Guide
MTD bridging software for landlords who use a spreadsheet
Bridging software reads the totals from your spreadsheet and sends them to HMRC. Tools differ in one important way: how they read your spreadsheet. Pick one that fits how you keep your records.
Three ways tools read a spreadsheet
- By label. You upload your spreadsheet, the tool matches figures to HMRC's categories by their names, and you confirm.
- By fixed cells. The tool reads exact cell positions from its own template layout. Your figures must sit in those cells.
- Through its own template. You fill the tool's template, ideally with formulas that link back to your records, then upload or export it.
Whatever you choose, don't retype your totals. HMRC requires a digital link from your records to what you send. Linking cells with formulas, or the tool reading your file, keeps that link; retyping or pasting plain numbers breaks it.
Some options, compared
| Tool | Cost (as listed, Oct 2026) | How it reads spreadsheets | Tax return too? |
|---|---|---|---|
| aligned.tax | Free for individuals | Upload; matches by label | Not yet |
| My Tax Digital | Free | Fixed cells in its SA105 template | Yes |
| VitalTax | About £36 a year | Excel add-in; you map cells | Partly |
| AbraTax | About £50 a year | Its own template, linked by formulas | Yes |
| Coconut | From £11 a month | Its own template, linked by formulas | Check with vendor |
Prices and features change often. Always check the vendor's site and HMRC's software finder. Most tools ask you to connect to HMRC (Government Gateway) before you can upload. We're independent and not paid by any of these tools.
Using our Landlord MTD Kit with these tools
The Landlord MTD Kit has a sheet for each route: two bridging sheets (itemised or consolidated expenses) for tools that match by label, and a sheet laid out like My Tax Digital's SA105 template for tools that read fixed cells. For tools with their own template, you link their boxes to our bridging sheet with formulas.