TallyPrime can be held on two very different terms, and the difference only shows up on the day the term ends. On a perpetual licence you buy the right to use that edition and keep using it. On a rental licence you pay for a fixed period, and when that period is over the licence is over. Neither is a trick, but they behave nothing alike, so the decision belongs on how long you expect to use Tally - not on the first payment alone.
What a perpetual licence buys:
- •The right to use one edition (Silver single user, Gold multi-user, Server client-server) on its licensed user count, with no end date
- •TSS as a separate annual subscription on top of it. TSS is what keeps statutory releases, the connected services and support running
- •Your data stays usable if TSS lapses: vouchers still open and entry still works, but statutory and e-invoice updates, the connected services (e-invoicing, e-way bill, GST returns, bank payments, mobile access) and support stop until TSS is renewed
What a rental licence buys:
- •The same edition, for a defined term
- •When the term ends the licence ends. There is no "keeps working after the term" fallback the way a perpetual licence has
- •Renewing before the end date keeps you running. Letting it end means you stop using Tally until you renew
What is the same either way:
- •The edition and the user count still decide what your team can do, whichever way you pay
- •Every licence carries a serial number, and renewals, upgrades and support are all raised against it
- •Your company data file is your own. How you pay for the licence does not change the file or require re-entry
How to see what you hold right now:
- •In TallyPrime open F1 (Help) > Settings > License > Manage License
- •That screen shows the edition, the serial number, and either the TSS expiry date (perpetual) or the licence end date (rental)
- •When renewal is due, an Alt+R (Manage TSS Renewal) option appears on the Gateway of Tally
How to decide:
- •If Tally is how the business runs its books and you expect to still be on it in three years, a perpetual licence is the simpler base
- •If you need Tally for one project, one contract, a seasonal business or a short audit cycle, a term licence matches the work
- •Compare the total cost across the years you expect to use it, and remember that TSS on a perpetual licence is an annual cost that does not disappear
- •Ask before you assume. A lapsed TSS on a perpetual licence is not the same as an expired rental licence, and treating the two as one is the most common mistake we see
Sarvadnya Infotech handles TallyPrime licence purchases, TSS renewals and edition upgrades from CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai for businesses anywhere in India. Send us the serial number from Manage License and we will tell you which licence you hold, when it ends or expires, and what the correct route is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic.
Does TallyPrime stop working when TSS expires?
On a perpetual licence, no. The software still opens and you can still enter vouchers, but statutory releases, connected services such as e-invoicing and GST returns, and support stop until TSS is renewed. On a rental licence the licence itself ends when the term ends, so it must be renewed to keep using Tally.
Can I move from a rental licence to a perpetual one?
Yes. It is a licence change against the same serial number, not a reinstallation, and your company data file carries across unchanged. Ask us to check the current term first so the timing does not waste a period you have already paid for.
Where do I see whether my licence is perpetual or rental?
Open F1 (Help) > Settings > License > Manage License in TallyPrime. The screen shows the edition, the serial number, and either the TSS expiry date or the licence end date.
Need expert help with your Tally setup?
Talk to our tally prime specialists at Sarvadnya Infotech LLP for a no-obligation consultation.