Landlords with qualifying income over £50,000 have had to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax since April 2026, and the threshold falls to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. You do not need to pay for software to do it, but the free options differ a lot in what they cover for property income. This guide compares them on the questions that matter to landlords. If you would rather start from your situation, see the best free MTD software for a landlord. If you join in April 2027, see the best MTD software for landlords in 2027 for paid options too.
Five questions to ask of any free option
- Does it send the tax return, or only the quarterly updates? Some free landlord products only do the updates.
- Is there a limit on properties or units? Some free plans cover one property or up to three units.
- Does it handle joint ownership? You report only your share, and spouses are taxed 50/50 unless they have filed Form 17. See MTD for jointly owned property.
- Do you let property abroad? Foreign property is a separate business with its own updates, and not every product covers it.
- What keeps it free? A bank account you must hold, a per-submission charge, or an end date.
Free options for landlords
From each provider's own pages and HMRC's software finder, as at 27 September 2026:
| Product | Free for landlords? | Property covered | Things to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sage Sole Trader & Landlord Free | Yes | UK property; quarterly updates and tax return | One bank account; capped AI categorisation |
| Clear Books Free | Yes | UK and overseas residential lets; quarterly updates and tax return | No bank feed on the free plan |
| RentalBux Free | One property unit | UK and foreign property; quarterly updates and tax return | Free until March 2028; statements imported by hand |
| GetGround Basic | Yes | UK property; quarterly updates | Tax return only in the paid Core plan |
| Landlord Studio MTD Go | 1 to 3 units | UK property; quarterly updates | £5 per MTD submission |
| FreeAgent | With a NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank business account, or Mettle used monthly | UK property; quarterly updates and tax return | Landlord plan £10 a month plus VAT otherwise |
| ANNA | Yes, for 2026/27 | Built for landlords | Free offer covers the 2026/27 filings |
| Monzo | With a Monzo Business account | UK property; quarterly updates and tax return | Needs a Monzo Business account |
| VoxaMTD | Yes | UK property; quarterly updates (final declaration coming before April 2027) | No foreign property |
If you also have self-employment income, check the product covers that too. Of the free options above, GetGround and Landlord Studio are property only.
Paid options worth knowing
Hammock is built for landlords and priced by portfolio size, from £8 a month plus VAT for up to three properties after a 30-day trial, and it covers foreign property. FreeAgent's landlord plan is £10 a month plus VAT. Xero's Simple plan, £7 a month plus VAT, covers MTD for Income Tax for a landlord, and Xero is listed in HMRC's software finder for foreign property.
What landlord MTD software has to handle
- One UK property business. All your UK lets go into one quarterly update, not one per property, though per-property figures help you see which ones pay.
- Residential finance costs. Even if you use simpler categories because your turnover is under £90,000, you must still record which expenses are residential finance costs, such as mortgage interest.
- Gross rent. If a letting agent or platform pays you after fees, record the full rent and the fees separately. See MTD when you use a letting agent.
- Year-end adjustments. Capital allowances, Rent a Room relief and the like are handled before the tax return.
VoxaMTD for landlords
VoxaMTD's free plan sends your UK property quarterly updates directly to HMRC's live Making Tax Digital service. The year-end final declaration is coming before April 2027, in time for the 2026 to 2027 tax year (first due 31 January 2028). It connects one bank through open banking, takes CSV and Excel uploads, suggests categories with AI, shows figures per property, applies ownership shares for jointly owned property, and includes a Section 24 calculator. There is no cap on properties or transactions, though the free plan limits you to two tenancies and three stored documents.
Know its limits before you choose it. It does not cover foreign property, and it uses the standard update periods only. Paid landlord plans, from £8.99 a month, add more bank connections and tenancies, compliance tools and the Alex AI accountant.
Start free, no card needed · Making Tax Digital for landlords
Competitor details are taken from each provider's own website and HMRC's software finder on 27 September 2026, and prices exclude VAT unless stated. Check each provider's site before you decide.