HMRC-recognised

Keep your spreadsheet for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

If you already track income and expenses in a spreadsheet, you don’t need to move everything into a full bookkeeping platform. Use bridging software to turn your spreadsheet totals into a quarterly update — and complete your tax return.

No migration to bookkeeping software Keep your existing spreadsheet and workflow — just map totals once, then reuse it each quarter.
Works with spreadsheets on Windows or Mac Your spreadsheet can stay where it is. Import via link + QR scan, or use a Mac.
Free templates (optional) Start with ready-made spreadsheet templates built for quarterly totals. View the templates.
Download on the App Store See how it works
HMRC MTD Ready logo iPhone • iPad • Mac
Making Tax Digital app on MacBook, iPad and iPhone

Note: you stay in control of your figures — the app submits what you provide from your spreadsheet totals.

Why keep a spreadsheet?

For many sole traders and landlords, spreadsheets are already a simple, reliable way to stay organised.

  • Familiar — no retraining or rebuilding your process
  • Transparent — easy to review totals and spot mistakes
  • Flexible — keep categories that make sense to you
  • Fast — quarterly updates are summary totals, not a full bookkeeping rebuild

Free spreadsheet templates

If you want a clean starting point, use our templates and keep everything consistent from day one.

  • Designed for quarterly totals
  • Works alongside the app’s mapping step
  • Good for new 2025–26 setups
Browse templates

How it works

1) Keep using your spreadsheet

Track your income and expenses the way you do today.

2) Map totals once

Tell the app where your totals live, so it can read the right figures each time.

3) Send your quarterly update

Submit summary totals securely to HMRC for the relevant quarterly period.

4) End-of-year: adjustments + tax return

When it’s time, complete the end-of-year steps and submit your final position.

Prefer the full guide? Read “How it works”.

FAQ

Do I need cloud bookkeeping software?

Not if you already keep reliable records in a spreadsheet and prefer to stay that way. Bridging software is designed to connect your spreadsheet totals to the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax submission process.

Do I have to link my bank account?

No. Linking a bank account is an optional feature some bookkeeping apps use to pull transactions automatically. If you keep your records in a spreadsheet, you can continue doing that without linking any bank accounts.

Can my spreadsheet stay on Windows?

Yes — you can import from a Windows spreadsheet using an import link and QR scan, or use the app on a Mac to work directly alongside your files.

Where do the templates fit in?

Templates are optional. They’re there if you want a clean spreadsheet layout that’s easy to total up each quarter. See the templates.

More FAQs Templates
Download on the App Store