RentalBux vs. AbraTax
Which MTD Software Is Better for UK Landlords and Sole Traders?
Overall Winner: RentalBux
RentalBux is the stronger platform for the vast majority of UK landlords preparing for Making Tax Digital. It combines full MTD ITSA compliance across all three qualifying income types with comprehensive property management, automated bookkeeping, AI-powered expense categorisation, joint ownership profit-splitting, and a free plan for single-property landlords until March 2028 — capabilities that AbraTax does not offer. AbraTax is a legitimate and affordable MTD bridging option for spreadsheet users who simply need a low-cost, clean route to quarterly submission compliance, and its free Self Assessment product is a genuine advantage. However, as a bridging tool it does not create digital records, provide property management, bank feeds, or accounting reports. For landlords who need a platform that does the work — not just transmits it — RentalBux is the clear choice. AbraTax is best suited to landlords who already maintain well-organised spreadsheet records and want a straightforward, competitively priced submission mechanism with no frills.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and AbraTax across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | AbraTax |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | Web-Based MTD Bridging + Self Assessment + VAT |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Landlords, Sole Traders, Accountants, Families |
| Income Sources Supported | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free until March 2028 (1 property) | Free during beta; £5/month thereafter (individual) |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | In development (quarterly updates live) |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | No |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes | No |
| Invoice Creation | Yes | No |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes | No |
| Expense Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | No |
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | No |
| Tenant Management | Yes | No |
| Joint Ownership & Profit Sharing | Yes | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | Yes | No |
| HMRC SA105 Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | Yes |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android | Web browser only |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
What Is RentalBux? What Is AbraTax?
What Is RentalBux?
All-in-One MTD Software for Landlords and Sole Traders
RentalBux is an all-in-one property management, accounting, and Making Tax Digital compliance platform built specifically for UK landlords, letting agents, and self-employed individuals. Designed with direct input from accountants who specialise in property and sole trader tax, RentalBux covers everything from tenancy management and rent collection to full bookkeeping with a pre-configured chart of accounts tailored to the property sector.
RentalBux is fully HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax across all three qualifying income categories: UK property income, foreign property income, and self-employment. This makes it one of the only landlord-specific MTD software platforms that can handle a landlord who also runs a sole trader business, all from a single subscription.
A major differentiator is RentalBux's pricing model: single-property landlords can use the platform completely free until March 2028, making it one of the most affordable HMRC-approved MTD software options for landlords entering the MTD regime.
What Is AbraTax?
File Taxes the Easy Way
AbraTax (abratax.co.uk) is a UK-based, web-based tax software platform that provides three distinct products: MTD ITSA bridging software, MTD VAT bridging software, and free Self Assessment tax return filing. It is HMRC-recognised across all three product areas and has also developed a white-label version of its platform in partnership with Mazars, the global accountancy firm, available at mazars.abratax.co.uk.
For MTD ITSA, AbraTax operates as a pure bridging tool. Users download pre-built Excel templates for self-employment, UK property, or foreign property — structured to meet HMRC's digital link requirements — populate them with their income and expense data, and upload the completed file to the AbraTax dashboard for quarterly submission. The platform supports both Excel (all versions) and Google Sheets, requires no bank account connection, and shows live estimated tax liability calculations at all times. Filing deadline reminders, unlimited amendments, and built-in validation checks are included in all plans. A dedicated agent portal allows accountants to manage unlimited clients from one central dashboard.
Strengths
- Free MTD software for single-property landlords until March 2028
- Handles sole trader + UK property + foreign property income in one platform
- Joint ownership with automatic profit-sharing split by ownership percentage
- Pre-built chart of accounts tailored for landlords and sole traders
- AI-powered expense auto-categorisation and OCR receipt capture
- Agent filing on behalf of landlords — ideal for accountants and letting agents
- Supports HMO properties with auto-created units
Strengths
- HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA, MTD VAT, and Self Assessment
- All three MTD income types covered (sole trader, UK & foreign property)
- Self Assessment (SA100–SA109) currently free
- MTD VAT — established product from £8/month
- Very low ITSA pricing: £5/month (individual)
- Compatible with both Excel (all versions) and Google Sheets
- Live tax calculations and estimated liability dashboard
- Unlimited submissions and amendments in all plans
- Filing deadline reminders built in
- Shared access for spouse, family, or accountant
- Dedicated agent portal — unlimited clients
- Mazars white-label partnership adds institutional credibility
- Fully web-based — accessible from any device, no download required
Limitations
- Newer to market compared to established platforms
- No yield or LTV investment analysis tools
- No MTD for VAT support yet
- Some advanced reporting features still in development
- Limited third-party app integrations
- No offline capability
- No tax liability forecasting feature currently
Limitations
- Bridging only for MTD — does not create or maintain digital records
- No property management, tenant management, or rent tracking
- No bank feeds or automated transaction matching
- No AI categorisation, OCR receipt capture, or invoice creation
- No formal accounting reports (P&L, balance sheet, trial balance)
- Final declaration still in development at time of publication
- Small Trustpilot review base (5 reviews) — limited public track record for ITSA product
- Email support only (no phone); Mon–Fri 8am–6pm
- No mobile app — browser-based only
- Beta pricing may increase post-launch
Making Tax Digital Compliance
How RentalBux Handles MTD Compliance
RentalBux supports all three MTD qualifying income categories: sole trader income, UK property income, and foreign property income. This makes it suitable for landlords who also earn self-employment income, eliminating the need for separate software. Most accounts are pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. RentalBux also supports agent filing, allowing accountants or letting agents to submit MTD returns on behalf of their landlord clients.
How AbraTax Handles MTD Compliance
AbraTax is HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA bridging across all three income categories: sole trader, UK property, and foreign property. It provides separate pre-built Excel bridging templates for each income type, downloadable free from the platform. Users populate the template with their income and expense summaries, link the cells via formula to their own digital records (meeting HMRC's digital link requirement), upload the completed file, validate it within the dashboard, and submit to HMRC in a few clicks. The platform displays live tax calculations and estimated liability after each submission. Filing deadline reminders alert users to upcoming quarterly dates. The final declaration — which replaces the traditional Self Assessment return under MTD — is noted as in development at the time of publication and should be verified before committing. Crucially, AbraTax does not create or maintain digital records; that responsibility remains with the user in their spreadsheet.
| Feature | RentalBux | AbraTax |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | Yes |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | In development |
| Digital Record Keeping | Yes | No |
| Digital Links Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Sole Trader Income | Yes | Yes |
| UK Property Income | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Property Income | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux for MTD ITSA depth. Both cover all three income types. RentalBux creates digital records automatically and the final declaration is fully live. AbraTax's final declaration is still in development — a material gap for landlords entering mandatory MTD in April 2026 who need the complete end-to-end solution. AbraTax has a distinct advantage on MTD for VAT, which RentalBux does not support.
Property Management
RentalBux: Property Management
RentalBux provides comprehensive property portfolio management with tenant management, rent tracking, property expense allocation, and support for multiple properties. A standout feature is its joint ownership and profit-sharing capability: landlords can define ownership percentages once, and RentalBux automatically splits rental income and expenses. RentalBux also supports HMO properties, automatically creating individual units.
AbraTax: No Property Management Features
AbraTax has no property management functionality of any kind. It is a tax filing and MTD submission interface. It does not track tenancies, manage rent, record compliance document deadlines, allocate expenses to individual properties, or provide any landlord-specific workflows. Landlords using AbraTax must manage all property administration in separate software or spreadsheets. For small landlords with one or two properties who already maintain organised records, this is a deliberate design choice that keeps the platform affordable and simple. For landlords with growing portfolios who need more than a submission tool, it is a material gap.
| Feature | RentalBux | AbraTax |
|---|---|---|
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | No |
| Tenant Management | Yes | No |
| Rent Tracking | Yes | No |
| Property Expense Allocation | Yes | No |
| Multiple Property Support | Yes | No |
| HMO Property Support | Yes (auto-creates units) | No |
| Joint Ownership/Profit Sharing | Yes (auto-split by %) | No |
| Maintenance Tracking | No | No |
| Tenant Screening | No | No |
| Compliance Document Alerts | Yes | No |
| Arrears Tracking | No | No |
Winner: RentalBux — AbraTax has no property management features. RentalBux provides a comprehensive landlord management suite. AbraTax's advantage of pre-built HMRC-matched templates is a useful structural guide, but does not replace property management functionality.
Bookkeeping, Accounting & Digital Record Keeping
RentalBux: Structured Accounting
RentalBux includes a pre-built chart of accounts specifically designed for landlords and sole traders, covering rental income, mortgage interest, insurance, property repairs, professional services, utilities, and tenant deposits. All accounts are pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. The platform supports cash basis accounting, bank reconciliation, and journal entries.
AbraTax: Structured Templates, No Bookkeeping Engine
AbraTax does not perform bookkeeping functions. Its pre-built Excel templates structure income and expense data to HMRC's required categories, providing a useful guide for users who need help organising their records correctly. However, the user must enter all data manually into the template from their own records. There are no bank feeds, no automated categorisation, no chart of accounts, no journal entries, and no formal accounting reports. AbraTax's MTD ITSA product is purely a digital link between a user's existing spreadsheet and HMRC's submission API.
| Feature | RentalBux | AbraTax |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | No |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | Yes (pre-built + custom) | No |
| Journal Entries | Yes | No |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | No |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes (Major UK banks) | No |
| Open Banking Integration | Yes | No |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | Yes | No |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | Yes |
| Xero Integration | No | No |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes | No |
Winner: RentalBux — AbraTax performs no bookkeeping. RentalBux provides a complete landlord-tailored accounting backbone. AbraTax's pre-formatted templates offer helpful structure, but do not replace a bookkeeping engine for landlords who need HMRC-compliant records created automatically.
Invoicing, Expense Tracking
RentalBux: Expense Management
RentalBux includes OCR receipt capture, structured expense tracking with landlord-specific categories, auto-categorisation, invoice creation with customisable branding, and payment tracking with reminders.
AbraTax: No Expense Tracking or Automation Features
AbraTax has no expense tracking, receipt capture, invoice creation, or automation features of any kind. All expense recording and categorisation takes place in the user's own spreadsheet before the file is uploaded for submission. AbraTax does not assist in identifying allowable deductions, flagging missing expenses, or reducing manual data entry time. Its pre-formatted HMRC expense categories within the templates do provide a useful structural guide for users who are uncertain how to classify their property expenses, but the data entry itself is entirely manual.
| Feature | RentalBux | AbraTax |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes | No |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | Yes | No |
| Online Payment Collection | Yes | No |
| Payment Tracking/Reminders | Yes | No |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | No |
| Receipt Capture (OCR/Photo) | Yes | No |
| Expense Categorisation | Yes | No |
| Automated Transaction Matching | Yes | No |
| Mileage Tracking | No | No |
| AI Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | No |
Winner: RentalBux — AbraTax has no expense tracking or invoicing automation. RentalBux's AI-powered OCR, automatic categorisation, and branded invoicing give it a decisive advantage. AbraTax's live tax calculations dashboard is a genuine and useful feature that RentalBux does not currently offer.
Reporting & Tax Forecasting
RentalBux: Formal Accounting Reports
RentalBux produces structured financial reports including profit & loss statements, balance sheets, journal reports, ledger reports, and trial balances. Smart categorisation helps ensure accuracy.
AbraTax: Live Tax Calculations Dashboard, No Formal Accounting Reports
AbraTax does not produce formal standalone accounting reports. It does not generate profit & loss statements, balance sheets, or trial balances. However, its Calculations tab provides a live view of estimated tax liability, profit, and National Insurance contributions based on income and expenses submitted to date — updated automatically after each quarterly upload. This real-time tax estimate is a genuinely useful feature for landlords and sole traders who want to plan ahead for their tax bill without using a full accounting platform. HMRC submission receipts and PDF exports are available for all filed returns.
| Feature | RentalBux | AbraTax |
|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes (formal) | No |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | No |
| Trial Balance | Yes | No |
| Dashboard/Overview | Yes | Yes |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes | Yes |
| Cash Flow Reporting | No | No |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes | Yes |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | No |
Winner: RentalBux for formal accounting reports. AbraTax's live tax calculations dashboard — showing estimated profit, tax due, and NICs at all times — is a genuine differentiator that RentalBux does not currently match. For landlords who want to plan for their tax bill throughout the year, AbraTax's dashboard provides useful real-time visibility.
Collaboration & Mobile Apps
RentalBux's Collaborative Features
RentalBux enables agent filing, which gives accountants and letting agents the ability to submit directly on a landlord's behalf.
AbraTax: Shared Access, Strong Agent Portal, and Browser-Based Access
AbraTax includes built-in team collaboration features that allow landlords to share account access with a spouse, family member, or accountant directly within their subscription. The dedicated agent portal for accountants allows unlimited clients to be managed from a single central dashboard, with a simple client authorisation flow, HMRC connection management, and group organisation features. Built-in validation catches common errors before submission, and HMRC submission receipts are downloadable for every filing. The platform is fully web-based — accessible from any device with a browser — though there is no dedicated iOS or Android app.
| Feature | RentalBux | AbraTax |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Integration | Yes | No |
| Platform | iOS, Android | Web browser only |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux — dedicated iOS and Android apps and bank integration give RentalBux an edge on mobility and real-time collaboration. AbraTax's agent portal is well-designed for accountants managing multiple clients from a single dashboard, with unlimited clients and no additional per-client cost.
Ease of Use, Support & Security
RentalBux: Guided Workflows
RentalBux uses guided workflows, clear dashboards, and no accounting jargon. The platform offers phone support, email/chat support, and a help centre with guides and knowledge base articles.
AbraTax: Simple Three-Step Workflow with UK-Based Email Support
AbraTax is designed around a deliberately simple workflow: download template, populate with figures, upload and submit. The platform is fully web-based with no installation required, and includes built-in validation that catches common errors before submission — reducing the risk of failed filings. Early users praise the clean interface and straightforward process. The UK-based support team operates Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, via email. There is no phone support or live chat. Trustpilot reviews are positive but limited in number (5 reviews at the time of publication), reflecting the platform's early stage in the ITSA market. AbraTax is GDPR-compliant. Its association with Mazars adds a degree of institutional credibility, though formal security certifications such as ISO 27001 are not listed on the platform's public pages.
| Feature | RentalBux | AbraTax |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Chat Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| Enterprise-Grade Security | Yes | No |
RentalBux Features
Sole Trader Income Support for MTD
RentalBux is one of the few landlord-focused MTD software platforms that supports self-employment income alongside UK and foreign property income within a single account. Landlords who also run a trade, consultancy, or freelance business can manage all quarterly submissions from one dashboard. Landlord Studio covers property income only.
Custom Chart of Accounts for Landlords
A property-tailored chart of accounts covering rental income, mortgage interest, insurance, repairs, utilities, letting agent fees, and more — all pre-mapped to HMRC Self-Assessment boxes. No setup required; the system is ready to use from day one. Landlord Studio has no equivalent.
Agent Filing on Behalf of Landlords
Letting agents and accountants can submit MTD quarterly updates and the Final Declaration on behalf of landlord clients directly from the platform. Landlord Studio allows accountant access but does not support submission on the landlord's behalf.
Branded Invoice Creation
Invoice creation with customisable branding for service charges and commercial landlords. Not available in Landlord Studio.
AI-Powered OCR Receipt Capture with Auto-Categorisation (Coming soon)
RentalBux's AI will read uploaded receipts and categorise the expense automatically against the pre-built chart of accounts. Landlord Studio's Smart Scan extracts dates and amounts but does not include AI-driven expense categorisation.
Formal Accounting Reports
Balance sheet, trial balance, ledger reports, and journal reports. Landlord Studio does not produce these natively.
Free Plan Including MTD Submissions Until March 2028
RentalBux's free single-property plan includes MTD quarterly submissions. Landlord Studio's free GO plan covers property management for up to three units but requires a paid PRO plan (from £12/month) to access MTD submission functionality.
Unique Features Only AbraTax Offers
Free Self Assessment filing (SA100–SA109)
AbraTax's Self Assessment product is currently free during its testing phase and covers the full range of supplementary forms including SA105 (rental income), SA106 (foreign income), and SA109 (non-residence)
Live tax calculations and estimated liability dashboard
After each quarterly upload, the Calculations tab shows real-time estimates of profit, tax due, and National Insurance contributions. This running tax estimate helps landlords plan for their tax bill throughout the year.
MTD for VAT — established product
AbraTax's MTD VAT bridging is a well-established offering (from £8/month) compatible with all Excel versions and Google Sheets.
Google Sheets compatibility
AbraTax's bridging templates work with both Excel (all versions) and Google Sheets — broadening accessibility beyond Excel-only tools.
Mazars white-label partnership
AbraTax operates a white-label version in partnership with Mazars, the global accountancy firm — providing institutional credibility and access to an established accountancy practice channel for its MTD product.
Family and group pricing tiers
The Family plan (£10/month, up to 10 people) and Extended plan (£20/month, up to 50 people) allow landlords to manage MTD submissions for a spouse, children, or family members within one affordable subscription — a structure not offered by most MTD platforms.
No bank account access required
AbraTax explicitly does not require connection to a bank account — users upload only their spreadsheet. For landlords who prefer to keep banking and tax software separate, or who do not have a dedicated rental bank account, this privacy-first approach is a meaningful differentiator.
Who Should Choose RentalBux?
RentalBux is a strong fit if you:
Landlords with Mixed Income Streams
If you earn from both property and self-employment, RentalBux handles sole trader income alongside UK and foreign property income in a single MTD-compliant platform.
Joint Owners and Family Portfolios
The automated profit-sharing split is a standout feature. Define ownership percentages once and RentalBux calculates each owner's share automatically.
Budget-Conscious Landlords Entering MTD
Free MTD software for single-property landlords until March 2028, with no upfront commitment.
Landlords Who Want Proper Accounting Structure
Chart of accounts, journal entries, profit & loss, balance sheet, and trial balance give RentalBux a structured accounting foundation.
Accountants and Letting Agents
Agent filing on behalf, multi-user access, and spreadsheet import make RentalBux practical for professionals managing multiple landlord portfolios.
Commercial Landlords and HMO Owners
Invoice creation with branding for service charges, plus automatic HMO unit creation and tenant management.
Who Should Choose AbraTax?
AbraTax is the better choice for:
Landlords and sole traders who already use spreadsheets and want the cheapest MTD route
At £5/month for an individual, AbraTax is one of the most affordable HMRC-recognised MTD ITSA options available, covering all three income types with a clean, simple three-step workflow.
Users who want free Self Assessment filing alongside MTD
AbraTax's SA100–SA109 product is currently free and covers all supplementary forms. For landlords who want to file their annual Self Assessment and quarterly MTD updates from the same platform without paying separately for each, AbraTax offers strong combined value.
Families and couples submitting multiple returns
The Family plan (£10/month for up to 10 people) and Extended plan (£20/month for up to 50 people) cover multiple taxpayers under a single subscription — a pricing model well-suited to landlords who also manage submissions for a spouse or family members.
Users who do not want bank account access required
AbraTax explicitly does not need access to a bank account — only the spreadsheet is uploaded. For landlords who prefer to keep banking and tax software entirely separate, or who have privacy concerns about bank feed integration, this is a meaningful advantage.
VAT-registered landlords and sole traders
AbraTax's MTD VAT product is an established offering that can be used alongside the ITSA product from the same account.
Accountants managing multiple clients with spreadsheet-based records
The agent portal supports unlimited clients, group organisation, and a central dashboard for managing all obligations — built with accountant workflows in mind, and currently free during the beta period.
Early adopters who want to verify final declaration readiness before mandation
AbraTax's quarterly update capability is live and HMRC-recognised. Users joining now should confirm that the final declaration feature is complete before the April 2026 mandatory deadline, as this was noted as in development at time of publication.