RentalBux vs. TaxCalc
Which MTD Software Is Better for UK Landlords?
Overall Winner: RentalBux
RentalBux is the more complete MTD solution 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. TaxCalc is a strong, well-established alternative — trusted by over 12,000 accountancy practices and 60,000 individuals, with a long track record in UK tax compliance and a new HMRC-recognised MTD Quarterly Filer bridging solution. But its spreadsheet-dependent workflow, absence of bank feeds or automated bookkeeping, no property management features whatsoever, desktop-only architecture, no free plan, and positioning primarily aimed at accountants rather than landlords make it a less complete solution for landlords who want an all-in-one platform.
At-a-Glance MTD Software Comparison
Key differences between RentalBux and TaxCalc across MTD compliance, property management, bookkeeping, pricing, and landlord-specific features.
| Feature | RentalBux | TaxCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Software Type | Property/Landlord Platform | Spreadsheet Bridging / Tax Software Suite |
| Target Users | Landlords, Sole Traders, Letting Agents | Accountancy Practices, Individuals, Landlords |
| 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 free plan (14-day practice trial; individual from £24/yr) |
| MTD Quarterly Updates to HMRC | 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 | Yes |
| Payroll | No | |
| HMO Unit-Level Tracking | Yes | |
| HMRC SA105 Box Pre-Mapping | Yes | |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | |
| Platform | Web, iOS, Android | Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux); no mobile app |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
What Is RentalBux? What Is TaxCalc?
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 TaxCalc?
The Digital Tax People
TaxCalc is a UK-based tax and accountancy software suite developed by Acorah Software Products Limited, trusted by over 12,000 accountancy practices and 60,000 individuals and business owners to submit their tax returns and accounts. Its MTD Quarterly Filer product is a HMRC-recognised spreadsheet bridging solution that allows landlords, sole traders, and their accountants to comply with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax without abandoning their existing spreadsheet-based record-keeping workflows.
TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer works by importing income and expense summary totals directly from any Excel or CSV spreadsheet, mapping the relevant cells to HMRC's required submission fields, and transmitting the quarterly update digitally. No transactional data is sent to HMRC — only summary totals. The product is available in two versions: an individual version (from £24/year) for landlords and sole traders filing their own updates, and a practice version (from £112/year) for accountants managing multiple landlord clients. Both versions support sole trader, UK property, and foreign property income, and both submit quarterly updates and the final declaration directly to HMRC.
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 — quarterly updates and final declaration
- Supports sole trader + UK property + foreign property income
- Spreadsheet-first approach — no need to migrate away from Excel/CSV
- Flexible update periods: quarterly, monthly, weekly, or even daily
- HMRC tax estimate/forecast returned after each submission
- Trusted by 12,000+ accountancy practices across the UK
- Seamless integration with TaxCalc's wider practice management suite
- Joint ownership percentage input supported on import
- 14-day free trial for practices; individual version from £24/year
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, tenancy, or rent tracking features
- No bank feeds or automated bank reconciliation
- No mobile app — desktop only (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- No AI-powered features, OCR receipt capture, or auto-categorisation
- No invoice creation or payment tracking
- Requires a separate Tax Return Production licence for the final declaration
- No chart of accounts, journal entries, or formal P&L reporting
- Individual landlords need to self-manage all record-keeping in spreadsheets
- No automated reminders for quarterly filing deadlines
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 TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer Handles MTD for Landlords
TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer covers all three MTD qualifying income categories: sole trader, UK property, and foreign property income, and allows each to be filed separately. The software retrieves the landlord's MTD obligations directly from HMRC to minimise setup errors, and it supports flexible update periods — not just quarterly but monthly, weekly, or even daily if preferred. After each submission, HMRC returns a tax estimate based on the data submitted.
The final declaration (replacing the year-end Self Assessment return) is handled through TaxCalc's Tax Return Production product, which is sold separately. This means a landlord wishing to use TaxCalc for their entire MTD journey — quarterly updates and year-end finalisation — will need both MTD Quarterly Filer and Tax Return Production. For accountancy practices already using TaxCalc's suite, this is seamless; for individual landlords, it may add cost and complexity.
| Feature | RentalBux | TaxCalc |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Practice version) |
Winner: Tie on coverage — RentalBux wins on landlord integration Both platforms cover all three MTD income types and support agent filing. TaxCalc has a useful advantage in returning an HMRC tax estimate after each submission. RentalBux wins for landlords who want MTD compliance embedded within property management and accounting tools rather than a standalone bridging solution.
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.
TaxCalc: No Native Property Management Features
TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer does not include property portfolio management, tenant management, rent tracking, or property expense allocation. It is not a property management platform; it is a bridging and tax compliance tool. Landlords using TaxCalc must manage their own property records — typically in a spreadsheet — and then import summary income and expense totals into TaxCalc for quarterly submission. TaxCalc does support joint ownership by allowing the landlord to enter an ownership percentage on import, which automatically apportions the income and expense values before submission.
| Feature | RentalBux | TaxCalc |
|---|---|---|
| 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 %) | Yes |
| Maintenance Tracking | No | No |
| Tenant Screening | No | No |
| Compliance Document Alerts | Yes | No |
| Arrears Tracking | No | No |
Winner: RentalBux — TaxCalc does not provide property management features. Landlords who need tenancy tracking, rent management, expense allocation, or HMO support must use RentalBux or a separate property management tool alongside TaxCalc.
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.
TaxCalc: Spreadsheet-Based Digital Record Keeping
TaxCalc's approach to record keeping is to work with your existing spreadsheet rather than replace it. The software does not maintain a ledger or chart of accounts; instead, landlords record their income and expenses in an Excel or CSV spreadsheet, and TaxCalc imports the summary totals for submission. TaxCalc provides free downloadable MTD-ready spreadsheet templates with pre-populated income and expense categories for both sole traders and property landlords, giving users a structured starting point. Digital links are maintained throughout, as required by HMRC, ensuring compliance with the digital record-keeping rules.
| Feature | RentalBux | TaxCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Basis Accounting | Yes | N/A |
| 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 | Yes |
| Spreadsheet Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Record Storage | Yes | Partial |
Winner: RentalBux — RentalBux provides a full accounting backbone with bank feeds, journal entries, and a landlord-tailored chart of accounts. TaxCalc's strength lies in its spreadsheet bridging approach, which suits landlords who already maintain well-organised spreadsheet records and do not want to migrate to a cloud accounting platform.
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.
TaxCalc: Spreadsheet Mapping with Adjustments
TaxCalc does not offer automated expense categorisation, OCR receipt capture, invoicing, or payment tracking. Expense management is handled by the landlord within their spreadsheet before import. TaxCalc does allow landlords to enter add-backs, disallowables, and private use adjustments during the import process — ensuring that the summary totals submitted to HMRC reflect the correct tax-adjusted figures rather than raw spreadsheet data. Receipts and supporting documents can be attached directly to each quarterly submission within TaxCalc, creating an audit trail.
| Feature | RentalBux | TaxCalc |
|---|---|---|
| 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 — AI-powered OCR receipt capture, automatic expense categorisation, and branded invoicing give RentalBux the edge for landlords who want to maximise allowable deductions under MTD. TaxCalc's add-back and attachment functionality is a useful compliance feature for accountants making tax adjustments prior to submission.
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.
TaxCalc: HMRC Tax Estimate After Each Submission
TaxCalc does not produce formal accounting reports such as P&L statements, balance sheets, or trial balances within MTD Quarterly Filer itself. However, after each quarterly submission, TaxCalc retrieves an HMRC-generated tax estimate showing the landlord's cumulative tax position for the year to date — a practical planning tool that helps landlords set aside funds for their tax bill. Full year-end tax calculations are produced within Tax Return Production.
| Feature | RentalBux | TaxCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Report | Yes (formal) | |
| Balance Sheet | Yes | No |
| Trial Balance | Yes | No |
| Dashboard/Overview | Yes | Limited (per submission status) |
| Real-Time Financial Data | Yes | No |
| Cash Flow Reporting | No | Yes |
| Tax Estimate/Forecast | Yes | Yes |
| AI-Powered Features | Coming soon | No |
| Profit & Loss Report | No |
Winner: RentalBux on accounting reports; TaxCalc on tax forecasting — RentalBux leads on formal accounting reports. TaxCalc's HMRC-generated tax estimate after each quarterly submission is a notable advantage for landlords planning ahead for their tax bill — a feature RentalBux does not currently offer.
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.
TaxCalc's Collaboration, Accountant Access & Platform Availability
A notable TaxCalc feature for accountancy practices is its ability to retrieve the latest submission data for any client, even those filing through a different MTD software product. This gives accountants full portfolio-wide visibility of MTD compliance status regardless of which software each client uses.
| Feature | RentalBux | TaxCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Advisor Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-User Access | Yes | Yes |
| Agent Filing on Behalf | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Integration | Yes | No |
| Platform | iOS, Android | None |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | No (desktop software only) |
| FCA Regulated | Yes | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Tie — depends on working style RentalBux wins on mobility and modern cloud access (web, iOS, Android). TaxCalc wins for accountancy practices already embedded in the TaxCalc ecosystem, and for its cross-software client visibility feature.
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.
TaxCalc's Ease of Use, Customer Support & Security
TaxCalc is well regarded for its ease of use among individuals completing Self Assessment returns. Its SimpleStep® guided mode fast-forwards users to the relevant sections of the return, and Check & Finish® error-checking flags missing or inconsistent entries. The platform is consistently rated highly by tax professionals and has received recognition from outlets including TechRadar and The Telegraph. Phone support is available on weekdays from 9:30am to 5pm; email support is also available. However, TaxCalc has no mobile app, and its desktop-first design means it cannot be accessed from a tablet or smartphone. TaxCalc (desktop version) benefits from local data storage which some users prefer for security.
| Feature | RentalBux | TaxCalc |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 to this pFeatures Only TaxCalc Offersroduct
Spreadsheet Bridging — Keep Your Existing Workflows
TaxCalc's core strength is allowing landlords and accountants to continue using Excel or CSV spreadsheets for record-keeping. There is no obligation to migrate to cloud bookkeeping. The software simply maps the relevant cells and transmits summary totals to HMRC — maintaining digital links throughout as required.
HMRC Tax Estimate After Every Submission
After each quarterly update, TaxCalc retrieves an HMRC-generated cumulative tax estimate for the year. This allows landlords to track their likely tax liability in real time and plan ahead for their payment.
Flexible Update Periods
While HMRC mandates quarterly submissions, TaxCalc allows landlords to submit updates more frequently — monthly, weekly, or even daily if preferred — providing greater flexibility for those who want to keep HMRC more regularly updated.
Integration with Full Practice Management Suite
TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer integrates seamlessly with Tax Return Production, Accounts Production, VAT Filer, WorkFlow, Communications Centre, eSign Centre, and Document Manager — giving accountancy practices a fully joined-up MTD workflow from quarterly filing through to year-end tax return.
Cross-Software Client Visibility
The practice version of TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer allows accountants to see the MTD filing status of all their clients — including those who file using other software products. This is unique to TaxCalc and highly useful for practices managing heterogeneous client bases.
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 TaxCalc?
TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer is the better choice for:
Landlords Already Managing Records in Spreadsheets
If you have years of organised Excel or CSV records and do not want to migrate to a cloud bookkeeping platform, TaxCalc lets you continue with your existing workflow and simply bridges to HMRC for quarterly submissions.
Accountants and Tax Advisers in the TaxCalc Ecosystem
If your practice already uses TaxCalc for Tax Return Production, VAT Filer, Accounts Production, or practice management, MTD Quarterly Filer integrates seamlessly as a natural extension — with no new software to learn.
Accountants Managing Heterogeneous Client Bases
TaxCalc's ability to view submission status for clients using any MTD software makes it uniquely useful for practices where different clients use different tools.
Landlords Who Want a Low-Cost Bridging-Only Solution
At £24/year for individuals, TaxCalc MTD Quarterly Filer is one of the most affordable HMRC-recognised options for landlords who already have good records in place and simply need a compliant submission route.
Multi-Platform Desktop Users
TaxCalc runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux — making it one of the few tax software products with full cross-platform desktop support.