RentalBux vs. Self Assessment Direct
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. Self Assessment Direct is a genuinely free and credible HMRC-recognised alternative — a lightweight, spreadsheet-friendly compliance tool designed specifically to help individuals and agents submit Self Assessment tax returns and MTD quarterly updates with minimal friction. But its deliberate simplicity, absence of any property management features, no automated bank feeds, no AI automation, no mobile app, no landlord-specific chart of accounts, and no joint ownership support make it a less complete solution for landlords with complex or growing needs.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and Self Assessment Direct across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | Self Assessment Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | Compliance & Filing Tool |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Individuals, Sole Traders, Landlords, Agents |
| 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) | Yes |
| 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 | Web browser only |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
What Is RentalBux? What Is Self Assessment Direct?
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 Self Assessment Direct?
Free Making Tax Digital bridging system and cloud cashbooks for smaller businesses
Self Assessment Direct is a free online MTD compliance service designed to help individuals and agents submit Self Assessment tax returns and MTD quarterly updates in line with HMRC's Making Tax Digital requirements. The platform focuses on simplicity and accessibility — particularly for users who prefer to keep their existing spreadsheet-based record-keeping workflows and need a straightforward, zero-cost tool to connect those records to HMRC digitally.
Self Assessment Direct is HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and supports all three qualifying income types: self-employment (SA103), UK property income (SA105), and foreign property income (SA106). Its bridging software capability allows landlords and sole traders to continue maintaining records in spreadsheets and submit their quarterly figures directly to HMRC through Self Assessment Direct, establishing the required digital link without requiring them to migrate to new software.
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
- Completely and permanently free — no charges of any kind
- Supports UK property (SA105), foreign property (SA106), and self-employment (SA103)
- Bridging software mode — continue using your existing spreadsheets
- Agent filing on behalf of clients supported
- Supports quarterly updates and Final Declaration
- No download or installation required — web-based access
- Covers all three MTD qualifying income types
- Zero cost for accountants managing MTD clients
- Covers users who prefer spreadsheet-based record keeping
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 management features whatsoever
- No automated open banking or bank feeds
- No AI-powered receipt capture or expense automation
- No joint ownership or profit-splitting support
- No landlord-specific chart of accounts
- No per-property income tracking or portfolio-level reporting
- No mobile app — web only
- No invoicing capability
- Very limited information publicly available about developer and support
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 Self Assessment Direct Handles MTD Compliance
Self Assessment Direct supports all three qualifying income categories — self-employment (SA103), UK property (SA105), and foreign property (SA106). Its bridging software capability allows users to prepare their figures in spreadsheets and submit them to HMRC digitally through the platform, satisfying the MTD requirement for digital links. Quarterly updates and the Final Declaration are both supported. Agent submission on behalf of clients is available, making it accessible to accountants handling clients who need basic MTD compliance at no cost. Self Assessment Direct does not offer open banking, AI categorisation, or any bookkeeping beyond the records required for MTD submission.
| Feature | RentalBux | Self Assessment Direct |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Multiple Income Streams | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Tie on core MTD compliance — Both platforms are HMRC-recognised for all three qualifying income types and support agent filing and the Full Declaration. Self Assessment Direct adds bridging mode. RentalBux adds automation, landlord accounting structure, and the full property management layer around the same compliance core.
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.
Self Assessment Direct: No Property Management Capability
Self Assessment Direct was designed as a compliance and filing tool and has no property management features. There is no property portfolio tracking, no tenant management, no rent tracking per property, no joint ownership or profit-splitting, no compliance document alerts, no HMO support, and no mortgage tracking. Landlords using Self Assessment Direct for their MTD submissions would need to manage all property-related admin through separate tools. Its value lies entirely in connecting existing records to HMRC for compliant digital submission — not in managing the property business itself.
| Feature | RentalBux | Self Assessment Direct |
|---|---|---|
| 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 — Self Assessment Direct has no property management features. For landlords wanting to manage properties, tenancies, compliance certificates, and MTD filings in one place, RentalBux is the only viable option between these two.
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.
Self Assessment Direct: Bridging-First, Minimal Record-Keeping
Self Assessment Direct's approach to digital record-keeping is deliberately minimal. The platform supports basic digital records of income and expenses within HMRC's required categories for SA103, SA105, and SA106. Its primary workflow is bridging: users who maintain their records in spreadsheets can submit those figures directly to HMRC through the platform's digital link, meeting the MTD requirement without needing to replicate records in a new system. There is no formal chart of accounts, no journal entries, no double-entry bookkeeping, no automated bank feeds, and no per-property expense tracking. Self Assessment Direct is designed to be the simplest possible bridge between a landlord's existing records and HMRC — nothing more, nothing less.
| Feature | RentalBux | Self Assessment Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
Winner: RentalBux for landlords wanting full accounting structure and automation. It provides pre-built and customised Chart of Accounts, bank reconciliation providing full accounting structure and automation to it's clients.
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.
Self Assessment Direct: No Automation — Submission Only
Self Assessment Direct does not include any invoicing, expense tracking automation, receipt scanning, AI categorisation, or open banking integration. The platform's design places all responsibility for record-keeping and categorisation with the user. Users prepare their income and expense totals — typically in a spreadsheet — and Self Assessment Direct acts as the submission channel to HMRC. There are no tools within the platform to help capture, organise, or automate financial records. This makes it entirely dependent on the quality and discipline of the user's own record-keeping outside the platform.
| Feature | RentalBux | Self Assessment Direct |
|---|---|---|
| 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 — Self Assessment Direct has no invoicing, expense capture, or automation tools. For landlords wanting to reduce manual bookkeeping effort and ensure no allowable deduction is missed, RentalBux is the clear choice.
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.
Self Assessment Direct: No Financial Reporting
Self Assessment Direct does not produce financial reports. Its output is entirely MTD-submission focused — it shows the figures submitted and tracks HMRC obligations, but it generates no profit & loss statements, no balance sheets, no per-property reporting, and no investment analytics. Landlords who need financial reports — for mortgage applications, accountant reviews, or business planning — must maintain and produce those records entirely outside of Self Assessment Direct.
| Feature | RentalBux | Self Assessment Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes (formal) | No |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | No |
| Trial Balance | Yes | No |
| Dashboard/Overview | Yes | Limited |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes | No |
| Cash Flow Reporting | No | No |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes | No |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | No |
Winner: RentalBux — Self Assessment Direct produces no financial reporting. RentalBux delivers formal accounting reports, per-property P&L, a full financial dashboard, and deadline reminders, going far beyond the MTD compliance core.
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.
Self Assessment Direct: Agent Submission and Web-Based Access
Self Assessment Direct supports agent and accountant submissions on behalf of clients, making it usable for accountants handling straightforward MTD clients at no cost. The platform is web-based and requires no download or installation. There is no dedicated native mobile app for iOS or Android. For accountants managing multiple clients whose records are maintained in spreadsheets, Self Assessment Direct's agent-compatible submission capability offers a zero-cost route to quarterly filing without needing to migrate clients to a new record-keeping system.
| Feature | RentalBux | Self Assessment Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | No |
| 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 on collaboration features and mobile access. Both platforms support agent filing. RentalBux leads with native mobile apps, multi-user access, and a dedicated accountant portal with full agent submission capability.
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.
Self Assessment Direct's Ease of Use
Self Assessment Direct is described as a simple, accessible web-based service requiring no download or installation. It is designed for individuals and agents who want the most straightforward path to MTD submission, particularly those already comfortable with spreadsheet record-keeping. The platform is web-only with no dedicated mobile app. Detailed public information about Self Assessment Direct's specific customer support channels and security credentials is limited — prospective users should verify support availability directly with the provider before relying on it as their primary MTD platform. It appears on HMRC's official recognised software list, confirming it has met HMRC's minimum technical standards for MTD compatibility.
| Feature | RentalBux | Self Assessment Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Chat Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | No |
| Help Centre/Knowledge Base | Yes | No |
| 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 Self Assessment Direct Offers
Bridging Software Mode — Keep Your Existing Spreadsheets
Self Assessment Direct's bridging capability is its defining feature. Landlords and sole traders can continue maintaining all their records in Excel or other spreadsheets and use Self Assessment Direct purely to submit those figures to HMRC — establishing the required MTD digital link without changing any existing workflows, learning new software, or migrating historical data. For landlords who have well-established spreadsheet systems and simply need an HMRC-compliant submission channel, this is a highly practical solution.
Completely Free with No Property Limit and No Expiry
Self Assessment Direct is unconditionally free — no subscriptions, no premium tiers, no property limits, and no expiry date. Self Assessment Direct is free for landlords with any number of properties, indefinitely. For landlords with multiple properties who want zero-cost MTD compliance, Self Assessment Direct is one of the few HMRC-recognised options that imposes no restrictions.
Maximum Simplicity — No Learning Curve
Self Assessment Direct's deliberate simplicity means there is virtually no learning curve for users who already maintain their own records. For landlords who are comfortable with their own spreadsheet systems, value minimal software overhead, and simply need a compliant submission route, Self Assessment Direct removes the need to learn, configure, or maintain any new software environment beyond the submission step itself.
Agent-Friendly Zero-Cost Compliance
For accountants managing clients with straightforward income who keep their own spreadsheet records, Self Assessment Direct provides a zero-cost agent submission route. Accountants can submit MTD quarterly updates and the Final Declaration on behalf of clients without requiring clients to purchase or learn new software — a practical option for practices managing high volumes of straightforward MTD clients.
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 Self Assessment Direct?
Self Assessment Direct is the better MTD software choice for:
Landlords and Sole Traders Who Are Comfortable with Spreadsheets
Self Assessment Direct's bridging mode is ideal for users who already maintain accounts in Excel or similar tools and want to continue doing so. Submit your totals to HMRC via Self Assessment Direct without migrating to new software, retraining, or changing existing workflows.
Landlords with Multiple Properties Who Want Zero Cost
Self Assessment Direct is unconditionally free with no property limit. Landlords with multiple properties who need MTD compliance at zero cost — and who maintain their own records externally — can use Self Assessment Direct without any cost restrictions. RentalBux's free plan covers only one property.
Budget-Conscious Users Who Need Only MTD Compliance
For landlords and sole traders whose sole requirement is meeting the HMRC MTD filing obligation at no cost, and who have no need for property management, automation, or reporting beyond what HMRC requires, Self Assessment Direct meets that need with no overhead.
Accountants Managing Simple Spreadsheet-Based MTD Clients at Zero Cost
For accounting practices with clients who maintain their own spreadsheet records and have straightforward income, Self Assessment Direct provides agent-compatible MTD submissions at zero cost — removing the need for any client software subscription.
Users Who Prefer Minimal Software Overhead
For landlords who want to interact with tax software as little as possible — maintain records in a familiar spreadsheet, submit figures quarterly, done — Self Assessment Direct's stripped-back design is a deliberate strength rather than a limitation.