# Switching software without losing your history

Canonical: https://taxmo.co.uk/switch-accounting-software
Last updated: 2026-04-25

Most people put off switching because they assume they have to move everything or start again in April. Neither is true.

## Opening balances are the whole trick

You do not need to re-enter years of transactions. You need the closing position from your old system at the point you switch: bank, debtors, creditors, VAT and capital. Enter those as opening balances and your reports carry on from there rather than starting from zero.

## What to actually bring across

Bring the things you will need to use again.

- Opening balances at the switch date
- Your customer and supplier list
- Unpaid invoices, so you can still chase them
- The current year's transactions if you are switching mid-year and want one continuous set

## What to leave where it is

Closed years belong in the old system. Keep read access or an export for the retention period HMRC requires, and do not spend a week re-keying history you will never touch. The exception is if your accountant has asked for a specific comparative.

## Common questions

### When is the best time to switch?

The start of a VAT quarter or a tax year is cleanest, because the switch point aligns with a return boundary. Mid-year is entirely possible with opening balances; it just means one period spans two systems.

### Will I lose my VAT history?

No, provided you keep access to the old records for the retention period. Under MTD you must keep digital records for the required period, but they do not all have to live in the same product.

### Do I need my accountant to do this?

For a sole trader with a simple position, usually not. If you have a balance sheet, stock or a company, having your accountant confirm the opening balances is worth it, because an error there propagates through every subsequent report.

## Related pages

- [Bookkeeping software that produces real books](https://taxmo.co.uk/bookkeeping-software-uk)
- [Accounting software for UK sole traders](https://taxmo.co.uk/accounting-software-sole-traders)
- [Accounting software for UK limited companies](https://taxmo.co.uk/limited-company-accounting-software)

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