Got HMRC's Letter? RentalBux Makes MTD Simple.
HMRC is writing to every landlord and sole trader earning over £50,000. From 6 April 2026 you must keep digital records and submit quarterly updates using recognised software. RentalBux is built specifically for landlords — not adapted from generic accounting tools.
Whether you own one property or manage a large portfolio, handle joint ownership splits or earn self-employment income alongside your rentals, RentalBux covers everything in one platform under one licence.
✓ HMRC-Recognised MTD Software
✓ Built for Landlords, Not Accountants
✓ Free for Single-Property Landlords Until March 2028
✓ One Licence for Property & Self-Employment Income
About HMRC's MTD Letter to You
HMRC has confirmed that 864,000 sole traders and landlords are in scope for Making Tax Digital from April 2026. The letter you received confirms your qualifying income exceeded £50,000 in 2024/25.
Why you received this letter
Your qualifying income exceeded £50,000 in the 2024/25 tax year. You are now legally required to comply with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
You are now legally required to:
Maintain digital records of your income and expenses in HMRC‑recognised software.
Send four digital updates to HMRC each year through MTD‑compatible software.
Submit your year‑end tax return (Final Declaration) through MTD‑compatible software by 31 January.
What this letter means
- Your income is above the £50,000 threshold.
- You must use HMRC‑recognised software from April 2026.
- Paper returns and the current online portal are being phased out.
- Non‑compliance may result in penalties from HMRC.
Key MTD milestones
- 6 April 2026 – Digital record‑keeping and quarterly updates start.
- 2026/27 tax year – Old online and paper filing no longer accepted.
- 31 January 2028 – Final Declaration deadline for 2026/27.
Common questions
- Do I have to sign up now? – You should be ready for April 2026.
- What if I ignore the letter? – HMRC may issue penalties for non‑compliance.
- Can I still use a spreadsheet? – Only if it's linked to MTD‑compatible software.
The current HMRC Online Tax Return system and paper filing will no longer be accepted from the 2026/27 tax year.
RentalBux is already approved
RentalBux is recognised by HMRC for MTD for Income Tax covering UK property, foreign property and self‑employment income. You don't need to search for approved software.
"I got the MTD letter from HMRC and panicked. I had no idea what software to use or how quarterly submissions worked. A friend recommended RentalBux — I was set up in ten minutes, connected my bank and now everything is tracked automatically. The quarterly figures are calculated for me. I wish all tax stuff was this easy."
James T.
What Our Other Users Say
"Running a trade business and managing rental properties used to mean two software subscriptions and hours of manual work. RentalBux handles both perfectly—one platform, one price, everything organised."
- James T., Builder & Landlord
"As a consultant with rental properties, I love having separate profit reports for each business. It's so clear which income stream performs better, and the combined MTD submission is seamless."
- Emma L., Consultant & Property Investor
4.9/5
Average Rating in Trustindex
Ignoring HMRC's Letter Won't
Make MTD Go Away
Making Tax Digital is not optional. If your qualifying income exceeded £50,000 in 2024/25, you are legally required to comply from 6 April 2026. Here is what happens if you do nothing:
From the 2026/27 tax year, the current HMRC Online Tax Return system and paper filing will no longer be accepted. If you are not on MTD-compatible software, you will have no way to submit your return.
HMRC's MTD Letter Means You Need New Software. But It Doesn't Have to Be Complicated or Expensive.
You've received the letter. You know things are changing. But between choosing the right software, understanding what "digital records" actually means, figuring out quarterly deadlines and worrying about penalties, it can feel overwhelming.
RentalBux was built for exactly this moment. It is purpose-built for landlords, HMRC-recognised, and designed to make MTD compliance as simple as possible — whether you manage it yourself or work with an accountant.
Built Around How Landlords Actually Work
Every feature in RentalBux is designed around how landlords manage their properties and finances — not how accountants think about bookkeeping.
✅ HMRC-Recognised MTD Compliance
Officially listed on HMRC's software register for MTD for Income Tax. Covers UK property, foreign property and self-employment income. Every quarterly update and Final Declaration meets HMRC's digital reporting requirements. No guesswork about software approval.
🏦 Automatic Bank Feeds & AI Transaction Categorisation
Connect your bank accounts and RentalBux automatically imports transactions and categorises them based on property tax rules. Rental payments, mortgage debits, maintenance invoices and business expenses are all placed in the correct category automatically. Eliminates hours of manual data entry.
📸 OCR Receipt Capture (Snap and Upload)
Photograph bills and invoices with your phone. RentalBux reads, categorises and stores them digitally. No more shoeboxes of paper receipts. Your records stay correct, organised and MTD-ready.
🏠 Property-Specific Chart of Accounts
RentalBux comes pre-built with landlord-specific accounts — rent received, mortgage interest, insurance, repairs, letting agent fees, service charges, tenant deposits and all allowable deductions. You categorise correctly from day one without needing accounting knowledge.
👥 Joint Ownership & Automatic Profit Splits
Set ownership percentages once — 50/50, 60/40 or any ratio — and RentalBux automatically calculates each owner's share of income and expenses. Every co-owner receives accurate MTD submissions without spreadsheets or manual calculations.
📊 Property-Level Tracking & Portfolio Reporting
See profit and loss by individual property. Compare yields across your portfolio. Generate reports for your accountant or mortgage broker with a single click — without sorting through unhelpful consolidated numbers.
🌍 UK & Foreign Property Income
Track overseas rental income alongside UK property income within a single platform. Meet your UK reporting obligations for both, all HMRC-compliant and in one place.
💼 Self-Employment Income Under One Licence
Track business invoices, expenses and rental income on one dashboard. Submit quarterly MTD returns for both income streams from a single platform. No need for two separate software subscriptions.
🤝 Built-In Accountant Collaboration
Your accountant or tax agent can access your RentalBux records directly — viewing, editing and filing on your behalf without separate logins, emailed spreadsheets or complicated handovers.
⏰ Automated Deadline Reminders & Quarterly Status Tracking
RentalBux tracks submitted quarters, flags forthcoming deadlines and sends reminders. Stay on track throughout the year and avoid penalty points due to missed deadlines.
The MTD Timeline — Every Deadline That Matters
Making Tax Digital is being phased in over several years. These are the dates that matter for landlords so you can plan ahead and avoid last‑minute panic.
6 April 2026 — MTD Goes Live
Digital record-keeping begins. You must be using HMRC-recognised software from this date.
7 August 2026 — First Quarterly Update Due
Covers 6 April – 5 July 2026. No penalty points for late filing in 2026/27, but the update must be submitted before your year-end return.
31 January 2028 — First MTD Year-End Return Due
Your Final Declaration for 2026/27. Late filing penalty points apply — even in the soft-landing year.
April 2027 — £30,000 Threshold Joins
No soft landing. Full penalty points from day one.
April 2028 — £20,000 Threshold Joins
Penalty rates increase from 3% to 4%.
Built for Every Landlord Who Received HMRC's MTD Mandation Letter
RentalBux works for landlords and sole traders at every stage — from single-property owners to portfolio investors managing complex structures.
Single-Property Landlords
You own one rental property and have received the letter. You need affordable, simple software to stay compliant. RentalBux is free for single-property landlords until March 2028.
Portfolio Landlords
You own multiple properties and need clear visibility into each property's performance. RentalBux provides property-level P&L, portfolio reporting and automatic categorisation across all your properties.
Joint Property Owners
You own property with a spouse, partner or family member. Each co-owner needs their own MTD submissions. RentalBux splits income and expenses automatically based on ownership percentages.
Landlords Who Are Also Self-Employed
You earn both rental and self-employment income. You don't want two separate software subscriptions. RentalBux handles both income streams under one licence.
Landlords with Foreign Property
You own rental property overseas and need to report foreign income alongside UK property income. RentalBux tracks both separately and ensures correct HMRC reporting.
HMO Landlords
You rent out properties with multiple tenants. RentalBux handles multiple rental income sources and manages expenses at the property level.
Commercial Property Landlords
You own offices, retail spaces or other commercial property. RentalBux tracks commercial rental income and expenses alongside any other property types in your portfolio.
Landlords Working with Accountants
Your accountant handles year-end tax returns, but you want to manage quarterly MTD submissions yourself? RentalBux gives your accountant access to review figures and submit on your behalf when needed.
The Difference RentalBux Makes
See how RentalBux compares to spreadsheets, generic software and other MTD tools
| Feature | RentalBux | Other Accounting/MTD Software |
|---|---|---|
| HMRC-Recognised MTD Software | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Some |
| Built Specifically for Landlords | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (generic) |
| Property-Specific Chart of Accounts | ✅ Pre-built | ⚠️ Requires Setup |
| Self-Employment in Same Licence | ✅ Yes | ❌ Separate Licence |
| Automatic Bank Feeds | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited |
| OCR Receipt Scanning | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited |
| Automatic Profit Splits (Joint Ownership) | ✅ Yes | ❌ Manual |
| Property-Level P&L Tracking | ✅ Automatic | ⚠️ Requires Setup |
| UK & Foreign Property Support | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Requires Multiple Licences |
| Quarterly Deadline Reminders | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Sometimes |
| Accountant Collaboration | ✅ Built In | ⚠️ Limited |
| Setup Time | ✅ Minutes | ⚠️ Hours |
| Free Option Available | ✅ Yes (single property until March 2028) | ❌ Paid only |
Start Free - See the Difference Yourself
Experience the power of MTD-compliant software built specifically for landlords. No credit card required.
What Landlords Ask After Receiving HMRC's Letter
We've answered the most common questions from landlords who have received HMRC's Making Tax Digital letter and are looking for the right software.
I've received HMRC's letter. What software do I need?
You need HMRC-recognised software that supports digital record-keeping, quarterly submissions and year-end tax return filing. RentalBux is officially listed on HMRC's recognised software register for MTD for Income Tax and covers UK property, foreign property and self-employment income.
What does "HMRC-recognised software" actually mean?
It means the software has been tested and approved by HMRC to work with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. Only software on HMRC's official register can be used to submit quarterly updates and Final Declarations. RentalBux is on this register — you can verify this on GOV.UK.
Is RentalBux really free for single-property landlords?
Yes. If you own one rental property, RentalBux is completely free until March 2028. This includes full MTD compliance, bank feed connection, receipt scanning, quarterly deadline reminders and accountant access. No credit card required.
I currently use spreadsheets. Can I still use them under MTD?
Spreadsheets alone are not MTD-compliant. You need recognised software to submit quarterly updates to HMRC. However, you can use RentalBux alongside your spreadsheets during the transition, or import your existing data. RentalBux's bank feeds and AI categorisation mean most landlords find they no longer need spreadsheets at all.
I use the HMRC Online Tax Return system. What happens to that?
HMRC's letter confirms that from the 2026/27 tax year, you will no longer be able to file using the current HMRC online system or by paper. You must use MTD-compatible software. RentalBux replaces that system for your property and self-employment income reporting.
Do I need separate software for property income and self-employment income?
No. RentalBux covers both income streams under one licence. You track rental income, self-employment invoices and all expenses on one dashboard and submit both quarterly returns to HMRC from one platform.
How do joint ownership splits work in RentalBux?
You set the ownership percentages once — for example 60/40 — and RentalBux automatically calculates each owner's share of income and expenses. Each co-owner gets their own MTD submissions. Self-employment income remains separate for each owner.
What are the new MTD penalty rules?
HMRC is replacing the old £100 late filing penalty with a points-based system. Each late submission earns a penalty point. Once you reach four points, a £200 fine is triggered. For 2026/27, there is a soft landing — no penalty points for late quarterly updates. However, penalty points do apply for a late year-end return, and the soft landing does not apply from 2027/28 onward. Late payment penalties apply from day one with no soft landing.
What are the quarterly deadlines?
For 2026/27: 7 August 2026, 7 November 2026, 7 February 2027 and 7 May 2027. Your year-end Final Declaration is due by 31 January 2028. RentalBux tracks all deadlines and sends you reminders.
Can my accountant use RentalBux to file for me?
Yes. Accountant collaboration is built in. Your accountant can access your records directly — view, edit and file quarterly updates and your Final Declaration on your behalf. No spreadsheets, no email chains, no complicated handovers.
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