Making Tax Digital (MTD) software for Freelancers and the Self-Employed
Send invoices, track expenses, and file quarterly MTD updates in minutes. Run your whole freelance business from one dashboard built for the self-employed.
RentalBux is HMRC-recognised software for UK freelancers, sole traders and contractors. Keep digital records of your business income and expenses, then submit quarterly updates to HMRC under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. MTD is now live. If your combined self-employment and property income is above £50,000, you must use recognised software from April 2026. The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027, then £20,000 in April 2028. Spreadsheets alone do not meet HMRC's requirements.
Trustpilot"My first quarter MTD submission to HMRC was successfully completed thanks to the expertise and patience of Aayoush who guided me through it every step of the way. Hopefully Q2 will be more straightforward. I'd thoroughly recommend RentalBux and in particular Aayoush to anyone who is considering doing their tax submissions themselves."
John Warren
What Our Other Users Say
4.6/5
Average Rating on Trustpilot
Freelancing should mean freedom.
Take back control with RentalBux, freelancer-friendly software
You became a freelancer to do what you love, not to spend evenings wrestling with invoices and spreadsheets. But admin keeps eating into your billable hours. Invoices get sent late, expenses go untracked, and tax time becomes a scramble through bank statements and faded receipts. Making Tax Digital is now live: if your combined self-employment and property income is over £50,000, you must file quarterly updates with HMRC using recognised software, a threshold dropping to £30,000 from April 2027. Generic accounting tools are built for limited companies, not sole traders, and invoice-only apps get you paid but do not file to HMRC. RentalBux does both. One platform for invoicing, expenses and MTD, built for the self-employed and compliant from day one.
Sign up to submission
How RentalBux runs your freelance finances: from first invoice to Final Declaration
Sign up, get your income and expenses in, and RentalBux carries you through every quarterly deadline and into your year-end submission. Here is what that looks like from day one.
Sign up and get set up
Guided onboarding takes about 30 minutes, and you don't need a card to start. The wizard maps your income streams, clients and tax year.
Invoice clients and get paid
Send professional invoices, track which are paid or outstanding, and set up recurring invoices for retainer clients. Every invoice feeds your records automatically.
Add expenses and link your bank
Link your bank via secure Open Banking for automatic transactions, or import historical data from a spreadsheet. Assign each transaction to a client, project and HMRC expense category.
Review and submit to HMRC
Income and allowable expenses total as you go, so when each window opens on 7 Aug, 7 Nov, 7 Feb and 7 May, your figures are ready to confirm and file. HMRC acknowledges receipt on screen.
Head into your Final Declaration
Final Declaration support is on its way at RentalBux. HMRC requires it by 31 January following the tax year end.
Is MTD software for the self-employed mandatory? Yes. Here is what HMRC requires
MTD for Income Tax requires self-employed people to keep digital records of business income and expenses, then submit quarterly updates to HMRC through recognised software. Spreadsheets and manual records no longer meet HMRC's requirements once you are in scope. Here is what full compliance looks like in practice.
HMRC-recognised, with direct submission
RentalBux is on HMRC’s list of recognised MTD software (Product ID 3222). Quarterly updates are submitted through a direct, MTD-compatible connection, so there is no bridging software, spreadsheet export or manual workaround to keep compliant.
Built by UK Property Accountants
RentalBux is built by UK Property Accountants, part of the same group. The tax knowledge that shapes how income, expenses and HMRC categories are handled comes from a practising UK accountancy firm, not a generic software vendor.
Self-employment and rental income in one place
If you earn from both freelancing and property, HMRC requires separate quarterly updates for each. RentalBux manages both trading and property income under one account, keeping the streams properly separated so you never need two systems.
FCA-authorised bank feeds
Connect your account through secure, read-only Open Banking to import transactions automatically. Bank feeds run through Finexer Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (Rental Bux Limited, FRN 1043507).
Free for your first official MTD submission
Start with no credit card and no upfront cost. Your first official MTD submission is free, so you can set up your digital records and file a real quarterly update before you commit to anything.
CIS and industry-specific handling
RentalBux includes CIS compliance for construction contractors and is built around how self-employed income is actually structured, supporting trades, creatives, consultants and other freelancers with records kept MTD-ready.
MTD compliance for freelancers, contractors and sole traders
Whether you bill by project, work under CIS, or run several income streams at once, RentalBux is built around how your self-employed income is actually structured.
Sole traders and freelancers approaching MTD
Since April 2026, MTD for Income Tax is mandatory once your combined self-employment and property income passes £50,000. RentalBux gets your digital records and submission process in place before your first deadline, so compliance is not something you scramble to fix.
Construction and trades under CIS
Builders, electricians, plumbers and other trades often work as CIS subcontractors. RentalBux includes CIS compliance for contractors, keeping your self-employment income and expenses organised and MTD-ready for each quarterly update.
Creative and media freelancers
Designers, writers, photographers and videographers who bill by project or retainer. RentalBux tracks income across multiple clients, manages project-level expenses such as equipment and software, and keeps every transaction MTD-ready.
Consultants and professional services
Consultants, coaches and independent professionals often manage several clients at once. RentalBux keeps income and expenses organised per client and project, so your quarterly figures are ready to review and submit without hours of admin.
IT and technology contractors
Developers, IT contractors and technical specialists who work on multiple short-term contracts. Track income by client, allocate project-specific expenses and maintain clear records for MTD submissions.
Health and wellness professionals
Therapists, coaches and practitioners running an independent practice. RentalBux tracks your appointment income and practice expenses and prepares your quarterly updates for HMRC, so record keeping does not eat into client time.
Freelancers with rental income
If you earn both self-employment and rental income, HMRC requires separate quarterly updates for each. RentalBux manages both in one platform, keeping your trading records and property records properly separated, with no need for two systems.
How RentalBux Compares for Freelancers
See why freelancers choose RentalBux over basic invoicing tools or complex accounting software.
| Feature | Invoice-Only Tools | Other Accounting Software | RentalBux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Invoicing |
|
|
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| Payment Reminders |
Sometimes
|
Rare
|
Automatic
|
| Project Expense Allocation |
|
Manual
|
|
| MTD Compliance |
|
Sometimes
|
Full
|
| Client Management |
Basic
|
|
|
| Bank Feed Automation |
|
Extra cost
|
Included
|
| Receipt Scanning |
|
Extra cost
|
Included
|
| Accountant Access |
|
Extra cost
|
Included
|
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Experience the power of MTD-compliant software built specifically for landlords. No credit card required.
FAQ for Freelancers
Common questions about managing freelance income, client invoicing, and MTD compliance for self-employed creative and professional service providers.
What accounting software do most freelancers use?
Freelancers need software that handles professional invoicing, expense tracking and MTD compliance without unnecessary complexity. RentalBux is purpose-built for UK freelancers with all essential features included: invoice creation, payment tracking, project expense allocation, and quarterly MTD submissions.
Do freelancers need to register for Making Tax Digital?
Yes, if your freelance income exceeds £50,000 per year (or/and your total qualifying income including any rental property income exceeds this threshold), you must register for MTD from April 2026. RentalBux provides full MTD compliance with digital record keeping and quarterly submissions built in.
How do freelancers track expenses for tax purposes?
Use accounting software to record all business expenses with digital receipts attached. Common freelance expenses include equipment, software subscriptions, training, marketing, travel and use of home costs. RentalBux scans receipts automatically and categorises expenses following HMRC guidelines.
Can freelancers claim expenses against their income?
Yes. Any expense wholly and exclusively for your freelance business is tax-deductible. This includes equipment, software, office supplies, training, marketing, vehicle costs for business travel and a proportion of home costs if you work from home. RentalBux tracks everything and calculates your net profit after expenses.
Still have questions?
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Resources, Tips & Guides for Landlords and Sole Traders
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