One of the most common questions from landlords new to Making Tax Digital is: 'What exactly does HMRC see?' The short answer is far less than you might think — and this guide explains exactly what is and isn't shared when you submit through RentalBux.
The simple version
When you submit a quarterly update through RentalBux, HMRC receives summary totals only. Not your invoices. Not your receipts. Not your bank statements. Not your tenant's details. Just the aggregated numbers — your income and your expenses by category.
What HMRC receives from each quarterly update
Data sent to HMRC | Example |
|---|---|
Total rental income for the quarter | £5,400 (combined rent from all properties in this income source) |
Total for each expense category | Repairs: £320. Insurance: £180. Letting agent fees: £540. Etc. |
Net profit or loss for the quarter | £4,360 |
The income source type | 'UK Property' or 'Sole Trader' (whichever is being submitted) |
What HMRC does NOT receive
Individual invoices or bills
Receipt images or scanned documents
Your tenant's name, email, or contact details
Your bank account numbers or bank statements
Your letting agent's information
Contractor names or invoice details
Mortgage statements or lender details
Compliance documents (EPCs, gas certificates, tenancy agreements)
Any documents stored in your RentalBux Document module
RentalBux is an HMRC-recognised software provider under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. The data format we send follows strict HMRC API specifications — we can only send what HMRC's system is designed to receive, and that's summary totals only.
Previewing your submission before it goes to HMRC
You never have to submit blind. Before clicking Submit on any quarterly update, RentalBux shows you a full preview of exactly what will be sent to HMRC. If anything looks wrong, you can go back and correct your records before filing.
Your full transaction detail — where it stays
All your individual invoices, bills, receipts, and reconciliation records stay securely inside your RentalBux account. This matters for two reasons:
HMRC enquiry protection: If HMRC ever opens an enquiry, you have a complete transaction-level audit trail behind every quarterly figure. This is far stronger evidence than a spreadsheet.
Year-end accounts: Your accountant can also access the underlying records to prepare your annual Self Assessment return or Final Declaration.
HMRC's MTD obligations vs what RentalBux stores
HMRC requires you to keep digital records of all transactions for at least five years after your submission. RentalBux retains all your records securely for this purpose. If HMRC ever requested them during an enquiry, you (or your accountant) would access them from RentalBux and provide them directly — not through the MTD submission itself.
Data security and privacy
All data transmitted between RentalBux and HMRC is encrypted in transit using TLS. Your data is stored on secure servers compliant with UK GDPR. RentalBux does not share your personal or financial data with any third party other than HMRC (and only as part of the MTD submission you authorise).