Uploading a Spreadsheet
What this is
The upload page is where you provide your quarterly income and expense data to aligned.tax. You upload an Excel spreadsheet (XLSX) containing your figures, and aligned.tax processes it ready for mapping to HMRC fields and submission. This is the starting point of every quarterly filing.
What you see on screen
The upload page is a multi-step wizard:
- Obligation selector - choose which quarterly period you are filing for
- Smart Map upload - drag and drop an XLSX file or click to browse
- Mapping review - check how spreadsheet cells map to HMRC fields
- Submission review - check the extracted figures before sending them to HMRC
If you’re an accountant
The active client is set before you enter the upload journey. Open the client from the Client Workspace or use the client switcher in the app header. The upload page then shows that client’s obligations.
If you’re filing for yourself
You go straight to your own obligations and spreadsheet upload.
How to upload
- Confirm the correct taxpayer and tax year in the app header.
- Select the obligation you want to file.
- Upload an XLSX spreadsheet. The released journey goes directly to Smart Map for supported income types.
- Review the suggested or recognised mapping.
- Continue to the review screen, check the figures and submit.
If you prefer a structured workbook, use the template link on the upload surface. Foreign Property uses its structured template rather than AI Smart Map.
Things to know
If you’re an accountant
- Check the active client in the header before you begin. The client context determines whose obligations and submission are shown.
- Each client’s obligations are separate. Only the active client’s relevant obligations appear.
If you’re filing for yourself
- Your file is linked to your own tax record. There is no client selection step - the upload is always for your own obligations.
- Your upload is always linked to your own taxpayer record.
For everyone
- XLSX is the supported upload format. Convert XLS, CSV or other formats to XLSX before uploading.
- Figures must come from the spreadsheet. The quarterly journey does not provide manual figure entry.
- Repeated layouts are recognised automatically. You do not manually save a mapping profile.
If something goes wrong
| Error | Cause | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| “File too large” | The uploaded file exceeds the size limit | Reduce the file size or remove unnecessary sheets/data |
| “Unsupported file format” | The file is not an Excel (.xlsx) file | Save your spreadsheet as an XLSX file from your spreadsheet application |
| “Empty spreadsheet” | The file contains no usable data | Check that the workbook contains the figures you intend to submit |
| “Could not parse file” | The file is corrupted or has an unusual structure | Try saving it as a fresh XLSX file from your spreadsheet application |
| “No open obligations” | All obligations for the selected period are fulfilled | Check the tax year selector in the header and ensure you are looking at the correct year |
Related
- Smart Map - AI Column Mapping - how AI maps your spreadsheet columns to HMRC fields
- Reviewing Before You Submit - checking your data before sending to HMRC
FAQ
What file formats are supported?
aligned.tax accepts Excel files in XLSX format. If your spreadsheet is in a different format, save it as XLSX from your spreadsheet application before uploading.
I use Google Sheets, not Excel. Can I still use aligned.tax?
Yes. In Google Sheets, go to File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and upload the downloaded file. The same applies to other spreadsheet applications:
- Apple Numbers - File > Export To > Excel
- LibreOffice Calc - Save As > .xlsx format
- Any other app - look for an “Export” or “Save As” option and choose the Excel (.xlsx) format
Your column structure and data will be preserved in the export. Smart Map will help map the XLSX workbook.
Do I have to use the aligned.tax template?
No. For supported income types, you can upload your own XLSX workbook and review Smart Map’s suggestions. The template is available if you prefer a structured format.
Can I upload data for multiple quarters at once?
Each upload is for a single quarterly period. Select the obligation you want to file for, then upload the data for that specific quarter.
What if I have already submitted data for this quarter?
You can resubmit for a quarter that has already been filed. The new submission will replace the previous one with HMRC.