The short version
Bank feeds are useful, but they are not the only way to keep a reliable cashbook. A careful statement import process can give sole traders a strong reconciliation workflow before automated bank sync launches in early 2027.
Use the bank statement as a check, not the only record
Receipts, invoices, and payment messages often arrive before the bank statement is exported. Capture those records when they happen, then use the statement import as the later check against money actually moving through the account.
This keeps useful context close to the transaction while still giving you the discipline of a statement review.
Match existing receipts before adding new rows
A good import should not create duplicates just because you already captured a receipt. SimpleTaxFlow matches conservative signals such as date, amount, reference, and description so a statement line can reconcile an existing record.
Rows that do not match become uncategorised cashbook entries for review, which is exactly where you want uncertainty to land.
Let the statement check itself
Every bank formats its statement differently, so SimpleTaxFlow reads a PDF by its layout rather than by column headings, then checks the rows against the running balance the bank printed. When the figures add up to the closing balance, they have been verified by the statement’s own arithmetic rather than simply read off the page.
Anything that does not reconcile is flagged row by row, which is far more useful than being asked to trust the whole file. A CSV template is still there for awkward exports.
Put this into practice
Follow the step-by-step SimpleTaxFlow workflow when you are ready to act.