Using the TidyTill workbook with bridging software
Bridging software reads figures from a spreadsheet and sends your MTD for Income Tax quarterly updates to HMRC. The TidyTill Quarterly sheet has a fixed layout, so you can map it once and reuse the mapping every quarter. TidyTill isn't affiliated with any of the tools below.
Where the figures are
Open the Quarterly sheet. Each SA103 box has its own row. Columns H to K hold the cumulative figures for updates 1 to 4, from the start of the tax year. Columns C to F hold each period's own amount. Amounts are positive numbers in pounds.
| Field (SA103 box, proposed) | Row | Update 1, 2, 3, 4 (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| Box 15 Turnover | 9 | H9 I9 J9 K9 |
| Box 16 Other business income | 10 | H10 I10 J10 K10 |
| Box 17 Cost of goods (add your own) | 11 | H11 I11 J11 K11 |
| Box 18 Construction industry subcontractors | 12 | H12 I12 J12 K12 |
| Box 19 Wages and staff costs | 13 | H13 I13 J13 K13 |
| Box 20 Car, van and travel | 14 | H14 I14 J14 K14 |
| Box 21 Rent, rates, power and insurance | 15 | H15 I15 J15 K15 |
| Box 22 Repairs and maintenance | 16 | H16 I16 J16 K16 |
| Box 23 Phone, stationery and office costs (postage labels) | 17 | H17 I17 J17 K17 |
| Box 24 Advertising (platform ads) | 18 | H18 I18 J18 K18 |
| Box 25 Interest on loans | 19 | H19 I19 J19 K19 |
| Box 26 Bank and financial charges (payment processing) | 20 | H20 I20 J20 K20 |
| Box 27 Irrecoverable debts | 21 | H21 I21 J21 K21 |
| Box 28 Accountancy and professional fees | 22 | H22 I22 J22 K22 |
| Box 29 Depreciation | 23 | H23 I23 J23 K23 |
| Box 30 Other business expenses (selling fees) | 24 | H24 I24 J24 K24 |
| Box 31 Total allowable expenses | 25 | H25 I25 J25 K25 |
| Consolidated expenses (only if turnover is below £90,000) | 26 | H26 I26 J26 K26 |
Period start and end dates are in rows 6 and 7, and update deadlines in row 8. The box for each category is a proposal: check it with an accountant. Use either the itemised boxes 17 to 30 or the consolidated figure, not both. Platform files don't include stock, packaging or other off-platform costs, so add them first.
Prefer a list? Use the quarterly CSV
Alongside the workbook you can download TidyTill_quarterly_<year>.csv, with one row per update and field and the columns update, period_from, period_to, field_code, sa103_box, field, period_amount_gbp and cumulative_amount_gbp. There's also a transactions CSV with every ledger line. The same figures are listed at the bottom of the Quarterly sheet under "Flat export".
Pointing common bridging tools at it
These notes come from each tool's own website, checked 28 October 2026. Features and prices change, so check with the tool and on HMRC's software finder.
- aligned.tax (MTD for Spreadsheets): Upload the workbook (.xlsx). Its Smart Map matches your layout and saves the mapping, so you map the Quarterly cells once and reuse them each quarter.
- Abridge: Works through an Excel or Google Sheets add-on or a file upload, including CSV. Map the Quarterly cells (or the quarterly CSV) once.
- Otis Tax: Says it works with any Excel or CSV layout. Point it at the cumulative column for the update you're sending.
- flonancial: Upload your spreadsheet and pick the cells that hold turnover and expenses. If you use calendar update periods, check the tool supports them.
- MTD Sheets: Says it supports all spreadsheet formats. Map the cumulative Quarterly cells, or use the quarterly CSV.
- My Tax Digital: Reads its own SA103 template by fixed cell position. TidyTill gives you files in that template's layout, one per update. Please check against the latest My Tax Digital template before uploading: the cells were read from the public template and haven't been confirmed by My Tax Digital.
Each quarter
- Upload your latest platform exports to TidyTill and download the workbook or the CSV.
- Read the Health Check sheet and add any off-platform costs to the boxes they belong in.
- In your bridging software, open your saved mapping (or set it up once) using the cumulative column for this update.
- Check the figures in the bridging software, then send the update from there.
GOV.UK says importing a file into your software counts as a digital link, but copying and pasting figures by hand doesn't (create digital records).
Sample files (made-up data)
Try your bridging software's mapping before you buy, using files built from example data:
- Sample workbook (.xlsx)
- Sample quarterly figures (.csv)
- Sample transactions (.csv, 1.2 MB)
- Sample My Tax Digital SA103 layout, update 2 (.xlsx). Please check against the latest My Tax Digital template.
See your own figures first
Upload your exports and see your totals, quarters and Health Check free before you pay. Paid workbook downloads open very soon; the free preview works now.
Try the free previewQuestions
Is TidyTill a partner of these bridging tools?
No. TidyTill has no partnership, affiliate deal or endorsement with any of them. They're listed because their own websites say they read spreadsheets or CSV files in a layout you choose. HMRC doesn't recommend any software either, so compare options in HMRC's software finder.
Which column do I map for each quarterly update?
MTD for Income Tax quarterly updates are cumulative from the start of the tax year, so map column H for update 1, I for update 2, J for update 3 and K for update 4. Columns C to F hold each period's own amount, for your checks.
Will the cells move next quarter?
No. The Quarterly sheet layout is frozen (layout version 1, shown in cell A2). If it ever has to change, the version number changes and this page says what moved.
Does TidyTill send my update to HMRC?
No. TidyTill is a record-keeping aid, not HMRC-recognised software, and it isn't tax advice. You review the figures, add off-platform costs such as stock and packaging, and send the update through your HMRC-recognised software.
TidyTill is a record-keeping aid only. This page is general information, not tax advice. TidyTill is not HMRC-recognised software and doesn't submit anything to HMRC.