RentalBux vs. DIY Tax
Which MTD Software Is Better for UK Landlords and Sole Traders?
Overall Winner: RentalBux
RentalBux is the more complete MTD software for landlords and sole traders. It combines full Making Tax Digital compliance across UK property income, foreign property income, and self-employment income with comprehensive property management, automated bookkeeping, AI-driven expense categorisation, joint ownership profit-splitting, and a free plan for single-property landlords until March 2028. DIY Tax is a strong alternative for sole traders, landlords, and VAT-registered small businesses who want the simplest, most affordable path to basic MTD compliance — with no-frills digital record keeping and direct HMRC submissions at just £7/month — but its minimal feature set and lack of property-specific tools make it less suited for portfolio landlords.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and DIY Tax across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | DIY Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | Simple MTD Filing Tool |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Sole Traders, Landlords, VAT-Registered Small Businesses, Accountants/Bookkeepers |
| Income Sources Supported | Sole Trader + UK Property + Foreign Property | Sole Trader + UK Property (profile-based setup) |
| Free MTD Software Plan | Free until March 2028 (1 property) | 30-day free trial only |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice Creation | Yes | No |
| Receipt Capture (OCR) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
What Is RentalBux? What Is DIY Tax?
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 DIY Tax?
DIY Tax is a lightweight, HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital filing tool built by Rhino Apps (rhinoapps.com), a UK-based software company whose parent product — the Rhino Small Business App — was the first accounting package approved by HMRC for MTD. DIY Tax launched as a simplified, stripped-down product specifically designed for individuals and small businesses who want basic MTD compliance without the complexity or cost of full accounting software.
DIY Tax's core proposition is simplicity: it guides users through a four-step process — set up your profile, connect to HMRC, add your income and expenses, and submit to HMRC. The platform offers three ways to keep digital records: key-in data directly on mobile (ideal for individuals with simple affairs), upload from a spreadsheet via the bridging feature (ideal for landlords who already use spreadsheets), or link to a bank account for automatic transaction import. DIY Tax supports MTD for both Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) and VAT, and is available on mobile, iPad, smart devices, and desktop via a web browser.
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
- Very affordable — just £7+VAT/month or £75+VAT/year
- Extremely simple four-step filing process
- Three flexible data entry methods (mobile key-in, spreadsheet, bank link)
- Supports both MTD ITSA and MTD for VAT
- 30-day free trial to test before committing
- Built by Rhino Apps: parent company was first HMRC-approved MTD software
- Mobile-first design, works on any device
- Landlord profile with per-property identification and recurring payment setup
- Receipt photo capture for expense evidence
- UK-based support team via chat and email
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
- No property portfolio management or tenant tracking
- No AI-powered expense categorisation
- No chart of accounts, journal entries, or formal P&L
- No joint ownership or profit-sharing automation
- No invoice creation or branding
- No agent filing on behalf of landlord clients
- No phone support (chat and email only)
- Limited reporting: no balance sheet, trial balance, or formal accounting reports
- No multi-user access or accountant portal
- No foreign property income support confirmed
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 DIY Tax Handles MTD for Landlords and Sole Traders
DIY Tax is HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA and supports sole trader and UK property income through its profile-based setup system. When a landlord creates a "Landlord" profile, the system tailors the experience to property income, asking for details on each rental property. The platform handles quarterly updates and the final year-end declaration, with auto-calculations, real-time validation, and in-app reminders to help users avoid missed deadlines. DIY Tax also supports MTD for VAT — an advantage over RentalBux for VAT-registered landlords or sole traders. However, DIY Tax does not appear to explicitly confirm support for foreign property income, and does not offer agent filing — the landlord must submit directly through the platform themselves.
| Feature | RentalBux | DIY Tax |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC Recognised (MTD ITSA) | Yes | Yes |
| MTD Quarterly Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Final Declaration | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Keeping | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Links Compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Sole Trader Income | Yes | Yes |
| UK Property Income | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Property Income | Yes | No |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | No |
Winner: RentalBux — Broader income type coverage including confirmed foreign property income, plus agent filing capability gives RentalBux a decisive advantage for landlords with mixed income preparing for Making Tax Digital. DIY Tax wins on VAT support and simplicity of filing, but lacks the depth required for complex property portfolios.
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.
DIY Tax: Basic Landlord Profile with Property Identification
DIY Tax offers a "Landlord" profile option during setup, which tailors the experience to property income. Landlords provide details for each rental property so they can be individually identified. The platform supports "regular payments" setup so that recurring rent payments are automatically loaded each month. DIY Tax also includes a "property" feature for storing notes and documents against a property and adding follow-up actions. However, there is no property portfolio dashboard, no tenant management, no per-property profit & loss reporting, no joint ownership automation, and no HMO-specific support. DIY Tax recommends that landlords with 5 or fewer properties use the mobile key-in method, as it maintains a full digital record simply and quickly.
| Feature | RentalBux | DIY Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Property Portfolio Management | Yes | No |
| Tenant Management | Yes | No |
| Rent Tracking | Yes | No |
| Property Expense Allocation | Yes | No |
| Multiple Property Support | Yes | Yes |
| 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 — This is not a close comparison. RentalBux is built for landlords; DIY Tax provides only basic property identification and recurring payment setup. Any landlord managing multiple properties, tenancies, or joint ownership structures will find RentalBux dramatically more capable in this category.
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.
DIY Tax: Simple Digital Record Keeping with Three Data Entry Methods
DIY Tax takes the simplest possible approach to digital record keeping: it offers three methods to enter data — key-in directly on mobile, upload from a spreadsheet via the bridging feature, or link to a bank account for automatic import. The platform does not offer a chart of accounts, journal entries, double-entry bookkeeping, or formal financial reports. Records are stored in secure cloud storage for audit or review anytime. DIY Tax's auto-calculations and real-time validation check totals automatically before submission, reducing the risk of errors. This approach is sufficient for basic MTD compliance but provides no structured accounting framework for landlords who want clean, categorised financial records.
| Feature | RentalBux | DIY Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | Yes |
| Chart of Accounts (Pre-built, Landlord-Tailored) | Yes (pre-built + custom) | No |
| Journal Entries | Yes | No |
| Bank Reconciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Bank Feeds | Yes (Major UK banks) | Yes |
| Open Banking Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Double-Entry Bookkeeping | Yes | No |
| HMRC Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | No |
| Xero Integration | No | No |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux — The pre-built landlord chart of accounts, journal entries, double-entry bookkeeping, and structured bank reconciliation give RentalBux a proper accounting foundation that DIY Tax lacks entirely. For landlords who want audit-ready, categorised records under MTD, RentalBux is the clear choice. DIY Tax meets the minimum digital record-keeping requirements but offers no accounting structure beyond basic income and expense entries.
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.
DIY Tax: Basic Expense Entry with Receipt Photo Capture
DIY Tax provides basic expense recording through its three data entry methods. The platform includes a "take a photo" service for storing copies of invoices and expense receipts — useful for maintaining evidence of allowable deductions. However, there is no AI-powered categorisation, no OCR (the photo is stored as an image rather than automatically read and categorised), no invoice creation, no branded invoicing, and no payment tracking or automated reminders. Landlords using DIY Tax would need to manually categorise expenses. DIY Tax does offer guidance on property tax allowances and reliefs to help landlords understand what they can claim.
| Feature | RentalBux | DIY Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice Creation & Sending | Yes | No |
| Invoice Customisation/Branding | Yes | No |
| Online Payment Collection | Yes | No |
| Payment Tracking/Reminders | Yes | No |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt Capture (OCR/Photo) | Yes | Yes (photo only, no OCR) |
| Expense Categorisation | Yes | Manual |
| Automated Transaction Matching | Yes | No |
| Mileage Tracking | No | No |
| AI Auto-Categorisation | Coming soon | No |
Winner: RentalBux — OCR receipt capture, automatic expense categorisation with landlord-specific categories, branded invoicing, and payment tracking give RentalBux a substantial edge. DIY Tax offers only basic expense entry with photo storage and manual categorisation — functional for simple portfolios but lacking for landlords who want to maximise allowable deductions under MTD.
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.
DIY Tax: Real-Time Tax Position Visibility
DIY Tax's key reporting feature is its real-time tax position visibility — the platform shows an estimated tax overview so landlords always know where they stand. The quarterly submission process automatically summarises records for each period. At year-end, landlords can combine property records with other income and expenses for a combined declaration and self-assessment. However, DIY Tax does not produce formal profit & loss reports, balance sheets, trial balances, or per-property financial breakdowns.
| Feature | RentalBux | DIY Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | No |
Winner: RentalBux — RentalBux leads on formal accounting reports (P&L, balance sheet, trial balance, per-property reporting). DIY Tax offers a useful real-time tax position overview and auto-summarised quarterly submissions, but no formal financial reporting. Choose RentalBux if you need audit-ready accounting statements.
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.
DIY Tax: Individual Filing with Accountant Suitability
DIY Tax is designed primarily for individuals filing their own returns. The platform does not offer a dedicated accountant portal, multi-user access, or agent filing. However, DIY Tax describes itself as "ideal for accountants and bookkeepers who want a simple solution to support their small-business clients" — suggesting that accountants can use the platform on behalf of clients by logging into their accounts, though this is not a formalised multi-user or agent filing feature. DIY Tax works on mobile, iPad, smart devices, and desktop, providing flexibility for on-the-go filing. UK-based support is available via chat and email.
| Feature | RentalBux | DIY Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | No |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | No |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | No |
| Bank Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux — Agent filing on behalf, a dedicated accountant portal, and multi-user access make RentalBux significantly more flexible for accountants, letting agents, and teams managing landlord portfolios under MTD. DIY Tax is designed for individual self-filing.
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.
DIY Tax's Ease of Use
DIY Tax emphasises its "no jargon, no stress" approach — the platform is designed to guide users through each step clearly, from first login to final submission. DIY Tax's mobile-first design means the entire filing process can be completed on a phone. Customer support is available via chat and email from a UK-based team, with a growing library of help articles, guides, and FAQs. Phone support is not available. Testimonials on the DIY Tax website highlight ease of use for non-technical users, including a landlord aged nearly 70 who found MTD "a real burden" until DIY Tax "made it so much easier."
| Feature | RentalBux | DIY Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Chat Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| Enterprise-Grade Security | Yes | Yes |
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 DIY Tax Offers
MTD for VAT Support
DIY Tax supports both MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) and MTD for VAT in a single platform. VAT-registered sole traders and small businesses can record transactions, prepare quarterly VAT submissions, and send them directly to HMRC.
Three Flexible Data Entry Methods
DIY Tax offers three ways to keep digital records: key-in data directly on mobile (simplest for individuals), upload from a spreadsheet via bridging (ideal for landlords who already use spreadsheets), or link to a bank account for automatic import. This flexibility means landlords don't need to change their existing workflow.
Ultra-Simple Four-Step Filing Process
DIY Tax's four-step process — set up profile, connect to HMRC, add income and expenses, submit — is designed to be as frictionless as possible. The platform requires no accounting knowledge and aims to be usable by anyone, including landlords who have never used accounting software before.
Property Tax Allowances & Reliefs Guidance
DIY Tax provides support for questions on property tax allowances and reliefs, helping landlords understand what they can claim for running their rental business. This guidance is particularly valuable for first-time MTD users who are unfamiliar with allowable deductions.
Built by Rhino Apps; First HMRC-Approved MTD Software
DIY Tax is built by Rhino Apps, whose parent product (the Rhino Small Business App) was the first accounting package approved by HMRC for Making Tax Digital. Rhino Apps worked closely with HMRC to design and build the MTD platform, and was the first to submit an annual return digitally to the MTD pilot project. This heritage gives DIY Tax deep technical credibility with HMRC's systems.
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 DIY Tax?
DIY Tax is the better MTD software choice for:
Landlords Who Want the Simplest Possible MTD Compliance
If your only goal is to meet HMRC's digital record-keeping and quarterly submission requirements with the least possible complexity, DIY Tax's four-step filing process is hard to beat. No accounting knowledge required — just enter your figures and submit.
Spreadsheet-Based Landlords Who Don't Want to Change Their Workflow
If you already manage your property finances in a spreadsheet, DIY Tax's bridging feature lets you upload your spreadsheet data directly to HMRC without changing how you work. This is particularly valuable for landlords transitioning from manual record-keeping to MTD compliance.
VAT-Registered Sole Traders and Landlords
DIY Tax supports both MTD for ITSA and MTD for VAT in a single platform. If you need both VAT and income tax compliance, DIY Tax covers both without requiring separate software. RentalBux does not currently support MTD for VAT.
Budget-Conscious Sole Traders with Simple Affairs
At £7+VAT/month (or £75+VAT/year), DIY Tax is one of the most affordable HMRC-recognised MTD platforms on the market. For sole traders with straightforward income and expenses who don't need property management features, this represents excellent value.
Non-Technical Users Who Find Accounting Software Intimidating
DIY Tax's "no jargon, no stress" approach and mobile-first design make it accessible for people who have never used accounting software. The ability to key-in data directly on a mobile phone is particularly appealing for sole traders and landlords who want to do their tax on the go.
Accountants and Bookkeepers Seeking a Simple Client Solution
While DIY Tax lacks a formal accountant portal, it positions itself as ideal for accountants and bookkeepers who want a simple, affordable tool to support small-business clients with basic MTD compliance needs.