Zoho Books | Product Updates | November 2024

Zoho Books | Product Updates | November 2024

Hello users,

We are back with exciting new features and enhancements in Zoho Books. From multi-criteria workflows to writing off customer opening balances, discover the new updates designed to make your bookkeeping swift.

Attach XRechnung to Invoices [Germany Edition]

When you create an invoice, you now have the option to attach an XRechnung compliant invoice file to the email sent to your customer. This feature ensures that your invoices meet the legal requirements for transactions with government or public organizations in Germany.



To include an attachment of XRechnung in the invoice sent to your customer, go to Sales > Invoices. Create an invoice and click Save and Send. Check the Attach XRechnung option.

Extend the Validity Period of e-Way Bills [India Edition]

E-way bills are valid only for a specific period of time. This may cause issues during unexpected circumstances such as an accident, which can delay the transportation of goods. We've introduced an option to extend the validity period of an e-way bill.

This option is only available for e-way bills that are in the Generated and Expired statuses. You can extend the validity of an e-way bill 8 hours before or 8 hours after its expiration time. 



To extend the validity period of an e-Way bill, go to e-Way Bills > Select an e-way bill and click Extend e-Way bill at the top.

Validate VAT [Germany Edition]


You can now validate the VAT Registration Number to ensure that a business associated with it is still active. This is required for applying reverse charges on Sales transactions and will also serve as a verification step for e-invoicing.

To validate a VRN, go to Settings > Taxes and Compliance > Taxes > Vat Settings. Enter the Vat Registration Number (VRN) and click Validate.

Manage your Income TDS Rates [India Edition]

With the addition of the newly-introduced  Direct Taxes tab under Settings, you can easily manage your TDS rates. Now, you can select whether to associate TDS at the line-item level or the transaction level from Income TDS Settings.  You can also view the total number of transactions associated with different modules for a TDS rate by clicking View Associated Entities. For recurring transactions, such as recurring bills and invoices, clicking on the total number of transactions will redirect you to the list page.



To manage your TDS Rates, go to Settings > Taxes and Compliance > Direct Taxes > Income TDS Rates. To see the total number of transactions linked to a TDS rate across different modules, hover over the TDS rate, click the dropdown, and select View Associated Entities.



To manage your TDS settings, go to Settings > Taxes and Compliance > Direct Taxes > Income TDS Settings.

Associate Multiple Criteria for Workflows

At times, you might need to create multiple workflow rules to complete a  task. For example, if you want to send an email alert and notify a third-party application via webhook whenever the status of a created invoice changes in Zoho Books, you would have to create multiple workflow rules for the different invoice statuses. This can be time-consuming and may exhaust the number of permitted workflow rules you can create under your organization's plan. 

Now, you can achieve the same outcome with a single workflow rule by associating multiple criteria and linking them to their appropriate actions.



Write Off Customer Opening Balance

If a customer is unlikely to pay their outstanding balance, if there are discrepancies, or if the account has remained outstanding for an extended period, you can write off the customer's opening balance. You can also cancel the write-off.



To write off customer opening balance, go to Sales > Customers. Select a customer and click View Opening Balance. Click the Menu icon and select Write Off.

Auto-Populate Customer or Vendor Details [India Edition]

Creating a customer or vendor can be time-consuming, especially when you are adding multiple entries. If this is a concern, we’ve got you covered. You can now auto-populate the contact details by entering the GSTN of the customer or vendor, which will be fetched from the GSTN portal. You can then select the address from the list of addresses associated with that GSTN. Additionally, you can edit the auto-populated details as needed.



To auto-populate contact details for your customers, go to Sales > Customers > Select a customer and click + New. Click Fetch From GSTN and enter the GSTN. Click Fetch Customer Details. Similarly, you can auto-populate contact details of your vendors.

Bulk Export Invoices as a ZIP File

Downloading invoices separately and searching for them can be a hassle, especially when you’re downloading multiple invoices. Now, you can download multiple invoices as a single ZIP file with just the click of a button. A single ZIP file is easier to manage and transfer and keeps all the documents together. 




To bulk export multiple invoices as a single ZIP file, go to Invoices > select invoices and click the ZIP icon.

Import or Export Custom Modules

We have extended the import and export option to custom modules. The import/export will occur asynchronously, with the first module being imported/exported first, followed by the second module upon the completion of the first import/export.
If your file exceeds 1,000 or your export file exceeds 25,000, the import/export will be scheduled, and a summary will be emailed to you after successful completion.



To import/export custom modules, go to Custom Modules. Select a custom module. Click the More icon and select the required option. 

Other Enhancements

  • If the number of default filters exceeds 10 or if there are any custom views for a module, a search bar will appear, allowing you to search for the desired filter.
  • We have introduced a new label, Bill Amount Without TDS in bills, allowing you to view the bill amount excluding the TDS deduction and the TDS amount separately.
  • You can now enable endorsements for SEZ and overseas customers, indicating whether the supply is made with or without the payment of Integrated Tax (IGST). This feature is only supported in Spreadsheet and Standard templates, and your business must be GST-registered.
  • You can now search all fields in a custom module rather than just the primary field. Previously, we only supported lookups for the primary field of a module, but this feature has now been enhanced to support lookups for all fields in custom modules.



We hope you like the new features and enhancements in Zoho Books! Take some time to explore the latest updates. We’ll be back next month with even more updates, as we continually strive to elevate your accounting experience.

You can also visit the What's New timeline for byte-sized information about our previous feature updates and enhancements. If you need any assistance, feel free to reach out at support@zohobooks.com.

Best regards,
The Zoho Books Team

      • Recent Topics

      • When creating Sales Order / Estimate via API, the line item Tax Code does not get pulled in.

        I'm creating Sales Orders via API from CRM but it does not pull in the "Tax Code" I've read within the forums that this should be done automatically but it's not happening. Not sure if it's a bug or by design? Anybody else know? Should we be adding the
      • Chart showing schedule

        I want to be able to create a chart for everyday to check and which of which driver is available on the timeframe. Here's my table Name City Day Start Time End Time Driver1 Medicine Hat Monday 11:45 AM 4:45 PM Driver 2 Medicine Hat Tuesday 11:00 AM 7:00
      • Quais são os maiores desafios que você enfrenta ao implementar o Zoho CRM?

        Olá, pessoal da comunidade Zoho Brasil! Sou parceiro autorizado da Zoho e, ao longo do tempo, tenho notado que cada implementação de CRM traz desafios únicos, dependendo do segmento de negócio, das metas da empresa e até da familiaridade da equipe com
      • 2025 Just Got More Exciting for Developers!

        Hello, Greetings to the Zoho Books Community! As we step into the New Year, we're thrilled to roll out something truly special for our Zoho Finance enthusiasts – the "Zoho Finance Developer" Community! This is your exclusive space to connect with fellow
      • Error in executing On user input script

        I'm having problems with this  this script : ; Tipo_list=List(); Tipo_rec = Tabla_factores[Periodo == input.Periodo_anos.toLong()]; Tipo_list.addAll(Tipo_rec.Clase_credito.getall()); for each Clase_credito in Tipo_list { Tipo_credito:ui.add(Clase_credito) } Error in executing On User Input script of Periodo en años. Error. Error in executing Fetch Record task. Unable to fetch Tabla_factores and update variable Tipo_rec. Error in evaluating the criteria : Error. Error evaluating NUMERIC expression
      • sync data from outside of zoho plateform

        hii team , i am creating a platform using zoho platform, i want to sync the data from out side of the platform like people-soft, but i am not able to sync the data , if it is possible , then suggest me how can i do it , i want to sync data from other
      • How to add a Data Updated As Of: dynamically in text?

        I need to add a "Data Updated As Of" in the dashboard to show when was the last date the data was updated. I tried to create a widget but it does not look really good, see below. Is there a way I can do this through the text widget and update it automatically
      • Automate search in customer list and easilly initiate email

        Hello and happy new year ! I have a customer list with name, telephone, emails and some criterias like location, type of customer, etc. I want to search that form to extract part of it, for example all customers that have a location of "Québec city" and
      • "Select All" item in the context menu

        In the Client on Android, there is a “Select all” item in the note’s context menu. There is no such item in the PC client. Can it be added in future versions of the client?
      • Syncing Leave Calendar With Shared Google Calendar Does Not Remove Canceled Leaves

        Our organization has each employee sync their Leaves calendar with a shared Google calendar, but am I right that if an employee cancels a Leave in Zoho that it will not be removed automatically from the shared Google calendar through the same sync m
      • Is it possible to display formulas in cells instead of calculated results?

        I want to export my Zoho sheet as tab separated text without losing the formulas. In excel, I would use the settings Options - Advanced - show formulas in cells instead of their calculated results then save as tab separated values. How do I do this in
      • Creator Simplified #11: Create a custom button to download files

        Hey there! This time, let's see how to create custom buttons to download the files uploaded in the file upload field. Sample use-case A training app has a module that provides the materials for all the available courses. Students can click on the corresponding
      • Batch Tracking Enhancements In Zoho Inventory

        Hello users, We’re excited to announce that we’ve taken batch tracking to a whole new level in Zoho Inventory! We’ve made it more accessible and easier to use than ever. Here’s a quick look at the improvements: 1) A New Way To Create or Modify Batches
      • Zoho Desk Mobile App Year-End Roundup - 2024

        Hello Everyone, Greetings! As you gear up for the festive season, we are excited to share a quick journey into all that is released in 2024! Availability of each feature in iOS and Android released in 2024 are as follows: For more information on the above
      • Task Completion vs Estimated Time

        I need to represent the Estimated Date vs Actual Completion Date for multiple Tasks. How Can I Do this in Zoho Analytics.
      • Upload Field - cannot be checked in rules configuration.

        We wanted to create a process to verify whether the upload fields are empty or not. If empty, then it should deny during submission. We don't want to use the mandatory field setting because in a 10 pager form, some upload field located in page 1 will
      • Chat function not working properly

        Ever since upgrading to plus, the chat is all messed up. it is coming up behind the web page so that I cannot see what I'm typing and cannot read replies. I can only see the bottom of the text box at the bottom of the page, and then it is blocked. I've
      • Wrong Time on Exported Records

        Hello, All records in my exported Notes .csv file have the incorrect time for Created Time. They are all 8 hours ahead. I've already verified that my time zone is correct in both Personal Settings and Company Settings. Is there any way to fix this?
      • Sync workspace - table

        I have connected two workspaces and I have imported two different query tables from one workspace to the other one, that was a succes. But now I want to import another query table from the same workspace to the other but I get an error. Why is that? (there
      • Subir o Preço Unitário já acrescido de um valor

        To com um desafio grande, e se alguém conseguir me ajudar, seria ótimo! O que eu preciso é que o na hora de adicionar um item no subformulário dos itens cotados do módulo Orçamentos, o preço de lista do item venha acrescido de 20% automaticamente e de
      • Ring in the New Year with Guided Conversations for Smooth Offline Support

        As we step into the new year, it’s time to refocus, re-energize, and gear up for fresh opportunities. But what about your customers as they begin the year with their own set of challenges or queries to resolve? With Zoho Desk’s Guided Conversations (GC),
      • Exploring SalesIQ's Top Features of 2024: An Insider's Look 🔍

        As we wrap up another year at Zoho SalesIQ, it's time to reflect on how far we've come. This year has been incredible for us in our journey to build a more powerful, flexible, and customer-centric engagement platform. We've introduced several features
      • updateTask Zoho Connect API

        When I do POST request by https://connect.zoho.com/pulse/api/updateTask with parameters scopeID, taskId, title, status and with header Zoho-oauthtoken, I got next response: {'updateTask': {'reason': 'You are not authorized to do this action.', 'result':
      • Can Creator integrate with a CRM Sandbox

        zoho & Creator Noob -  I would like to build a Creator App and integrate it to the CRM Sandbox.  Then, when I have the bugs worked out integrate it to the production CRM account.  Can Creator do this ?  I built a test Creator App and integrated it to the CRM in a test zoho account fairly easily.  
      • Allow Multiple Scheduled Appointments with Zoho Support

        Dear Zoho Team, I hope you're doing well. First, thank you for introducing the option to schedule support calls via the Zoho CRM booking link. This has been a fantastic enhancement, eliminating the need for back-and-forth coordination when scheduling
      • Zia Call Intelligence only up 10 License

        I have been trying to install Call Intelligence for two days now, but strangely, the button is missing at this point. The documentation could be better, but most importantly, someone should inform small businesses like us that they don’t even bother enabling
      • Accrue Leave by Hours Worked?

        My locality (Michigan, US) has enacted a law that requires that 1 hour of sick leave be accrued for every 30 hours worked. I cannot see how to implement this policy in Zoho People. There does not appear to be a mechanism for accruing leave proportional
      • Fixed assets recording

        Hello there, I recorded a bill for a vendor contain (Computer) so the PC is a fixed assets, do I need to do a manual journal to include this PC under the fixed assets category (furniture & equipment)? If yes, please take me through the manual journal
      • error in importing customers

        get this error message while importing customers, there is no column for COUNTRY CODE in sample excel file
      • Workflow Based on Manual Journal

        Manual journal entries are one of the few areas that cannot kick off a workflow automation in Zoho Books currently. I would propose considering adding that. My use case is that the payroll provider I use (a flavor of SurePayroll) has a Zoho Books automation
      • Digest Décembre - Un résumé de ce qui s'est passé le mois dernier sur Community

        Bonjour chers utilisateurs, Toute l'équipe Zoho france vous souhaite une année remplie de joie, de réussite et de prospérité. Alors que nous débutons cette nouvelle année avec des projets innovants, des astuces, des produits et bien d'autres choses encore,
      • New Year Wishes to the Zoho Finance Developer Community!

        Hello developers, Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, we wish you a journey filled with growth, success, and exciting opportunities ahead. We’re thrilled to announce that we have something exciting in store for you. Welcome to the Zoho Finance Developer
      • Button Display Conditions

        Hi Guys, Is it at all possible to have extra button conditions? Context: We have data in our deals module which has a custom button which converts the deal into contacts + set up relationships between them. At the end of the conversion we set a field
      • Ayuda con zoho creator x zoho Crm

        Hola a todos, Estoy teniendo dificultades al sincronizar datos entre Zoho Creator y Zoho CRM. Mi objetivo es lo siguiente: Busque un registro en el módulo Contactsde Zoho CRM utilizando el correo electrónico del registro de Zoho Creator. Si se encuentra
      • How to Replace an Assessment in a Job Opening on Zoho Recruit

        Hi everyone, I’m currently using Zoho Recruit and would like to replace the assessment linked to a specific job opening. I want to remove the existing assessment and add a new one. What is the best way to do this without losing any important data or affecting
      • Fixed asset management

        I want to know if there is any individual module for fixed assets management
      • Input GST Reversal for damaged goods

        In our line of business, some items are damaged and we are doing inventory adjustments to remove them from stock. However, as per GST guidelines, there is a specific rule that we have to reverse Input GST availed for such items and needs to be reported
      • Introducing Record Summary: smarter insights at your fingertips

        Hello everyone, Building on the recent launch of Zoho's in-house Zia Large Language Model (Zia LLM)—a major milestone in Zoho CRM’s AI capabilities—we’re excited to introduce the Record Summary feature. This powerful addition makes use of Zia LLM to simplify
      • No longer get Cliq notifications on phone if app not started

        On Android, I used to get notifications on my phone whether I was in the app, or it was started. Then about a month ago, I stopped seeing notifications on my phone UNLESS I had already started the app. So if I reboot my phone, and never start the app,
      • Error AS101 when adding new email alias

        Hi, I am trying to add apple@(mydomain).com The error AS101 is shown while I try to add the alias.
      • Next Page