Can sole traders and landlords still use spreadsheets for Making Tax Digital?

Yes. HMRC allows spreadsheet-based record-keeping combined with HMRC-recognised bridging software for submissions. You do not need full accounting software. With suiteSheets, you either download our free pre-built .xlsx template (which has the Overview sheet built in and opens in Excel or Google Sheets), or you add our Overview sheet to your existing spreadsheet using our instructions. The Overview sheet is required for suiteSheets to read your figures and submit to HMRC. This is a one-time setup step - after that, you continue recording income and expenses as you normally would. suiteSheets does not provide advice on whether this approach is suitable for your circumstances. Speak to a qualified accountant if you are unsure.

Can I submit MTD returns directly from Excel or Google Sheets?

No. Excel and Google Sheets cannot submit MTD returns directly to HMRC. Two things are needed. First, the suiteSheets Overview sheet must be present in your spreadsheet - provided by suiteSheets as a one-time setup step. It creates the required digital link within your records by automatically calculating cumulative totals from your income and expense data. The structure of the Overview sheet must be kept intact - your records feed into it, but the sheet itself should not be modified. Second, the suiteSheets platform is the bridging software that handles the submission. When a submission is due, you upload your spreadsheet to suiteSheets, verify the figures read from your Overview sheet on screen, and suiteSheets transmits them to HMRC. Both are required. Your underlying records and your spreadsheet stay under your control throughout.

What is MTD bridging software?

Bridging software connects your spreadsheet to HMRC for Making Tax Digital submissions. With suiteSheets, you can either use our free pre-built template or add our Overview sheet to your existing spreadsheet. Each quarter, you upload your spreadsheet. suiteSheets reads the totals from your Overview sheet, checks the format, and securely sends those figures to HMRC. We do not calculate or adjust your numbers - all figures come from your spreadsheet and remain your responsibility.

Do I need accounting software like Xero or QuickBooks for Making Tax Digital?

No. HMRC recognises bridging software as a valid alternative to full accounting software for spreadsheet users. suiteSheets is HMRC-recognised bridging software costing £20 per tax year for one income source, £10 for each additional income source - compared to £120 to £360 or more per year for accounting software subscriptions. suiteSheets has no monthly fees, no forced features you do not need, and no lock-in contracts. If you can use a spreadsheet, you can use suiteSheets. suiteSheets does not provide advice on whether this approach is suitable for your circumstances. Speak to a qualified accountant if you are unsure.

What is the cheapest way to comply with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?

Yes. HMRC recognises bridging software as a valid alternative to full accounting software for spreadsheet users. suiteSheets is HMRC-recognised bridging software costing £20 per tax year for one income source, £10 for each additional income source - compared to £120 to £360 or more per year for accounting software subscriptions. suiteSheets has no monthly fees, no forced features you do not need, and no lock-in contracts. suiteSheets does not provide advice on whether this approach is suitable for your circumstances. Speak to a qualified accountant if you are unsure.

Can I use Excel for Making Tax Digital?

Yes. The suiteSheets template is a standard .xlsx file - you can open it directly in Excel and use it there. You can also add our Overview sheet to your existing Excel file using our instructions. Excel cannot directly connect to HMRC's Making Tax Digital system. The Overview sheet and suiteSheets platform together provide the MTD solution. When a submission is due, you upload your Excel file to the suiteSheets platform, suiteSheets reads your Overview sheet and displays your cumulative totals for you to verify, then transmits them to HMRC. It is your responsibility to determine when submissions are due. suiteSheets does not provide advice on submission timing. Check your obligations with HMRC directly or speak to a qualified accountant.

Can I use Google Sheets for Making Tax Digital?

Yes. The suiteSheets template is a standard .xlsx file - you can upload it directly to Google Sheets and use it there. You can also add our Overview sheet to your existing Google Sheets file using our instructions. Google Sheets cannot directly connect to HMRC's Making Tax Digital system. The Overview sheet and suiteSheets platform together provide the MTD solution. When a submission is due, you download your Google Sheets file and upload it to the suiteSheets platform, suiteSheets reads your Overview sheet and displays your cumulative totals for you to verify, then transmits them to HMRC. It is your responsibility to determine when submissions are due. suiteSheets does not provide advice on submission timing. Check your obligations with HMRC directly or speak to a qualified accountant.

When does Making Tax Digital for Income Tax start?

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax has started for some sole traders and landlords from April 2026, with further groups following from April 2027 and later. The income thresholds and start dates that determine who must comply with Making Tax Digital are set by HMRC. Check your own obligations with HMRC directly or speak to a qualified accountant. suiteSheets does not provide advice on whether or when you are required to use MTD.

Can construction workers and sole traders in trade use suiteSheets?

Yes. suiteSheets is suitable for sole traders in construction and trade who track income and expenses in Excel or Google Sheets. You add our Overview sheet to your existing spreadsheet or use our free template. suiteSheets reads your cumulative totals and handles the submission to HMRC. Spreadsheets are allowed for records, but submissions must go through HMRC-recognised software like suiteSheets. Whether you need to comply with MTD, and when, depends on your individual circumstances. Check your obligations with HMRC directly or speak to a qualified accountant.

Is suiteSheets an alternative to Xero or QuickBooks for MTD?

Yes. HMRC recognises bridging software as a valid alternative to full accounting software for spreadsheet users. suiteSheets is HMRC-recognised bridging software designed specifically for people who want to keep their existing Excel or Google Sheets workflow. suiteSheets costs £20 per tax year for all four quarterly submissions for one income source, with no monthly subscription - compared to £120 to £460 per year for typical accounting software.

Do I need an accountant for Making Tax Digital?

HMRC allows individuals to manage their own MTD submissions using recognised software, without using an accountant. suiteSheets is designed for people who are comfortable managing their own records and want to handle submissions themselves. Whether you need an accountant depends entirely on your own circumstances and how complex your tax affairs are. suiteSheets does not provide tax, legal, financial, or accounting advice. If you are unsure, speak to a qualified accountant.

Can an accountant recommend suiteSheets to their clients?

Yes. suiteSheets is suitable for accountants whose clients prefer to manage their own records in spreadsheets. It allows those clients to submit quarterly updates without adopting new accounting software. suiteSheets is for personal use by the individual taxpayer and is not available for agents to file on behalf of clients.

Excel ‘leaps’ back!

News

4 Jun

Written By Christine Gibson

Take a seat suiteSheets, this one’s for the pub quiz!

Did you know that Microsoft Excel thinks 1900 was a leap year? It wasn’t!

So, what happened?

Why does Excel think 1900 was a leap year?

Back in the early days of Excel, Microsoft made a small decision, they chose to copy how an older system, Lotus 1-2-3, handled dates. Sounds fairly undramatic.

However, Lotus 1-2-3 contained a small date calculation error, it treated 1900 as a leap year. Rather than create compatibility problems between the two systems, Microsoft copied it into Excel.

And it’s still there, Excel will quite happily accept 29 February 1900 as a valid date, even though it never existed! Whoops!

Why doesn’t Microsoft fix the Excel leap year ‘bug’?

Because changing it now would break millions of existing spreadsheets that rely (knowingly or not) on how dates are calculated.

Dates would literally shift. Calculations would move. Chaos (of a very spreadsheet kind) would follow.

So the decision was made to leave it as-is.

You can find Microsoft’s take on the matter here - Microsoft (2026)

The quiet takeaway

Worry not, unless you’re doing bookkeeping for the Victorian era, historical data analysis covering early 1900 or entering dates from over a century ago!

For modern records, everything works exactly as it should.

But it seems even the most reliable tools have a few quirks under the bonnet. Luckily, we’ve spent a bit of time getting to know them to make sure they don’t become yours!

Got a favourite “Excel did what?!” moment, or spotted something equally strange? Pop it in the comments below, we’re always up for a good pub quiz entry!

Christine Gibson

Excel ‘leaps’ back!

Why does Excel think 1900 was a leap year?

Why doesn’t Microsoft fix the Excel leap year ‘bug’?

The quiet takeaway

Quarterly updates, what actually happens?

MTD Categorisation