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MTD software vs spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are free, familiar, and still legal under MTD — with one condition most people miss. Here's the honest comparison.
| Spreadsheets | MTDFox | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free during beta, then from £4.99/month |
| Files to HMRC | No — you also need bridging software | Yes, quarterly updates direct |
| Digital link to HMRC | Only through separate bridging software | Built in |
| Re-typing figures | Manual re-entry breaks HMRC's digital-link rule | Bank CSV imported and categorised |
| Section 24 credit | You calculate it yourself | Applied automatically |
| Knowing what you owe | Only when you build the formula | Live estimate as you go |
| Deadline reminders | None | Quarter dates and deadlines on screen |
| Risk of a broken formula | Entirely yours | No formulas to break |
Choose spreadsheets if…
A spreadsheet plus bridging software is a legitimate, cheap way to comply — and if you have one property, steady rent and the discipline to keep it current, it genuinely works.
Choose MTDFox if…
The moment you have a second property, a joint owner, or a mortgage with Section 24 in play, the spreadsheet stops being the cheap option and starts being the risky one.
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Competitor details were checked on 2026-09-07 and are summarised from each provider's own public pages. Prices change — check theirs before deciding.