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.
Written Guides
MTD & Tax — all guides
Everything you need to understand MTD, connect to HMRC, and file quarterly updates with confidence.
01 - The MTD Module - Your Complete Hub for Making Tax Digital
Overview of the MTD dashboard, submission history and HMRC connection status
02 - Connecting to HMRC - Step by Step Guide
Authorise RentalBux via government gateaway in under 2-minutes - no bridging software
03 - Submitting Your MTD Quarterly Update - Step-by-step Walkthrough
From record review to confirmation receipt - the complete quarterly filing process
04 - What gets sent to HMRC - Understanding your MTD data
Exactly which income and expense figures are included in each quarterly submission
05 - MTD for Income Tax - Complete Beginners' Guide
What MTD is, who applies to, what you need to do and how RentalBux handles it all
06 - MTD Deadlines & Penalties - What You Need To know
£50k (2026), £30k (2027), £20k (2028) thresholds - and the penalty points system explained
07 - MTD for Joint Owners - How separate Filings Work
How RentalBux generates separate MTD submissions for each co-owner from shared records
08 - Correcting Errors after an MTD Submission
How to amend a previously submitted quarterly update and notify HMRC of the change
What's Covered?
01 - Direct HMRC Connection
Authorise RentalBux via Government Gateway in under 2 minutes. No bridging software. Submit quarterly updates directly from your account
02 - Automatic Quarterly Calculations
RentalBux totals your categorised income and expenses each quarter. You review the figures, confirm, and submit — no manual spreadsheet calculations
03 - Deadline Tracker & Reminders
Your MTD dashboard shows the next submission deadline with a countdown. Email reminders send before each due date
04 - Joint Owner MTD Filings
Each co-owner's profit share is calculated separately. RentalBux generates individual quarterly updates for each owner from the same shared property records
05 - UK & Foreign Property MTD
HMRC requires UK and foreign rental income reported separately. RentalBux routes each to the correct section of your submission automatically
06 - Full Submission History
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
Is MTD mandatory for all UK landlords?
MTD has been mandatory for landlords with gross rental income above £50,000 since April 2026. 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.
What happens if I miss a quarterly MTD submission?
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.
Do I need an accountant to file MTD?
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.
Can RentalBux handle MTD if I have both rental and self-employement income?
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.
Continue with more guides
Account & HMRC Connection Setup: - 7 Guides
Invoices & Accounting Records: - 14 Guides
Bank Reconciliation for MTD: 4 Guides
Still need help?
Our UK-based support team is here to help. Reach out by phone, email, or browse our resources.
Phone Number: +44 20 4591 1941
Email Support: support@rentalbux.com
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