What it is
Tide's accounting features cover three things: automatic categorisation of transactions into expense types, in-app receipt capture (photograph a receipt and attach it to the matching transaction), and integrations that push transaction data into third-party bookkeeping software such as Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent. It is not a replacement for an accountant or a full double-entry bookkeeping system — it's the plumbing that feeds one.
Who can access it and on which plans
Basic categorisation and receipt capture are available broadly across plans, including Free. Some integrations, bulk export options, or more advanced categorisation rules may be tied to higher plan tiers or count as separate paid add-ons in some cases. Confirm exactly what's included at your intended plan level on our plans and fees page, since Tide periodically adjusts which accounting features sit where.
How it works step by step
- Every transaction lands in your feed automatically categorised by Tide's best guess based on the merchant and transaction type.
- You can recategorise any transaction manually, and Tide learns from repeated corrections for similar merchants.
- Photograph a paper receipt in the app and attach it to the relevant transaction, or forward an email receipt where supported.
- Connect an integration to Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent (where available) to sync categorised transactions automatically.
- At period end, export or sync a clean, categorised dataset rather than a raw bank statement.
Current cost and allowances
Core categorisation and receipt capture typically carry no separate charge beyond your plan fee. Some accounting integrations have historically been positioned as a paid add-on or bundled only into specific plans. Because this detail changes, check current inclusion by plan on our plans and fees page before assuming an integration you need is free at your tier.
A worked example
A small landscaping business with one van and a part-time bookkeeper uses Tide for the account. The owner photographs fuel and materials receipts on-site as he buys them, attaching each to the matching card transaction within the day. At month end, the bookkeeper logs into a synced Xero account, finds every transaction already categorised with a receipt attached, and spends an hour reconciling instead of a full day chasing paper receipts from a shoebox.
Limitations and exclusions
Automatic categorisation gets common merchants right most of the time but not always — one-off or ambiguous transactions still need manual review. Receipt capture stores images against transactions but doesn't do OCR-based line-item extraction the way some dedicated expense apps do. And crucially, none of this constitutes filed accounts or tax advice — it's record-keeping support, not an accountant.
How it compares with alternatives
Dedicated bookkeeping software connected via open banking to any bank does much the same categorisation job, just with an extra connection step and often a small delay. Receipt-capture-only apps like Dext or Expensify go deeper on receipt data extraction. Tide's advantage is zero-lag data, since the receipt, the transaction and the account are one system; the trade-off is shallower categorisation logic and reporting than a dedicated tool built for accountants.
Relationship to the REFER200 offer
Accounting features don't generate card spend and so don't contribute to the £100 qualifying spend step directly. But because the same card transactions you're categorising here are the ones that count towards that step, using the account normally for day-to-day purchases in the first 30 days naturally builds towards it — the accounting tools just help you track that spend as it happens.
Setting up accounting tools step by step
- Turn on or check receipt capture in app settings, and get into the habit of photographing receipts the same day, not in a monthly batch.
- Review the automatic category assigned to your first few transactions and correct any that are wrong — this trains the categorisation for similar merchants going forward.
- If you or your accountant use Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent, connect the integration from the app and confirm the first sync pulls through correctly before relying on it.
- Agree with your accountant or bookkeeper who will do the monthly recategorisation tidy-up, since automatic categorisation won't be perfect every time.
- Set a recurring monthly slot to clear any uncategorised or unmatched transactions rather than letting them build up toward year-end.
Who this suits, and who needs more
A sole trader or small limited company with straightforward income and expenses gets most of the value here — clean categorisation and attached receipts turn a raw bank statement into something an accountant can work with quickly, often cutting bookkeeping time and cost. A business with complex VAT schemes, multi-currency trading or stock-based cost of sales will usually need a fuller accounting package alongside Tide's feed rather than relying on it alone.
Alternatives within Tide and beyond
If you need deeper reporting than Tide's categorisation gives you, the practical move is exporting or syncing to a dedicated package (see the integrations above) rather than expecting Tide itself to grow into a full accounting suite — it isn't designed to be one. For Making Tax Digital VAT obligations specifically, see our separate Making Tax Digital page, since that's a distinct compliance requirement from general bookkeeping.