---
title: How to set up an account chart
description: "To enter transactions, you need a chart of accounts. You can either take this from the template in ChurchTools, import it via a CSV file or create it manually. ![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-394.png) You will see this message when you open ChurchTools Finance…"
url: "https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/master-data-finance/how-to-set-up-an-account-chart/"
updated: "2026-05-26"
category: Finances / Master data
---

# How to set up an account chart

To enter transactions, you need a chart of accounts. You can either take this from the template in ChurchTools, import it via a CSV file or create it manually.

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-394.png)

You will see this message when you open ChurchTools Finance for the first time or when you are in an accounting year that does not yet contain a chart of accounts.

## Chart of accounts from template

You can generate your chart of accounts using the template stored in ChurchTools. The template is based on the SKR03 chart of accounts and includes more than 140 accounts, four tax types and one cost center.

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-396.png)
This is the alternative way if the message shown above is no longer displayed.

## Import chart of accounts

If your church uses an existing chart of accounts, you can import it as a CSV file.

A template of how your import file should look like can be found [here](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ChurchTools_accounts_import-template.csv).

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-398.png)
This is the alternative way if the message shown above is no longer displayed.

## Add accounts manually

You can of course add your accounts manually to create a new chart of accounts or to add to an existing one.

To add accounts manually, you must first create all the required account types, classes and groups as well as tax types.

**Note**

This is only necessary if you have not yet created any account types etc. or if you need more. All existing master data in the General area is automatically transferred to the new accounting years.

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-399.png)

To do this, navigate to the respective ***tab*** (3) in the ***Master data*** (2) and click on ***Add*** (4).

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-393.png)

Then navigate to ***Accounts*** (3) in the ***Master Data*** (2) and click on ***Add*** (4).

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-395.png)

In the dialogue window that opens, you can now enter all the necessary information for your new account and then save it.

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-397.png)

#### Read more

- [How to add taxes](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/master-data-finance/19-how-to-add-taxes/)
- [How to add cost centers](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/master-data-finance/19-how-to-add-cost-centers/)
- [How to add budgets](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/budgets-reports-and-purposes/how-to-add-budgets/)