Year-end · Self Assessment
Using bank statements for your Self Assessment tax return
If you’re self-employed or a landlord, your bank statements are usually the quickest route to the figures on your tax return. Here’s how to get from PDFs to totals.
or drop it here
Read in this browser. Your file is never uploaded.
Rows wrong or missing?
Send us the shape of this statement, not its contents. The report below is made in this browser. It keeps where text sits, dates and column headings. Every name, amount, reference and account number is replaced with x and 1, as you can see. Nothing is sent until you send it.
Then email the report to support@statementtocsv.co.uk and say which bank it is from. We’ll add the layout and let you know.
| Date | Description | Paid in | Paid out | Balance |
|---|
Send us the shape of , not its contents. The report below is made in this browser. It keeps where text sits, dates and column headings. Every name, amount, reference and account number is replaced with x and 1, as you can see. Nothing is sent until you send it.
Then email the report to support@statementtocsv.co.uk and say which bank it is from. We’ll add the layout and let you know.
| Check | Result | What we found |
|---|
Statements
| Period | File | Opening | Closing | Rows | Used as |
|---|
| Date | Description | Paid in | Paid out | Balance | From |
|---|
Works with text PDFs that have Date, Description, Paid in / Paid out (or Amount) and Balance columns. Scanned or photographed statements are not supported yet. The samples are fictional test data.
This page is practical guidance about handling statements, not tax advice. For what you can claim, see HMRC’s guidance or ask an accountant.
Which statements you need
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. Bank statements rarely line up with those dates, so you usually need the statement covering early April at both ends: the one containing 6 April at the start of the year, and the one containing 5 April the following year. For 2025 to 2026, that’s everything from the statement that includes 6 April 2025 to the one that includes 5 April 2026.
Include every account the business or rental income goes through. If you use one account for both personal and business spending, include it too; you’ll separate the business items later.
From PDFs to totals
- Check the year is completeAdd all the statements to “Several statements” above. Fix any missing month before going further.
- Download the combined CSVOne file, every transaction once, with the statement each came from.
- Trim to the tax yearIn Excel, filter the Date column to 06/04 to 05/04 and copy those rows to a new sheet.
- CategoriseAdd a Category column: sales or rent received, and expense types. See categorising transactions in Excel.
- Total by categoryA pivot table gives you the totals to transfer to the return.
Keeping records
HMRC expects you to keep records that support your return. If you’re self-employed or a landlord, that generally means keeping them for at least five years after the 31 January submission deadline for that tax year. Keep the original PDF statements, not just the spreadsheet: the statements are the evidence, the spreadsheet is your working.
Making Tax Digital
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is being introduced in stages for sole traders and landlords above certain income levels, and requires digital records and quarterly updates through compatible software. Converted statements are a useful way to load history into that software. Check HMRC’s current guidance on when it applies to you.
Privacy
Statements contain your whole financial life. StatementToCSV reads them in your browser and never uploads them. Share the finished spreadsheet with your accountant, not the statements, if that’s all they need.
Questions people ask
Do I send my bank statements to HMRC with my tax return?
No. You enter totals on the return. Keep the statements as records in case HMRC asks to see them.
Which dates does the UK tax year cover?
6 April to the following 5 April.
How long should I keep my bank statements?
If you are self-employed or a landlord, generally at least five years after the 31 January deadline for the tax year they relate to. Check HMRC’s guidance for your situation.
Can I convert statements from more than one account?
Yes. They are separated by account automatically and checked one account at a time.