--- title: How to import account data from a file? description: When you start with ChurchTools Finance, one of the first steps is to import your account data into your ChurchTools so that you can create bookings and manage your financial data in your ChurchTools in the future. You can use… url: "https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/import-and-export-finances-en/how-to-import-account-data-from-a-file/" updated: "2026-06-16" category: Finances / Import and export --- # How to import account data from a file? When you start with ChurchTools Finance, one of the first steps is to import your account data into your ChurchTools so that you can create bookings and manage your financial data in your ChurchTools in the future. You can use the **account import** function to import all data that you have digitally and that relates directly to accounts and their properties into your ChurchTools. This also works for several clients at the same time. In this guide, we explain step by step how best to proceed. **Note** With this import, you can also bring your account-based **budget planning** into your ChurchTools. To do this, add the planned budget to the accounts in your account framework file before importing the data. **Tip** Before you continue, you should definitely **prepare** your **data and save it as a CSV file** so that the import runs smoothly. To help you import your account data smoothly, we provide you with an **import template adapted to your master data** for download in the account import dialog box, in which you can enter your data. We explain how to download the template and prepare your chart of accounts file in the [How to prepare my chart of accounts file for import into ChurchTools?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/de/help/churchtools-modules/import-und-export-finanzen/wie-bereite-ich-meine-kontenrahmendatei-fur-den-import-in-churchtools-vor/) If you don't know exactly how to edit an Excel file, we will show you how to do this in our guide [How to prepare a CSV file for import?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/de/help/churchtools-modules/import-export-personen/0-wie-bereite-ich-eine-csv-datei-fur-den-import-vor/) using the example of importing people. Once you have prepared your data and saved it as a CSV file, you can get started. ## 1. Upload data ### 1.1 Uploading client data In the *Finances module*, call up the *master data*, switch to the *accounts* (1) and call up the context menu for the accounts by clicking on the three dots (2) next to the heading. Here you select *Import accounts from CSV file* (3). [![Screenshot Finance Master data_Accounts](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Accounts.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Accounts.png) ### 1.2 Uploading data from several clients at the same time If you want to import the account data for several clients at the same time, go to the *Clients* (1) in the *Master data* and click on the three dots (2) next to the heading to open the context menu for the clients. Here you select *Import accounts for multiple clients from CSV file* (3). [![Screenshot Finance Master data Clients](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Clients.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Clients.png) ## 2. import account data In the window that opens, upload your prepared file or insert it using drag and drop. Once the file has been uploaded, click *Next*. **Tip** Before importing, make sure that you are in the correct accounting year. [![Screenshot Finance Master data Accounts Upload file](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Accounts_Upload-file.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Accounts_Upload-file.png) ### 2.1 Define import behavior The banner at the top informs you how many **entries** have been recognized in your import file (1). For data **from accounts that have already been created**, you must specify in the next step how this should be handled during import (2). Click on *Next* again. **Tip** If you want to import account data with different combinations, enter the data in files separated by combination and carry out several imports in succession. [![Screenshot Finance Master data Import Accounts Define import behavior](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Import-Accounts_Define-import-behavior.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Import-Accounts_Define-import-behavior.png) ### 2.2 Checking the assignment of account information Now you need to match the assigned columns in the CSV file with those in ChurchTools. This is important as the column names in your CSV file may differ from those in ChurchTools. If you have used our import template, it is highly likely that everything is correct. The *designations from your ChurchTools* are *displayed* on the left-hand side (1). On the right, the *assigned columns from your CSV file* (2). Using the *example data records* provided (3), you can easily check the automatic assignment made by ChurchTools and correct it via the *selection* (4) if necessary. [![Screenshot Finance Master data Import Accounts Check mapping](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Import-Accounts_Check-mapping.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Finance_Master-data_Import-Accounts_Check-mapping.png) ### 2.3 Importing data records By clicking on the *Import* button under the field mapping, the data will be saved in your ChurchTools and you will be informed when the account import is completed. ## Read more - [How to prepare my chart of accounts file for import into ChurchTools?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/import-and-export-finances-en/how-do-i-prepare-my-chart-of-accounts-file-for-import-into-churchtools/) - [How to prepare a CSV file for import?](https://staging.churchtools.academy/de/help/churchtools-modules/import-export-personen/0-wie-bereite-ich-eine-csv-datei-fur-den-import-vor/)