Making Tax Digital made simple!
I strongly recommend MTD Companion bridging software for sole traders and/or people with property income, especially if you have perfectly adequate spreadsheets recording income and expenses, which have been fine for years to help you populate Self-Assessment, but you now find MTD now requires you to make submit ‘digital’ submissions.
I’ve just completed my Q1 submissions for each of sole trader and property, and my wife’s submission for property. This was an incredibly simple process using the software. I downloaded the template spreadsheets in excel format (one for sole trader, one for property), copied these into my existing excel workbooks as new sheets, then populated this new sheet by copying the relevant values from my original sheets in the same workbook, using the basic '=' formula so no rekeying of data at any point.
Then open the relevant submission section in the MTD-C app (I'm using MacOS version) eg Q1 Sole Trader, then run the macro in their worksheet by clicking the big 'submit now' button, and literally seconds later my HMRC account was showing my MTD first submission completed
Also a shout-out re Support - I needed to ask a question (which was more related to HMRC rules rather than the app itself) so I submitted a query from within the app and had a email response within 30 minutes. No chatbot, no pointing me at faq's or knowledge base or forums, just a personal and friendly response in plain English, and I was able to continue the conversation with the same individual via email until my query was fully answered.
Would have given 6 stars if able to :-)
I’ve just completed my Q1 submissions for each of sole trader and property, and my wife’s submission for property. This was an incredibly simple process using the software. I downloaded the template spreadsheets in excel format (one for sole trader, one for property), copied these into my existing excel workbooks as new sheets, then populated this new sheet by copying the relevant values from my original sheets in the same workbook, using the basic '=' formula so no rekeying of data at any point.
Then open the relevant submission section in the MTD-C app (I'm using MacOS version) eg Q1 Sole Trader, then run the macro in their worksheet by clicking the big 'submit now' button, and literally seconds later my HMRC account was showing my MTD first submission completed
Also a shout-out re Support - I needed to ask a question (which was more related to HMRC rules rather than the app itself) so I submitted a query from within the app and had a email response within 30 minutes. No chatbot, no pointing me at faq's or knowledge base or forums, just a personal and friendly response in plain English, and I was able to continue the conversation with the same individual via email until my query was fully answered.
Would have given 6 stars if able to :-)
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Response from developer
WOW! Thank you very much for such a detailed review. Happy to help and answer your questions. See you again in 3 months :)
Recommend!
A very easy to use app with clear instructions and any easy template. It took me less than 10 minutes to complete my submission, and the team replied to my email requests almost immediately to help along the way. Highly recommend for freelancers.
Response from developer
Thank you for the kind words. Happy to help.
Not so good...
Not so good... used VAT MTD for a couple of years FROM THIS SAME COMPANY, figured this would be as good, unfortunately the auto dating of return end keeps jumping to todays date...
Response from developer
I wish you had contacted us first as we could have sorted this :( Period summaries do not need to be just the set quarter, they are a snapshot of earnings to date, which is why it defaults to the day you make the submission but it can be changed to any end date. Please email us if there is a bug and we’ll get it fixed.
Wow
Blows other complex softwares, we don’t need, out of the water.
I’m an agent and still fab for me. Definitely the way to go if you are an individual doing your own.
Works how I want a bridging spreadsheet to work: in one click, quick, reasonably priced and helpful support (which I needed just because of me putting information in wrong the first time I used it). I’m sure I won’t need support again, so simple.
I’m an agent and still fab for me. Definitely the way to go if you are an individual doing your own.
Works how I want a bridging spreadsheet to work: in one click, quick, reasonably priced and helpful support (which I needed just because of me putting information in wrong the first time I used it). I’m sure I won’t need support again, so simple.
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NOT so free
They always get you in the end, this so called free app is free until you want to submit your figures and by then you can’t be bothered to find another way as you just want done with it. And so another £50 subscription is entered into. What bo**ocks
Response from developer
Thank you for your insight! We do not promote this as a free app so it's highly unfair that you just assumed it was free. This app has taken more than 18 months of full time work to complete, and you want me to just give that away? Would you work for free?
Darren extremely helpful
It took me a while and some angst to get it sorted, but Darren got me there, and once I managed to use the templates (with a lot of help) it worked like a dream, converting my excel spreadsheets into a summary that could be directly uploaded to HMRC. Now it’s sorted I feel the new quarterly reporting is going to be straightforward. Thanks Darren.
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Response from developer
You’re very welcome :)
Unable to import bank data
The first thing to know about this app is doesn’t import your bank transactions and enable you to sort through them and prepare the figures. All it does is to accept your fully prepared accounts in spreadsheet format and submit them to HMRC. That’s its entire functionality. Which IMHO is pretty minimal. Other systems are out there which do both some of which come at zero cost. I’m sure this product does what it does very well but I never got that far. I’m giving it four stars - five reflecting that it does what it does, with a one star penalty for not clearly flagging what it doesn’t do upfront and wasting people’s time who want the full MTD package.
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Response from developer
Importing bank data is not a requirement for MTD, it's just how some other apps operate. It's a shame that we get our first negative review because you actually wanted a different app. Thanks!
It Works
Just like their VAT MTD app, this is the simple solution that lets me stay in control of my financial reporting. The imposition of MDT was far from welcome, and the Big Accounting Package I tried before was hopeless accounting for my specialist transactions. THIS software bridges what I already know how to do, with what HMRC wants. I am happy to pay the reasonable subscription fee and I love the great response to support issues.
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Response from developer
Thank you very much for the kind words.
Good but expensive
Just tested it so far and it seems fairly straightforward and easy. Well explained and clear. But it seems a little prohibitive for 4 submissions per year (3 if your accountant takes care of the end of year submission). I have tested another solution that is half the price and although it’s online based, it doesn’t seem more complicated.
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Response from developer
I’m sorry that you think it’s expensive. The app has taken 18 months of full time work to build and now we have a full time job assisting people and liasing with HMRC. That all needs to be priced in and we are a long way from making any money.
Unable to import bank data
At first I thought this app looked great but it’s unable to import bank transactions. There’s meant to be some way for it to import download bank transactions on spreadsheets but the whole thing is as clear as mud and having got my CSV file I’m unable to load it up. Just wasted a couple of hours on this.
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Response from developer
Importing bank data is not a requirement for MTD, it's just how some other apps operate. It's a shame that we get our first negative review because you actually wanted a different app. Thanks!
Excellent Support
I am not particularly computer literate but the MTD support team were excellent
Response from developer
Happy to help get you sorted :)
Fantastic support!
Easy to use, does what it says it will do. Best part is the very quick response whenever I’ve asked a question — which has been a few times now!
Response from developer
Thank you for the kind words :)
Great App
Great app with clear instructions that allows you to use your own spreadsheet and excellent email support from Darren when I needed clarification. Feeling less stressed now.
Incredibly helpful
Every month you summarise income and expenses. Every quarter MTD companion takes the data and sends it to HMRC. Once you have a habit of recording income and expenses, the rest is so easy. Darren is also incredible responsive if you need help. Very highly recommended.
Response from developer
Thank you so much for your kind review!
Perfect
I got myself so worried about all the MTD set up, Darren has been amazing step by step emails talking me through it all and I’m ready for first submission. I spent hours on other software setting it up, speaking to helplines and got nowhere! Hours of crying and stressing!! This app is perfect for MTD make sure you try it 😄
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App & Customer Service Winner!
This is the 2nd review which I have submitted and wanted to express my praise once again for this app and also in particular Darren who has remained helping me and stayed in contact. I honestly can’t recommend this app enough! Once you understand the various pages(which are simple to use) the continued support u receive is phenomenal! It’s not often in today’s world u can come across a company which actually has great customer service and replies to messages on the day! This app is perfect and so easy to use! Darren has taken the time to help me step by step…and made me feel like a customer and not just a number!
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Continued Customer Support & Brilliant APP!
I have been looking for an easy to use app, which would work across all my apple devices. This app has been perfect. I am a sole trader and only wanted an app which would suit just me and so far I have been really impressed. Im not technical minded and the app and also instructions on how to use have been clear and straightforward. I have needed to check a few things for my own peace of mind and the customer service has been brilliant. It’s been refreshing that a company actually responds to messages and the help I have recd in particular from Darren Jones has been brilliant. Although this is a paid app, compared to other companies I feel the easy to use layout of the app and customer service I have received more than covers the cost. I was really worried about having to move to MTD, but honestly this app and company makes it a breeze and I would highly recommend.
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Response from developer
Always happy to help. Thank you very much for your kind words.
Flexible app with excellent support
Like many sole traders I am sure, I've been tearing my hair out for months over MTD. I've been using custom databases for decades and am loath to change the way I work given that I have digital records already, but how how to make it work?
I downloaded these two apps to evaluate, and soon realised they could be intregrated. A quick back and forth with very helpful support and I now have buttons in my databases to automatically file Quarterly VAT and MTD for Income tax.
Something of a lifesaver, to he honest.
I downloaded these two apps to evaluate, and soon realised they could be intregrated. A quick back and forth with very helpful support and I now have buttons in my databases to automatically file Quarterly VAT and MTD for Income tax.
Something of a lifesaver, to he honest.
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Great support and app looks good too.
Rare to get such a responsive and knowledgable developer. Darren has helped me a lot with this tricky MTD transition us freelancers are going through, when I had questions about the app and how to setup my own spreadsheets. It’s much appreciated!
Exactly what I need
I was burying my head about HMRC's move to "Making Tax Digital", and reluctantly started trawling through all the options... most of which were either expensive, proprietry, wouldn't work on my Mac, and most of all required me to change the way I keep my records. I was overjoyed to find this app: it's a simple, low friction solution for anyone who already uses a spreadsheet for compiling their figures, bridging your spreadsheet and HMRC's submission system. I found the support super-helpful, and I'm particularly pleased this app supports a wide range of spreadsheets, including open source ones. Just brilliant!
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Response from developer
Thank you very much for your kind words.
