Spreadsheet comparison
A spreadsheet can suit a small, stable record set when you are comfortable maintaining its formulas and evidence links. Tax Tidy suits people who want a repeatable Windows workflow for importing statement files, reviewing source rows, preparing GST/BAS summaries, and handing records to an accountant.
Comparison methodology: Reviewed against the current Tax Tidy workflow, public product screenshots, privacy policy, and patch notes. The spreadsheet column describes a user-maintained workbook, not every template or spreadsheet product.
| Need | User-maintained spreadsheet | Tax Tidy |
|---|---|---|
| Statement records | Paste, transform, or import exported rows using a process you design and maintain. | Import QIF statement files and review the resulting source rows in a consistent workflow. |
| Category consistency | Depends on your formulas, lookup tables, validation, and period-to-period maintenance. | Use categories and matching rules, then review the suggested result against source rows. |
| Receipts and evidence | Store links, filenames, or notes in columns you create and keep current. | Track receipt evidence and review missing evidence alongside GST/BAS preparation records. |
| GST/BAS preparation | Build and verify formulas, ranges, GST treatment, and exception checks yourself. | Review period summaries, BAS checks, and the underlying transaction rows. Tax Tidy does not lodge BAS. |
| Accountant handoff | Package the workbook, source files, notes, and open questions in a format your accountant can follow. | Create accountant handoff exports from the reviewed workspace and include questions that still need professional review. |
| Ongoing responsibility | You own the workbook design, formula checks, access controls, backups, and change history. | You own review decisions, device security, backups, and what you export or share; Tax Tidy maintains the app workflow. |
Record-keeping obligations apply whichever tool you choose. Review the ATO record-keeping guidance and confirm tax treatment or evidence questions with your accountant or registered tax professional.
Tax Tidy does not provide customer or supplier invoicing, bank reconciliation, payroll, BAS or tax lodgement, a full general ledger, or formal financial statements.
Spreadsheet workflows can drift when formulas, ranges, receipt references, and GST treatment are changed manually. The practical test is whether you can trace every summary back to its source records and explain outstanding exceptions.
Tax Tidy keeps reviewed transaction rows, categories, GST/BAS preparation summaries, and export-ready records connected. Your accountant still reviews the records and decides the correct treatment.
Use Tax Tidy to organise statement-backed records and evidence; do not treat categories or summaries as tax advice. Keep original records for the periods required for your circumstances.
Use the public guide and sample workbook to compare Tax Tidy against your current spreadsheet process.
See how Tax Tidy supports ongoing GST tracking from statement exports.
Read GST tracker guide ->Preview the workbook structure before starting a paid plan.
View workbook preview ->