The best MTD bridging software for spreadsheet users

If you've kept your business or rental records in a spreadsheet for years, MTD doesn't have to mean starting again. Bridging software lets you carry on with Excel or Google Sheets, and simply sends the right figures to HMRC each quarter. It's often the cheapest way to comply, costing from about £20 a year.

HMRC confirms that bridging software linking spreadsheets is allowed for MTD for Income Tax (GOV.UK). We compared the main options and checked prices in October 2026. Where we could only find a third-party figure, we say so.

What is MTD bridging software?

Think of bridging software as a postman between your spreadsheet and HMRC. You keep your income and expenses in your spreadsheet as normal. When a quarterly update is due, the bridging tool reads the totals from your spreadsheet and sends them to HMRC through its secure connection. It can also send your end-of-year tax return, depending on the product.

Your spreadsheet counts as your digital records. The bridging software is the "compatible software" HMRC requires to send the information.

What is the digital links rule?

In plain terms, HMRC expects the journey from your records to HMRC to be digital. The figures should move between your spreadsheet and the bridging software by a digital connection, such as the tool reading your file or a formula linking one sheet to another, rather than you retyping numbers by hand along the way.

The safest approach is simple. Keep your records in one spreadsheet, let the bridging tool read it directly, and avoid copying totals across by hand. If your setup is unusual, check HMRC's guidance or ask an accountant.

The best MTD bridging software at a glance

Prices exclude VAT unless stated and were checked on each provider's website in October 2026. Introductory offers change often, so always confirm the live price. App ratings are from the UK App Store and Google Play in October 2026.

The best bridging software in detail

123 Sheets is the cheapest compliant route we found, at £19.75 a year per taxpayer ex VAT. It works with Excel and Google Sheets, and covers self-employment plus UK and foreign property. There's an optional bookkeeping spreadsheet for £40 if you don't have one already. 123 Sheets pays us nothing, and we rank it first on merit.

Watch out for: the price we saw included 50% off the first year, so expect it to go up. There's no app and no bank feeds, so you still keep your spreadsheet up to date yourself. VAT is a separate product.

VitalTax works as an Excel add-in, so you send your updates without leaving Excel. The first submission is free, which lets you try it properly. It supports landlords as well as sole traders, and has a VAT add-in too.

Watch out for: the price of about £30 a year per National Insurance number is a third-party figure. VitalTax's own page lists VAT pricing only, so check before you buy. It suits Excel only, not Google Sheets.

TaxCalc is a long-standing tax return product. Its MTD Quarterly Filer Solo costs about £24 a year, with about £42 for the year-end return. If you already file your Self Assessment with TaxCalc, staying with it may feel familiar.

Watch out for: these are third-party figures, so check TaxCalc's own site. Landlord support is not confirmed in the information we checked. There's no app.

Coconut's MTD Bridging plan costs £49.99 a year. Coconut is a mobile-first app for sole traders and landlords, and its bridging plan suits people who keep their own records but want a modern app to file. If you later want full bookkeeping, you can move up to its paid monthly plans. Coconut pays us nothing.

Watch out for: it's the most expensive bridging option here. Full price: MTD Bridging £49.99 a year, Bookkeeping £16.99 a month, MTD filing £12.99 a month or £129.99 a year.

What other bridging software is on HMRC's list?

HMRC's software finder lists other bridging tools for MTD for Income Tax, including My Tax Digital, AbraTax, GoFile and Absolute Excel Filer (GOV.UK). We haven't included prices for these because we couldn't verify them. If one appeals, check its features, price and support directly with the provider.

How much does MTD bridging software cost?

Bridging software is usually priced per year, not per month. Based on the prices we checked in October 2026, expect to pay:

• 123 Sheets: £19.75 a year per taxpayer ex VAT, with a first-year discount at the time of checking.
• TaxCalc: about £24 a year for quarterly filing, plus about £42 for the year-end return (third-party figures).
• VitalTax: about £30 a year per National Insurance number (third-party figure), with the first submission free.
• Coconut: £49.99 a year for its bridging plan.

Remember to check whether your year-end tax return is included, or charged on top. That can make a cheap quarterly price less of a bargain.

Spreadsheet or app: which should I use?

Here's an illustration. Jean is a retired teacher who lets one flat and runs a small tutoring business. Her rent and tutoring takings came to £31,000 in 2025 to 2026, so she must use MTD from 6 April 2027 (GOV.UK). She has about 15 transactions a month and a spreadsheet she's used for a decade. For Jean, 123 Sheets at about £20 a year is a sensible choice. Her first update would be due by 7 August 2027 (GOV.UK).

If you have hundreds of transactions a quarter, a full app will probably save you time. See our free MTD software guide for apps that cost nothing.

How to choose bridging software

1. Excel or Google Sheets? 123 Sheets works with both. VitalTax is Excel only.
2. Do you have property income? 123 Sheets covers UK and foreign property. Check landlord support for others.
3. Do you already file with TaxCalc? Staying put may be easiest.
4. Want an app too? Coconut's bridging plan gives you one.
5. Is it on HMRC's list? Always confirm before paying.

Who should not use bridging software?

How we chose these

We looked at bridging products on HMRC's MTD for Income Tax software list and shortlisted those with prices we could find. We scored them on price, spreadsheet support, landlord coverage and ease of use, based on our review of features, pricing and user ratings. Where only a third-party price was available, we say so. None of the four products here pays us. Read how we test.