Accountant requests
My Accountant Asked for Bank Statements. What Should I Send?
Reviewed 12 September 2026
Short answer
Short answer
Ask your accountant for the required date range, accounts and file format. If they asked for source records, send the original PDFs. If they need transactions for reconciliation or software import, send one clean CSV per account as well as the PDFs. Label closed accounts, disclose missing months and include a short note about unusual or uncertain transactions instead of deleting them.
The safest handover contains the evidence your accountant asked for and a clean working file, without pretending that one replaces the other.
Make the handover complete and easy to trace
Organise folders by business entity and account. Use filenames that identify the bank, account ending and statement period without putting full account numbers into an email subject or public link.
Categories can save review time, but they do not decide deductibility, GST or final account coding. Leave uncertain rows visible and let the accountant make the accounting decision.
Step by step
- 01
Confirm the request
Ask which entities, accounts, dates and formats the accountant needs.
- 02
Collect every source PDF
Include closed accounts and identify any periods you cannot obtain.
- 03
Prepare one CSV per account
Convert and reconcile chronological transaction data when the accountant needs usable rows.
- 04
Send a handover note
List missing months, unusual items, personal transactions and any categories that need a decision.
Checks before you rely on the spreadsheet
- The requested period is confirmed.
- Every relevant account is included.
- PDFs and CSVs are clearly paired.
- Nothing uncertain was silently removed.
Download the templates
Free CSV files. No email address or account required.
Questions people ask
Does my accountant need PDF statements or Excel?
It depends on the job. PDFs are source records. CSV or Excel data can reduce manual entry for reconciliation and software import. Ask whether they want one or both.
Should I combine every account into one file?
Usually no. Keep each account and card separate unless your accountant asks for a combined workbook.
Should I remove personal transactions?
Do not remove them from the complete account history. Flag them clearly so your accountant can decide how they should be treated.