How to Connect Tide to Xero

Tide is a popular UK-based business banking platform designed specifically for small business owners, freelancers and sole traders. Xero is one of the most widely used cloud accounting systems for managing invoices, VAT, payroll and reporting. Connecting Tide to Xero allows your bank transactions to feed automatically into your accounting records, saving time and improving accuracy.

This integration reduces the need for manual uploads, allows you to reconcile transactions more efficiently and helps ensure that your accounts stay up to date with minimal effort. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps required to connect your Tide business account to Xero, explain what the integration does and offer some troubleshooting tips if you encounter any issues.

Can Tide connect directly to Xero?

Yes. Tide offers a live bank feed integration with Xero. This allows your account transactions to be imported automatically into Xero on a daily basis. The integration is safe and secure and uses open banking protocols regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

It’s worth noting that the connection is for importing bank transactions only. Invoices and bills are still managed within Xero, but you will be able to reconcile them against payments using the bank feed once the link is established.

How to connect your Tide account to Xero

To get started, make sure you have both a Tide account and an active Xero subscription. You should also have the appropriate user permissions on both platforms.

Step 1: Log into your Tide account
Open the Tide mobile app and navigate to the “Connections” section. This is usually found under the “More” tab or in your account settings, depending on your version of the app.

Step 2: Select Xero from the available integrations
Tide will show a list of accounting platforms it connects with. Tap on Xero, then select “Connect.”

Step 3: Authorise the connection with Xero
You will be redirected to Xero and asked to log in. Once logged in, select the Xero organisation you want to connect with and approve the permission request. Tide will only have access to send bank feed data to Xero, not to change your accounting records.

Step 4: Match your Tide account to the correct bank account in Xero
After authorisation, Tide will show you a list of accounts. Match your Tide account with the corresponding account in Xero. If you haven’t created one yet in Xero, you may need to do that first under your chart of accounts.

Once confirmed, your Tide transactions will begin syncing with Xero, typically every 24 hours. You can view them under the “Bank accounts” section in Xero and begin reconciling them with your invoices, bills and expenses.

What does the integration include?

The connection brings in:

• All incoming and outgoing transactions from your Tide business current account

• Payment references and descriptions

• Dates and amounts for each transaction

This feed gives you real-time visibility into your business cash flow and simplifies the monthly reconciliation process in Xero. You’ll still need to categorise or match each transaction, but the automation of data entry saves considerable time and reduces errors.

Troubleshooting common issues

Sometimes the connection between Tide and Xero may stop working due to expired permissions, changes to your login credentials or technical updates.

If the feed stops syncing, go back to the “Connections” section in the Tide app and check the status. You may need to refresh the connection or re-authorise access via Xero.

If duplicates or missing transactions appear, contact Tide support or your accountant. Do not delete or manually re-import transactions unless advised to do so, as this can create reconciliation issues.

It is also a good idea to regularly review your bank feed settings and ensure that the data coming into Xero matches your actual bank statement.

Final thoughts

Connecting Tide to Xero is a smart move for business owners who want to streamline their bookkeeping and reduce the time spent on manual data entry. Once set up, the feed gives you near real-time access to your financial data and allows for faster, more accurate reconciliation of your accounts.

The integration is secure, free to use and backed by regulated open banking standards. If you are already using Xero and banking with Tide, linking the two platforms is one of the quickest ways to improve your financial processes.