Can I use a spreadsheet for Making Tax Digital?
Last verified 23 October 2026
Yes, but not on its own. HMRC says that if you keep spreadsheets, you need bridging software to send quarterly updates and submit your tax return. The spreadsheet and the bridging software must be digitally linked.
Bridging software connects to records you already keep, such as a spreadsheet, and makes submissions to HMRC for you. Some bridging products can send quarterly updates and submit your tax return, so check that yours does both. Each record still needs the amount, the date and a category.
HMRC accepts several kinds of digital link, including linked spreadsheet cells, emailing a spreadsheet for import, transferring files on a portable drive, XML or CSV import and export, and automated or API transfer. Once a record has been sent to HMRC, do not retype it or copy and paste it into another product. If you correct a record in your spreadsheet, link the correction across too.
In VoxaMTD, you can import a CSV or Excel file, or connect your bank with open banking.
Read next
Sources
- GOV.UK: Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax for the first time
- GOV.UK: Use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Create digital records
- GOV.UK: Choose the right software for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax