Beginning April 2026, HMRC will require every VAT‑registered business and most self‑employed professionals to keep digital records and file returns electronically under the Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative.
For millions of small and mid‑sized businesses across the UK, that means:
Buying or subscribing to cloud accounting software such as Intuit QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, Xero, or Oracle NetSuite.
Migrating years of records from sprawling spreadsheets—or worse, paper binders—into a new system.
Learning an unfamiliar interface just to run day‑to‑day bookkeeping.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The transition can feel overwhelming, expensive, and risky—especially if your team lives in Excel or Google Sheets.
The friction‑free path to MTD compliance
CData Connect Spreadsheets lets you keep the tools and processes you already trust while satisfying HMRC’s digital‑record rules.
Connect in minutes – Use our built‑in connectors for QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, Xero, NetSuite, and dozens more. No code or IT departments required.
Work where you’re comfortable – Query and update live accounting data without ever leaving Excel or Google Sheets.
Two‑way sync – Upload changes you make in the spreadsheet back to your accounting platform, keeping everything in perfect sync.
Secure and governed – Enterprise‑grade encryption and granular permissions protect sensitive financial data.
Key benefits for UK businesses
Zero disruption: Maintain existing spreadsheet workflows while meeting MTD’s new digital bookkeeping standards.
Rapid onboarding: Business users connect and start syncing data in less than five minutes—no costly consultants.
Unified view: Combine sales orders from data in Shopify, inventory data, and ledger transactions.
Scales as you grow: When you’re ready for analytics, upgrade to CData Connect AI to send data to Power BI, Tableau, or automation tools like Power Automate.
Cost‑effective: Start free with generous row limits; pay only when your usage expands.
Step‑by‑step: From zero to MTD hero
Connect Spreadsheets makes it easy to keep working in spreadsheets you know best.
Install the Connect Spreadsheets add-in for Excel or Google Sheets.
Create a free CData account.
Add a data source in connections – choose your new QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, Xero, or NetSuite software and authenticate in minutes.
Open the add-in in your existing spreadsheet to easily upload to your accounting software under update.
Import data back to your spreadsheet – pull any table (e.g., Invoices, Customers, GLAccounts) from the source directly into a worksheet when you need it.
Click Refresh at any time to continue working with the freshest data.
File confidently – When it’s time to submit your VAT return, your records are already digital and HMRC‑ready without needing to comb through hundreds of spreadsheet files.
Get started today— no credit card required
The MTD deadline is approaching fast. Don’t let software migration derail your business. Try CData Connect Spreadsheets free for Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, connect your new accounting platform in minutes, and keep working where you work best.
Start connecting data free
