Introduction
This guide explains how to use MTDify Local Digital Bookkeeping Edition for day-to-day bookkeeping. All data is stored locally on your own machine.
Setting Up Your Business Name
When you first open MTDify, you will be asked to create a business record.
Required details
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Business name
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Type (sole trader, self-employed, etc.)
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Start date
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Accounting year start
You can edit these details at any time.
Adding Income
Navigate to:
Business → Income
Click Add Income and fill in:
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Date
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Amount
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Category
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Description
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Supplier or client (optional)
Income is displayed in a sortable list and contributes to dashboards and quarter totals.
Adding Expenses
Navigate to:
Business → Expenses
Click Add Expense and complete:
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Date
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Amount
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Category
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Description
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Supplier (optional)
Expenses appear in your ledgers and dashboards immediately.
Categories
MTDify includes a default set of income and expense categories that are HMRC compliant.
Viewing Dashboards
The dashboard gives you a quick overview:
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Total income and expenses
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Profit/loss
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Quarter breakdowns
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Category summaries
Everything updates instantly as you add new entries.
Exporting Your Data
You can export:
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CSV Exports:
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Export all income to CSV
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Export all expenses to CSV
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Export transactions by category
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Download simplified yearly profit report with:
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Quarterly breakdown of income/expenses
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Year-to-date totals
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Income by category analysis
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Expenses by category analysis
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VAT totals
Printable Reports:
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Income by category (print-friendly format)
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Expenses by category
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Combined category totals showing net position
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Professional formatting for filing or accountant submission
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Exports can be used for accountant reports or manual submission to HMRC.
Editing and Deleting Records
Every income and expense item includes:
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Edit button
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Delete button
Edits apply immediately. Deleted items are permanently removed from the local database.
Backups
MTDify includes automatic backups. Every time you log in a backup is created. Because all data stays local, you should back up your db.sqlite3 file regularly.
Suggested:
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Weekly backup
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Before updating MTDify
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Before reinstalling your computer
Please read more on Database Backup Tips
Tips for Accurate Records
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Enter transactions weekly
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Use clear descriptions
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Keep receipts
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Review dashboard monthly
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Export CSVs before tax deadlines
Troubleshooting
If something isn’t working, see the Troubleshooting Guide.