Do I have to scan every receipt or connect my bank?
Source basis: GOV.UK guidance. Check recorded 27 October 2026. Checks and limitations
General guidance. Independent tax-professional review is pending.
Short answer
Not every transaction has to start with a scan or a bank feed. HMRC describes manual entry into compatible software as one way to create digital records.
What a digital record contains
Record the amount, date and relevant category. You must also retain the supporting records or copies needed for Self Assessment; creating a digital entry does not remove that duty.
Basis: Create digital records
A bank feed still needs checking
Some transactions need more detail or a separate entry. Review the records before submitting; an imported bank feed is not a guarantee that the figures are complete.
Basis: Create digital records
Platform payments and cash
If you receive platform payouts and cash, ask the provider to demonstrate how both become dated, categorised digital records. Check how it distinguishes income from transfers and how you add transactions a bank feed cannot see. This is a practical selection check, not a claim that every product supports every import format.
Choose a workflow you can maintain
Ask the provider to show you manual entry, receipt capture and bank-import options before committing. These are practical checks, not a recommendation to use a particular product.
Basis: Choose the right software
Why we wrote this
Public discussions helped us identify this question. Tax rules are based on GOV.UK; software claims use dated vendor pages and HMRC listings. Practical checklists and navigation tips are our suggestions, not official instructions or professional advice.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Create digital records, updated 16 July 2026
- GOV.UK: Choose the right software, updated 13 July 2026
This page was last checked against these sources on 27 October 2026. It is general information, not tax advice. Report a mistake.