Smart Map - AI Column Mapping

What this is

Smart Map analyses an uploaded XLSX workbook and suggests how its cells or ranges map to HMRC income and expense fields. You review the mapping before any figures move to the submission review.

What you see on screen

After uploading your spreadsheet, the Smart Map screen shows:

A spreadsheet preview for selecting and checking cells or ranges
HMRC target fields for the selected income type
Suggested mappings or an automatically recognised layout
Confidence and explanation details where Smart Map made a new suggestion
Completeness checks showing any required fields still to map

Smart Map interface

How to use Smart Map

Review AI suggestions

Upload the XLSX workbook.
If the layout is known, aligned.tax applies the structural mapping automatically. Otherwise Smart Map suggests mappings.
Review each mapped cell or range and its target HMRC field.
Check the preview and completeness indicators before continuing.

Adjust mappings manually

If a mapping is incorrect, click on it to change the target HMRC field
Use the dropdown to select the correct field from the list
If a column should not be mapped (e.g., notes or reference columns), set it to “Ignore”

Automatic layout recognition

After you apply a complete mapping, aligned.tax can recognise the same spreadsheet structure on a later upload. There is no manual save-profile step in the released journey.

Recognition may use your practice’s previous layout or a privacy-safe shared structural layout. Shared layout data contains the workbook structure and mapping coordinates needed for recognition. It does not share spreadsheet figures, workbook content, client names or another organisation’s profile name.

Continue to review

Once all mappings are set, click Next to proceed to the review step.

Things to know

Smart Map works best with clear column headers. If your columns are named things like “Income”, “Rent received”, or “Repairs”, the AI will map them accurately. Vague headers like “Column A” or “Data 1” may need manual adjustment.
You can always adjust. Smart Map suggestions are just that - suggestions. You have full control to change any mapping before proceeding.
Recognised layouts speed up repeat filings. Always check the automatically applied mapping before continuing.
The AI learns from common accounting patterns. It recognises standard bookkeeping software export formats and common accounting terminology.
Unmapped columns are ignored. Any column you do not map to an HMRC field will not be included in the submission.

If something goes wrong

AI confidence is low on most mappings

Your labels may be unusual or abbreviated. Review the suggestions and map the correct cells or ranges to the required HMRC fields.

A column is mapped to the wrong HMRC field

Click the mapping to change it. Use the dropdown to select the correct target field.

My spreadsheet columns changed since last time

If the spreadsheet structure changes, the old layout may not be applied. Smart Map will suggest mappings for you to review.

“No data found in columns”

Check that your spreadsheet has data in the expected columns and that the first row contains headers, not data.

Uploading a Spreadsheet - how to upload your file
Reviewing Before You Submit - checking mapped data before submission

FAQ

Does Smart Map work with any file format?

Smart Map accepts XLSX workbooks. Layout quality varies, so you must review the suggested mapping and figures.

Can I use Smart Map and the template together?

The released journey opens Smart Map directly for supported income types. The template link remains available if you prefer a structured workbook; a correctly structured template does not need AI suggestions.

What is shared when a layout is recognised?

Only privacy-safe structural layout information may be shared for recognition. Your figures, workbook content, client identity and organisation identity are not shared.

What HMRC fields does Smart Map map to?

The available HMRC fields depend on your income type. For self-employment, these include turnover, various expense categories, and disallowable amounts. For property income, they include rent received, property expenses, and allowable deductions.