned and controlled by the business
161	Less Accumulated Depreciation on Computer Equipment	Fixed Asset	Tax Exempt (0%)	The total amount of computer equipment cost that has been consumed by the business (based on the useful life)

Accounts Payable

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
200	Accounts Payable	Accounts Payable	Tax Exempt (0%)	Outstanding invoices the company has received from suppliers but has not yet paid at balance date

Current Liabilities

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
205	Accruals	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)	Any services the business has received but have not yet been invoiced for e.g. Accountancy Fees
216	Wages Payable – Payroll	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)
230	Employee Tax Payable	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)	The amount of tax that has been deducted from wages or salaries paid to employes and is due to be paid
231	Federal Tax withholding	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)
232	State Tax withholding	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)
233	Employee Benefits payable	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)
234	Employee Deductions payable	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)
235	PTO payable	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)
240	Income Tax Payable	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)	The amount of income tax that is due to be paid, also resident withholding tax paid on interest received.
250	Suspense	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)	An 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.
835	Revenue Received in Advance	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)	When customers have paid in advance of work/services.
855	Clearing Account	Current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)

Unpaid Expense Claims

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
210	Unpaid Expense Claims	Unpaid Expense Claims	Tax Exempt (0%)	Expense claims typically made by employees/shareholder employees still outstanding.

Wages Payable

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
215	Wages Payable	Wages Payable	Tax Exempt (0%)	Xero automatically updates this account for payroll entries created using Payroll and will store the payroll amount to be paid to the employee for the pay run. This account enables you to maintain separate accounts for employee Wages Payable amounts and Accounts Payable amounts

Sales Tax

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
220	Sales Tax	Sales Tax	Tax Exempt (0%)	The balance in this account represents Sales Tax owing to or from your tax authority. At the end of the tax period, it is this account that should be used to code against either the ‘refunds from’ or ‘payments to’ your tax authority that will appear on the bank statement. Xero has been designed to use only one sales tax account to track sales taxes on income and expenses, so there is no need to add any new sales tax accounts to Xero.

Historical Adjustment

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
255	Historical Adjustment	Historical Adjustment	Tax Exempt (0%)	For accountant adjustments

Rounding

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
260	Rounding	Rounding	Tax Exempt (0%)	An adjustment entry to allow for rounding

Tracking

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
265	Tracking Transfers	Tracking	Tax Exempt (0%)	Transfers between tracking categories

Non-current Liability

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
290	Loan	Non-current Liability	Tax Exempt (0%)	Money that has been borrowed from a creditor

Equity

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
300	Owners Contribution	Equity	Tax Exempt (0%)	Funds contributed by the owner
310	Owners Draw	Equity	Tax Exempt (0%)	Withdrawals by the owners
330	Common Stock	Equity	Tax Exempt (0%)	The value of shares purchased by the shareholders

Retained Earnings

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
320	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings	Tax Exempt (0%)	Do not Use

Revenue

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
400	Sales	Revenue	Tax on Sales (9.25%)	Income from any normal business activity
460	Other Revenue	Revenue	Tax on Sales (9.25%)	Any other income that does not relate to normal business activities and is not recurring
470	Interest Income	Revenue	Tax Exempt (0%)	Interest income

Direct Costs

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
500	Cost of Goods Sold	Direct Costs	Tax Exempt (0%)	Costs of goods made by the business include material, labor, and other modification costs.

Expense

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
600	Advertising	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred for advertising while trying to increase sales
604	Bank Service Charges	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	Fees charged by your bank for transactions regarding your bank account(s).
608	Janitorial Expenses	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred for cleaning business property.
612	Consulting & Accounting	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses related to paying consultants
620	Entertainment	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	Expenses paid by company for the business but are not deductable for income tax purposes.
624	Postage & Delivery	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred on postage & delivery costs.
628	General Expenses	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	General expenses related to the running of the business.
632	Insurance	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred for insuring the business’ assets
640	Legal Expenses	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred on any legal matters
644	Utilities	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	Expenses incurred for lighting, powering or heating the premises
648	Automobile Expenses	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred on the running of company automobiles.
652	Office Expenses	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	General expenses related to the running of the business office.
656	Printing & Stationery	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred by the entity as a result of printing and stationery
660	Rent	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	The payment to lease a building or area.
664	Repairs and Maintenance	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred on a damaged or run down asset that will bring the asset back to its original condition.
668	Wages and Salaries	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	Payment to employees in exchange for their resources
669	Wages & Salaries – California	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)
672	Payroll Tax Expense	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	The amount of payroll tax that is due to be paid
676	Dues & Subscriptions	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	E.g. Magazines, professional bodies
680	Telephone & Internet	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenditure incurred from any business-related phone calls, phone lines, or internet connections
684	Travel	Expense	Tax on Purchases (0%)	Expenses incurred from travel which has a business purpose
690	Bad Debts	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	Noncollectable accounts receivable which have been written off.
700	Depreciation	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	The amount of the asset’s cost (based on the useful life) that was consumed during the period
710	Income Tax Expense	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	A percentage of total earnings paid to the government.
720	Federal Tax expense	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)
721	State Tax expense	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)
722	Employee Benefits expense	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)
723	PTO expense	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)
800	Interest Expense	Expense	Tax Exempt (0%)	Any interest expenses paid to your tax authority, business bank accounts or credit card accounts.

Bank Revaluations

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
810	Bank Revaluations	Bank Revaluations	Tax Exempt (0%)	Bank account revaluations due for foreign exchange rate changes

Unrealized Currency Gains

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
815	Unrealized Currency Gains	Unrealized Currency Gains	Tax Exempt (0%)	Unrealized gains on outstanding items

Realized Currency Gains

Code	Name	Type	Tax Code	Description
820	Realized Currency Gains	Realized Currency Gains	Tax Exempt (0%)	Gains or losses made due to currency exchange rates

Download Xero Chart of Accounts (CSV & PDF)

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

Download Demo Company CSV
Download Demo Company PDF

Further Reading:
Crack Unified Codes for Easy Multi-Company Reporting

When You Might Need Customization

While exporting the Chart of Accounts gives you the raw structure, not all businesses are the same.

You may need customization if you:

Operate in multiple revenue streams
Require industry-specific reporting categories
Are migrating accounting systems
Need department or location-level tracking
Want better budgeting integration

Customized Chart of Accounts structures help improve clarity and financial control, especially for rapid scaling companies.

Chart of Accounts Mistakes to Avoid

Many businesses run into issues later because they:

Create too many unnecessary accounts
Don’t use consistent code patterns
Mix unrelated business expenses
Fail to align accounts with reporting goals

Setting up a clean structure at the start prevents confusion and expensive rework later.

Conclusion

When creating your Chart of Accounts, you can use the same nominal code series or adjust it based on your organization’s size.

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.

Looking for Expert Help with Your Xero Setup?

If you need assistance with:

Designing a tailored Chart of Accounts
Migrating your accounting data
Automating financial workflows
Custom integration with your systems

Our team at Satva Solutions helps businesses with Xero integration, implementation and automation support.

FAQs

What is a Chart of Accounts in Xero?: A Chart of Accounts in Xero is a structured list of financial accounts used to categorize business transactions. It includes account codes (nominal codes), account types, tax rates, and descriptions that form the foundation of financial reporting.
How many accounts are in the default Xero Chart of Accounts?: The default Xero demo company includes 69 accounts across categories such as assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. Businesses can add or customize accounts based on operational needs.
What are nominal codes in Xero?: Nominal codes in Xero are numeric identifiers assigned to each account in the Chart of Accounts. They help organize financial data, improve reporting clarity, and maintain structured accounting records.
How do I download the Chart of Accounts from Xero?: To download the Chart of Accounts in Xero, log in to your account and navigate to the Accounting menu from the dashboard. From there, select Advanced, then click on Chart of Accounts. Once you’re on the Chart of Accounts page, choose the Export option. You can download the file in CSV format or print it as a PDF, depending on your reporting or sharing requirements.
Can I customize the Chart of Accounts in Xero?: Yes, Xero allows you to add, edit, archive, or reorganize accounts. Customizing your Chart of Accounts helps align financial reporting with your business structure and growth strategy.
Does Xero require a specific nominal code format?: No, Xero does not enforce a fixed digit format for nominal codes. Businesses can use flexible numbering structures depending on reporting complexity and internal preferences.
Why is a properly structured Chart of Accounts important?: A well-structured Chart of Accounts improves financial visibility, simplifies tax reporting, supports audits, and ensures accurate Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reporting. Poor structure can create long-term reporting complications.