MTD Software for Self Employed: Manage your Quarterly Submissions Without an Accountant
RentalBux is HMRC-recognised MTD software built for self-employed individuals who need to meet their Making Tax Digital obligations without paying accountant fees for every quarterly submission. Track business income and expenses, record allowable deductions and submit your quarterly updates directly to HMRC from one platform.
Trustindex"I kept putting off dealing with Making Tax Digital. I assumed I'd need to hire an accountant or spend hours learning complicated software. RentalBux changed everything. I photograph receipts on my phone, my bank transactions import automatically, and the software tells me exactly what I can claim. When quarterly submission time comes around, I just review the figures and click submit. The whole process takes 15 minutes. I've already saved over £1,000 in accountant fees this year—and I'm actually claiming more expenses than I ever did with spreadsheets."
James T.
What Our Other Users Say
4.9/5
Average Rating in Trustindex
Making Tax Digital Starts April 2026.
Here is What Changes for Self-Employed Individuals.
Most self-employed individuals either pay £800 to £1,600 annually for accountant support or rely on spreadsheets that will not meet HMRC's MTD requirements. RentalBux is built specifically for self-employed MTD compliance, combining digital record keeping, expense tracking and direct HMRC submissions in one platform.
How MTD Works for Self Employed Individuals: 4 Steps to Quarterly Compliance
RentalBux handles MTD compliance the way self-employed professionals actually work. Record income and expenses as they happen, categorise transactions, review your quarterly figures and submit directly to HMRC when each deadline arrives.
MTD Features for Self-Employed: What HMRC Requires and How RentalBux Delivers
RentalBux covers all HMRC requirements for MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment—without the complexity of traditional accounting software.
Digital Record Keeping (HMRC-Compliant)
RentalBux is full MTD accounting software — not bridging software. Your records, quarterly submissions, and final declaration all happen in one HMRC-recognised platform without needing spreadsheets or a separate submission tool.
Automatic Quarterly Calculations
Figures include your trading income and allowable business expenses for the period. RentalBux separates these automatically so your quarterly update to HMRC is accurate. Capital allowances are applied at the annual stage when your final declaration is prepared.
One-Click Quarterly Submission to HMRC
Your four quarterly updates cover specific periods within each tax year, with the final declaration due by 31 January. RentalBux tracks all deadlines and calculates your profit for each period.
Smart Expense Categorisation [Coming Soon]
Claim business mileage using HMRC-approved rates, use simplified expenses for home office costs and track professional subscriptions as allowable deductions. These reduce your taxable profit and therefore your Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance liability. The AI-powered automatic categorisation feature is coming soon.
MTD Deadline Reminders & Submission History
Never miss a quarterly deadline. RentalBux tracks submission deadlines based on your tax year and sends reminders before each due date. View your complete submission history—what you submitted, when, and your HMRC confirmation.
Bank Feeds and Automation
Supports all major UK banks via secure Open Banking. Transaction matching and bank reconciliation happen automatically, so your digital records stay HMRC-compliant without manual data entry.
MTD Software for Self-Employed Built for Every Type of Business
RentalBux works for self-employed individuals at every stage—from those just crossing the MTD threshold to established businesses with complex income streams.
Self-Employed Approaching the £50k Threshold
You can join the HMRC MTD pilot now to practise quarterly submissions before April 2026 becomes mandatory. Use the remaining months of 2025/26 to build your digital records and understand the process. The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028, so even if you’re below £50k now, preparing early is worthwhile.
Sole Traders
As a sole trader, your business income and expenses are reported under your personal tax. RentalBux handles this correctly — tracking trading income, calculating profit, and preparing your quarterly updates for HMRC.
Freelancers
Track income across multiple clients, manage project-level expenses, and generate invoices — all while maintaining the digital records HMRC requires for MTD compliance.
Contractors
If you work in construction as a subcontractor, RentalBux records your gross income and tracks CIS deductions separately. Your quarterly MTD update reports your trading income correctly, with CIS amounts recorded for reconciliation against your tax liability at the end of the year.
Self-Employed with Rental Income
Under MTD, you submit eight quarterly updates per year — four for self-employment and four for property income. RentalBux handles both under one licence, keeping income streams properly separated for HMRC.
Self-Employed Wanting to Avoid Accountant Costs
You want to handle MTD compliance yourself without paying £200–£400 per quarter to accountants. RentalBux makes quarterly submissions simple enough to manage independently while keeping you fully compliant.
Self-Employed Working with Accountants
Your accountant handles your year-end tax return, but you want to manage quarterly MTD submissions yourself throughout the year. RentalBux gives your accountant access to review figures and submit on your behalf when needed, using HMRC-recognised MTD software built for self-employed individuals.
How RentalBux Compares to FreeAgent, Xero, and QuickBooks
See why self-employed professionals choose RentalBux over spreadsheets and other MTD solutions.
| Feature | RentalBux | Spreadsheets | Generic MTD Software |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for Self-Employed | Yes |
No |
No (Generic) |
| MTD Compliant | Yes |
No |
Yes |
| HMRC-Recognised | Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Automatic Quarterly Calculations | Yes |
Manual |
Basic |
| Receipt Scanning (OCR) | Included |
No |
Extra Cost |
| AI Expense Categorisation [Coming Soon] | Included |
No |
Basic |
| Bank Feed Automation | Included |
No |
Extra Cost |
| MTD Deadline Reminders | Yes |
No |
Basic |
| Rental + Self-Employment Combined | Yes |
Manual |
No |
| Accountant Collaboration | Included |
Manual Export |
Extra Cost |
Start Free—See the Difference Yourself
MTD-compliant software built specifically for self-employed. No credit card required.
FAQ: Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Self-Employed
Answers to the most common questions about MTD software for self-employed individuals and Making Tax Digital compliance.
What is Making Tax Digital for the self employed?
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is an HMRC initiative requiring self-employed individuals to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates using compatible software. Instead of one annual tax return, you submit income and expense summaries four times per year, plus a final declaration. Making Tax Digital for self employed aims to reduce errors and give HMRC real-time visibility into tax obligations.
Do self employed people need MTD software?
Yes, if your self-employment income exceeds the MTD threshold (£50,000 from April 2026, £30,000 from April 2027). HMRC requires you to use MTD-compatible software to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates. Spreadsheets alone will not meet compliance requirements—you need software that connects to HMRC systems.
When does Making Tax Digital start for self employed people?
MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment begins in April 2026 for self-employed individuals and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000. From April 2027, the threshold drops to £30,000. Self-employed people below these thresholds are not currently required to use MTD software for self employed, but may choose to do so voluntarily.
Is MTD mandatory for self employed in the UK?
MTD becomes mandatory for UK self-employed individuals with qualifying income over £50,000 from April 2026. This is not optional—failure to comply can result in penalties starting at £100 for late submissions, increasing for repeated non-compliance.
What MTD software is HMRC approved for self employed?
HMRC maintains a list of MTD-compatible software. RentalBux is HMRC-recognised MTD software that meets all requirements for self-employed quarterly submissions, including digital record keeping and direct submission to HMRC systems. Choose software from HMRC's list to ensure compliance.
Can I use spreadsheets for MTD compliance?
Spreadsheets alone are not MTD compliant. While you can use spreadsheets for initial record keeping, you need MTD-compatible software (bridging software) to submit quarterly updates to HMRC. RentalBux includes a spreadsheet import feature to help you transition from spreadsheets to fully compliant digital record keeping.
Still have questions?
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Resources, Tips & Guides for Landlords and Sole Traders
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