RentalBux vs. Absolute Excel IT Filer
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 the Absolute Excel IT Filer, as a pure bridging tool, does not offer. The Absolute Excel IT Filer is a compelling choice for Excel users who want the cheapest reliable route to MTD compliance, backed by a company with over 30 years of tax software expertise and a proven track record of over 1.1 million VAT submissions. Its complete end-to-end MTD ITSA workflow — including quarterly updates, accounting adjustments, BSAS retrieval, and final declaration — is one of the most fully featured among bridging tools. For landlords who need a platform that manages their properties and maintains their records, not just submits them, RentalBux is the clear choice.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and Absolute Excel IT Filer across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | Absolute Excel IT Filer |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | Standalone Excel-Based MTD Bridging Software |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Landlords, Sole Traders, Accountants, Bookkeepers |
| 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) | No |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Mac/ Windows Desktop App |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
What Is RentalBux? What Is the Absolute Excel IT Filer?
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 Absolute Excel IT Filer?
Over 30 years of expertise in tax and accounting software
The Absolute Excel Income Tax Filer is a standalone Excel-based MTD ITSA bridging software product developed by Absolute Accounting Software Limited — a company with over 30 years of tax and accounting software expertise, trusted by more than 15,000 firms ranging from sole practitioners to multi-office accountancy practices. The product is built on the success of Absolute's Excel VAT Filer, which has been used to submit over 1.1 million VAT returns and accounts for approximately 1 in 20 of all MTD VAT returns submitted in the UK since MTD for VAT became mandatory — a market position that gives the Excel IT Filer considerable institutional credibility among accountants.
The Excel IT Filer uses bridging software technology to link a user's existing Excel spreadsheet directly to HMRC's MTD for Income Tax API. A new Excel template is downloaded quarterly, populated with cumulative income and expense totals, and the data is digitally linked to the relevant HMRC submission boxes via formula before being transmitted. The software requires no lengthy installation and can be set up in minutes. It supports all three MTD income types — sole trader, UK property, and foreign property — and covers the complete end-to-end MTD ITSA workflow including quarterly updates, Business Source Adjustment Summary (BSAS) retrieval and amendment, accounting adjustments (including capital allowances), non-mandated income sources (dividends, interest, CIS, pensions, Gift Aid, student loans, HICBC, and marriage allowance), and the final declaration.
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 full MTD ITSA — quarterly updates, BSAS, annual summary and final declaration
- 30+ years of tax software expertise; 15,000+ firms trust Absolute products
- Built on Excel VAT Filer — 1.1m+ VAT submissions, ~1-in-20 UK VAT returns
- Covers all three MTD income types (sole trader, UK + foreign property)
- Supports non-mandated income sources in final declaration
- Transparent flat pricing — £40 + VAT / year for 5 NI numbers
- Free unlimited technical support (phone + email)
- NFU member discount available (£30 + VAT/year)
- Flexible: taxpayer and/or accountant can complete any part of the process
- No bank account access required
- Works with any existing Excel spreadsheet; set up in minutes
- Client Portal for licence management and multi-user access
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 — 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)
- Requires quarterly Excel template download — not a live platform
- Excel-only — no Google Sheets, LibreOffice, or other applications
- No dedicated mobile app; Excel required on the device used
- No free plan (beta testing period has ended)
- Small public review base for the ITSA product specifically
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 the Absolute Excel IT Filer Handles MTD Compliance
The Absolute Excel IT Filer provides a complete end-to-end MTD ITSA workflow from within Excel. A quarterly template is downloaded, populated with cumulative income and expense totals from the user's own records, and the data is digitally linked via formula and transmitted to HMRC. The software covers quarterly updates for sole trader, UK property, and foreign property income; retrieval and amendment of the Business Source Adjustment Summary (BSAS); the annual accounting adjustment process (including capital allowances); filing of non-mandated income sources such as dividends, interest, CIS, pension contributions, Gift Aid, student loans, the High Income Child Benefit Charge, and marriage allowance; and submission of the final declaration. This is a notably more complete end-to-end workflow than most bridging tools offer — many of which cover only quarterly updates and leave the final declaration unsupported or in development. The limitation, as with all bridging tools, is that the user must independently maintain the digital records that the Excel IT Filer transmits.
| Feature | RentalBux | Absolute Excel IT Filer |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | Yes |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| 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 all-in-one MTD compliance. The Absolute Excel IT Filer is one of the most complete bridging tools available — its end-to-end coverage including BSAS, capital allowances, non-mandated income sources, and a live final declaration puts it ahead of most bridging competitors. RentalBux wins because it creates digital records automatically and wraps the compliance process inside a full property management platform. On bridging depth alone, Absolute is a market leader.
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.
| Feature | RentalBux | Absolute Excel IT Filer |
|---|---|---|
| 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 — The Absolute Excel IT Filer has no property management features. RentalBux provides a full landlord management suite. For the many Excel-based landlords in Absolute's target market, a separate property management tool would be needed alongside the Excel IT Filer.
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.
Absolute Excel IT Filer: No Bookkeeping Engine — Excel-Based Record Keeping
The Absolute Excel IT Filer performs no bookkeeping functions. The user's own Excel spreadsheet is their digital record — the Excel IT Filer provides the digital link and submission mechanism. However, the product's design philosophy actively supports this approach: Absolute has long argued that Excel-based record keeping is a perfectly valid, HMRC-confirmed long-term option for MTD compliance, and that accountants and landlords should not feel pressured into adopting expensive full accounting software when bridging software meets HMRC's requirements. The product can link to any existing spreadsheet the user already maintains, requiring minimal change to established workflows.
| Feature | RentalBux | Absolute Excel IT Filer |
|---|---|---|
| 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 — RentalBux provides a complete landlord-tailored accounting backbone. The Absolute Excel IT Filer performs no bookkeeping — it is designed to work alongside the user's own spreadsheet-based records, reflecting Absolute's philosophy that Excel remains a valid long-term option for digital record keeping under MTD.
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.
Absolute Excel IT Filer: No Expense Tracking or Invoicing Features
The Absolute Excel IT Filer has no expense tracking, receipt capture, invoice creation, or automation features. All expense recording and categorisation takes place in the user's own Excel spreadsheet before the template is populated and submitted. This is consistent with Absolute's product philosophy: the Excel IT Filer is not positioned as a bookkeeping tool and does not attempt to replicate one. Users who have maintained disciplined Excel records for years can continue doing so unchanged — the IT Filer simply adds the digital submission layer that MTD requires.
| Feature | RentalBux | Absolute Excel IT Filer |
|---|---|---|
| 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 — RentalBux leads on all automation and invoicing features. Both platforms handle capital allowances at the appropriate stage of the MTD process. The Absolute Excel IT Filer has no expense tracking capabilities — this is by design, not oversight, for a product built to complement existing Excel workflows rather than replace them.
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.
Absolute Excel IT Filer: No Reporting Features — Records Live in Excel
The Absolute Excel IT Filer produces no financial reports of its own. There is no dashboard, no profit and loss output, and no portfolio overview within the software. However, since users maintain their records in Excel, they retain full control over how they present and report their financial data — and can build or use any Excel-based reporting they choose, independent of the submission tool. For accountants already using other Absolute products or wider accounting software, this division of responsibility is a familiar and deliberate workflow structure.
| Feature | RentalBux | Absolute Excel IT Filer |
|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes (formal) | No |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | No |
| Trial Balance | Yes | No |
| Dashboard/Overview | Yes | No |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes | No |
| Cash Flow Reporting | No | No |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes | No |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | No |
Winner: RentalBux — RentalBux leads across all formal reporting metrics. The Absolute Excel IT Filer produces no financial reports — reporting is handled within the user's own Excel environment, consistent with Absolute's philosophy of complementing rather than replacing existing workflows.
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.
Absolute Excel IT Filer: Flexible Workflow Split Between Taxpayer and Accountant
The Absolute Excel IT Filer is specifically designed to allow flexibility in how the MTD process is divided between a taxpayer and their accountant. The taxpayer can complete the quarterly data entry and hand the populated template to their accountant for submission — or the accountant can manage the entire process including all quarterly filings and the final declaration. A Client Portal manages licence allocation, tracks submission history, and supports multiple user access within an accountant's subscription. Phone and unlimited email technical support is available from Absolute's experienced team, reflecting a more human-supported model than many lower-cost bridging tools.
| Feature | RentalBux | Absolute Excel IT Filer |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Integration | Yes | No |
| Platform | iOS, Android | Mac and Windows Desktop App |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | No |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux for live cloud collaboration. The Absolute Excel IT Filer's explicitly designed workflow flexibility — where any combination of taxpayer and accountant involvement is supported — is a practical advantage for accountancy practices. Both offer phone and email support; RentalBux leads on dedicated mobile apps and real-time cloud access.
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.
Absolute Excel IT Filer: Straightforward Excel Workflow with Expert Phone and Email Support
The Absolute Excel IT Filer is designed for users who are comfortable with Excel and want to continue using it for MTD compliance. The setup process takes minutes — download the quarterly template, link it to your existing spreadsheet via formula, and submit. Absolute's testimonials — drawn predominantly from the Excel VAT Filer — consistently praise the simplicity of the process, the quality of the step-by-step guidance in the introductory videos, and the responsiveness of the support team. Crucially, Absolute provides free unlimited technical support via both phone and email — a level of support access that is significantly stronger than most bridging tool competitors, which typically offer email only. The company's 30+ year track record and 15,000+ firm customer base provide a degree of institutional trust that newer platforms cannot yet match. GDPR compliance is stated; the product is HMRC-recognised and meets the regulatory requirements for MTD bridging.
| Feature | RentalBux | Absolute Excel IT Filer |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Chat Support | Yes | Yes |
| 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 the Absolute Excel IT Filer Offers
30+ years of tax software expertise and 15,000+ firm customer base
Absolute Accounting Software is one of the most established tax software companies in the UK. Its Excel VAT Filer alone accounts for approximately 1 in 20 UK MTD VAT returns — a market position that validates the technical reliability and HMRC API integration of its bridging products.
Complete end-to-end MTD ITSA workflow in Excel
Quarterly updates, BSAS retrieval and amendment, accounting adjustments including capital allowances, non-mandated income sources (dividends, interest, CIS, pensions, Gift Aid, student loans, HICBC, marriage allowance), and final declaration — all from within Excel. This is a more complete end-to-end coverage than many bridging tools, including several where final declaration support is still in development.
Non-mandated income sources in the final declaration
The Absolute Excel IT Filer supports the filing of dividends, interest, CIS deductions, pension contributions, Gift Aid donations, student loan repayments, High Income Child Benefit Charge, and marriage allowance transfer within the final declaration. This level of coverage goes beyond basic quarterly bridging and makes the product genuinely useful for taxpayers with complex income profiles.
MTD for VAT — proven and market-leading
Absolute's Excel VAT Filer has filed over 1.1 million VAT returns and is trusted by 15,000+ firms. Accountants who already use the VAT Filer can add the ITSA product from the same established provider with confidence. RentalBux does not support MTD for VAT.
Works with any existing Excel spreadsheet — zero workflow disruption
No new bookkeeping system, no data migration, no learning curve. The IT Filer simply links to whatever Excel records the user already maintains. For accountants with established Excel-based client workflows, this is the lowest-friction route to MTD compliance.
NFU partnership and member discount
National Farmers Union members receive a 25% discount (£30 + VAT/year), and Absolute is a recommended provider for NFU members — reflecting the product's relevance to agricultural landlords and rural self-employed individuals who often use Excel-based record keeping.
Free guide to MTD for Income Tax and Bridging Software
Absolute publishes detailed, HMRC-aligned guidance documents (including a free MTD for IT Guide and a Bridging Software Factsheet) that are used by accountants and landlords to understand the regulations — adding educational value beyond the software itself.
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 the Absolute Excel IT Filer?
Absolute Excel IT Filer is the best fit for:
Excel users who want the lowest-disruption route to MTD compliance
For landlords and sole traders who have maintained disciplined Excel records for years and want to continue doing so, the Absolute Excel IT Filer adds only the HMRC submission layer without changing anything else.
Accountants managing multiple sole trader and landlord clients on Excel
The per-NI-number pricing model (5 NI numbers for £40 + VAT) is cost-effective for practices with Excel-based client workflows. The flexible split between taxpayer and accountant responsibility is designed for exactly this use case.
Landlords and sole traders who want a fully featured end-to-end MTD workflow from a proven provider
The Absolute Excel IT Filer covers quarterly updates, BSAS retrieval and amendment, capital allowances, non-mandated income sources, and the final declaration — all within a single flat-fee annual licence from a company with 30+ years of tax software expertise.
Users who value phone support from a specialist tax software team
Absolute provides free unlimited phone and email support from an experienced in-house team — a level of support access that few bridging tools at this price point offer.
VAT-registered landlords and sole traders who already use the Excel VAT Filer
Accountants and businesses already using Absolute's VAT Filer can add the ITSA product from the same trusted provider, maintaining a single supplier relationship for all MTD bridging needs.
NFU members and agricultural landlords
The NFU partnership (£30 + VAT/year for members) and Absolute's established presence in the agricultural sector make the Excel IT Filer a natural choice for farming-related property income and self-employment.
Landlords who want complete MTD ITSA coverage including complex year-end income
The ability to include dividends, interest, CIS, pensions, Gift Aid, and other non-mandated income sources in the final declaration makes the Absolute Excel IT Filer suitable for taxpayers with more complex income profiles than simple rental or self-employment income alone.