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- Landlord software (UK)
135 HMRC-recognised products that support UK property income. Filter by free version, bridging and foreign property.
- Sole trader software
147 HMRC-recognised products that support self-employment income, including CIS for subcontractors.
- Landlord tax calculator
Estimate the Income Tax on your rental profit for 2026 to 2027, including the 20% mortgage interest tax credit.
- Making Tax Digital for Income Tax explained
Who needs it, when it starts, quarterly updates and what software has to do.
- Software with a free version
The 37 products HMRC shows with a free version. Free versions may have limits.
- Landlord tax guide
How rental profit is taxed: allowable expenses, the £1,000 property allowance, mortgage interest and the 2027 property rates.
The thresholds on GOV.UK (checked 27 October 2026): over £50,000 in 2024 to 2025 → from 6 April 2026; over £30,000 in 2025 to 2026 → from 6 April 2027; over £20,000 in 2026 to 2027 → from 6 April 2028. Source: GOV.UK: find out if and when you need to use MTD for Income Tax.
MTD checker: do you need Making Tax Digital, and when?
Use gross income before expenses (turnover) from your tax return, or your best estimate for a year you have not filed yet. Include UK and foreign property if you are UK resident. Leave out wages, dividends, pensions and partnership profit.
Enter your income to see your result.
Not tax advice. This site explains GOV.UK guidance in plain English. Your own position depends on your tax returns and circumstances. Check GOV.UK or ask an accountant before you act.
What MTD for Income Tax means in practice
- 4 updates a yearDue 7 Aug, 7 Nov, 7 Feb and 7 May. Each one is a running total for the tax year so far.
- 31 JanuaryThe tax return and your tax bill are still due by 31 January after the tax year, sent through your software.
- No points for 2026 to 2027No penalty points for late quarterly updates this tax year. Points apply from 2027 to 2028.
You need HMRC-recognised software that can keep digital records, send quarterly updates and submit your tax return. Spreadsheets are allowed if you link them to bridging software. Read the plain-English guides for landlords and sole traders.
Two things people get wrong
It is your combined income that counts
Self-employment and property income are added together. GOV.UK's own example is £25,000 of rent and £27,000 from self-employment: £52,000 of qualifying income. That person needed MTD from April 2026 even though neither income is over £50,000 on its own.
It is turnover, not profit
Qualifying income is the amount before expenses. A landlord with £35,000 of rent and £20,000 of costs still has £35,000 of qualifying income.
Questions
What is Making Tax Digital for Income Tax?
It is a new way for sole traders and landlords to do Self Assessment. You keep digital records in compatible software, send a short summary (a quarterly update) to HMRC every 3 months, then submit your tax return through the software by 31 January. Source: GOV.UK.
Who has to use it and when?
Sole traders and landlords registered for Self Assessment whose qualifying income was over £50,000 in 2024 to 2025 had to start from 6 April 2026. Over £30,000 in 2025 to 2026 means from 6 April 2027. Over £20,000 in 2026 to 2027 means from 6 April 2028.
What counts as qualifying income?
Your total self-employment and property income before expenses (turnover), and only your share if a property is jointly owned. Wages (PAYE), dividends, pensions and your share of partnership profit do not count. GOV.UK's example: £25,000 rent plus £27,000 self-employment is £52,000. See GOV.UK: work out your qualifying income.
Is it monthly?
No. Updates are quarterly: every 3 months, due 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. You can send them more often if you want, but you do not have to.
Does MTD replace my tax return?
No. Quarterly updates are summaries, not tax returns. You still submit one tax return a year and pay your tax by 31 January after the end of the tax year, using your software.
Is exactly £50,000 over the threshold?
No. GOV.UK says your qualifying income must be more than the threshold, so exactly £50,000 (or £30,000, or £20,000) is not over it.
Is this checker official?
No. It is an independent estimate. HMRC has its own official checker and writes to people it thinks need to sign up. Even without a letter, it is still your responsibility to check.