MTD for landlords — demystified and done
Connect directly to HMRC via Government Gateway and follow step-by-step guides for every part of Making Tax Digital — from first setup to quarterly submission and year-end declaration.
MTD & Tax — all guides
Everything you need to understand MTD, connect to HMRC, and file quarterly updates with confidence.
MTD capabilities
Authorise RentalBux via Government Gateway in under 2 minutes. No bridging software. Submit quarterly updates directly from your account.
RentalBux totals your categorised income and expenses each quarter. You review the figures, confirm, and submit — no manual spreadsheet calculations.
Your MTD dashboard shows the next submission deadline with a countdown. Email reminders send before each due date.
Each co-owner's profit share is calculated separately. RentalBux generates individual quarterly updates for each owner from the same shared property records.
HMRC requires UK and foreign rental income reported separately. RentalBux routes each to the correct section of your submission automatically.
Every quarterly update is stored with the exact figures submitted, the timestamp, and the HMRC confirmation reference — a complete audit trail.
What is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) is HMRC's requirement for landlords and self-employed individuals to keep digital records and submit quarterly updates of their income and expenses directly to HMRC. From April 2026, if your gross rental income exceeds £50,000, you must submit four quarterly updates per year and one year-end finalisation. The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028.
Under MTD, you no longer submit a single annual Self Assessment return for your rental income. Instead, you make four quarterly updates (by 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May), followed by a final declaration confirming your year-end position. RentalBux handles all of this automatically — calculating your figures, submitting them to HMRC, and storing the confirmation receipts.
Why RentalBux is the right MTD software for landlords
Most MTD software was built for general accounting and adapted for landlords. RentalBux was built by UK Property Accountants — specifically for landlords — from day one. That means Section 24 mortgage interest restrictions applied automatically. Joint ownership profit splits calculated and submitted correctly. Overseas property income tracked and reported in the right HMRC income stream without any manual configuration.
The quarterly submission process, step by step
Each quarter, RentalBux automatically calculates your total rental income and allowable expenses from the transactions you've recorded and categorised. The MTD module presents these figures for your review — you can drill down to see exactly which transactions are included. Once satisfied, you click Submit to HMRC. RentalBux sends the data via HMRC's MTD API and HMRC sends back an acknowledgement within seconds. RentalBux stores the confirmation reference in your submission history. You're done — the whole process takes under 5 minutes when your records are up to date.
Frequently asked questions
From April 2026, MTD is mandatory for landlords with gross rental income above £50,000. The threshold drops to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. Landlords below the relevant threshold in a tax year are exempt for that year.
HMRC operates a penalty points system. Each missed quarterly submission earns one point. Accumulate four points within 12 months and you receive a £200 penalty. Points reset after a period of full compliance. Late submission penalties are in addition to any tax owed.
No. RentalBux is designed for landlords to file their own quarterly updates without accountant involvement. However, many landlords do involve their accountant for the final year-end declaration. Quarterly submissions are straightforward to self-file with records kept up to date in RentalBux.
Yes. The ‘Landlord + Self Employment’ plan manages both income streams in one account — submitting Property Income and Self-Employment quarterly updates separately to HMRC from a single RentalBux account.
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