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For landlords and small property businesses, keeping up with tax rules and regulations has never been more complicated. First there’s the rental income rules and the allowable expenses, then there’s capital gains tax and stamp duty land tax, and now, on the horizon we have Making Tax Digital, which is going to drastically change the way we pay income tax.
You would be forgiven for finding all of this a bit too much.
That last factor, Making Tax Digital, could present opportunities to make your lives easier if you start taking action now. With proactive tax management, not only will you be able to comply with the requirements for MTD, but you can simplify everything to do with tax – track rental income, categorise expenses and keep accurate digital records.
That’s why we’ve created this guide for self-managing landlords, portfolio landlords and small property businesses who want to get ahead of the game by embracing property tax management software. We’ll run through the best tools that will save you time, money and an awful lot of stress.
UK-Specific Tax and MTD Challenges
As you will have heard, the UK tax system is undergoing major reform. From April 2026, landlords earning over £50,000 in rental income will be required to keep digital records and file quarterly updates under MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA). From 2027, this extends to those earning over £30,000.
Having MTD compatible software isn’t a suggestion, it’s going to be a requirement. You will need to use, and be familiar with, software that can:
- Maintain digital records in HMRC-compatible formats
- Handle quarterly updates and align with SA105 forms
- Automate data entry from bank feeds and rental payments
- Track tax liability in real time to avoid unexpected tax bills
- Provide transparency across all of your properties and income streams
For many landlords, this is going to mean a major change to the way you keep your records. Spreadsheets and manual bookkeeping just won’t do anymore.
Must-Have Features Your Tools Should Have
Before we list some of the best property management software solutions that will help you comply with the impending changes, we thought we should run through some of the main features that you should be looking for.
First of all, and this is the obvious place to start, it needs to be HMRC-approved MTD compliant. HMRC will only accept submissions from certain software. So before you look anywhere else, make sure your new software is MTD compatible.
These other features are not quite as important, but are still features that you should look for:
- Real-time bank feeds – Automated reconciliation with your bank accounts will help reduce data entry errors and keep your financial records accurate.
- Rent & expense tagging per property – Essential for tracking rental profits, allowable expenses and mortgage interest deductions.
- Tax summary & SA105 mapping – Save time by generating reports aligned with self assessment tax returns.
- Tax forecasts and budgeting – Insight into future tax liability, helping you plan for due dates and avoid penalties. You’ll be able to budget and prevent any nasty surprises.
- Accountant access or data export – Tools that let you share data easily with your accountant improve compliance and accuracy.
How We Selected These Tools
We know the industry inside-out, so we applied that knowledge when we were compiling this list. This is what we were looking for:
- HMRC-recognised or pledged for MTD compliance
- Designed with landlords or property tax obligations in mind
- Suitable for both residential landlords and small property businesses
- Proven in the UK market with transparent pricing and positive user feedback
Tool Reviews & Feature Summaries
1. Landlord Vision
Best for: Landlords who want one platform to handle both property management and tax.
Overview:
Landlord Vision is built from the ground up for UK landlords. Unlike generic accounting tools, it ties your rental income, expenses, and compliance documents directly to each property and tenancy. That means you’re not juggling different systems – everything from tenancy agreements to tax returns lives in one place. And with Making Tax Digital deadlines looming, that integration could save a lot of headaches.
Pricing: Plans start from £19.97 per month, with higher tiers for larger portfolios.
Key features:
The platform pulls in bank feeds automatically, so you’re not stuck re-entering transactions line by line. You can tag costs against the right property, see how allowable expenses affect your rental profits, and run forecasts that show your likely tax liability well before the HMRC due dates. It also stores financial records securely, so things like mortgage interest statements and receipts don’t get lost in drawers or inboxes. For landlords who want to cut down on admin, this is the stuff that makes the difference.
Strengths:
The true benefit of Landlord Vision is that it doesn’t stop at tax. It’s the complete property management solution which also manages maintenance, tenant communications and portfolio reporting. If you’ve ever felt the administrative burden of switching between apps and spreadsheets, this will save you an awful lot of time and stress.
2. Landlord Studio
Best for: Landlords who want to manage their tax from their phone.
Overview:
Landlord Studio is built around its mobile app, which makes it handy for landlords who’d rather snap receipts on the go than sit at a desk with a spreadsheet. It’s straightforward: link your bank, log your rental income, scan your expenses, and you’ve already got a head start on your next self assessment tax return. It will also help you plan your next tax payments.
Pricing: Free for up to three properties, with paid plans starting at about £12 a month.
Key features:
Every transaction can be tied back to the right property, so you know your numbers are accurate. Reports are formatted in a way that accountants actually want to see, which saves you from endless back-and-forth emails. The app also supports digital records for Making Tax Digital, so you’re not left scrambling in 2026.
Strengths:
It’s simple, affordable, and genuinely convenient. If you don’t need complex property management functions but want to keep HMRC happy with clean records, Landlord Studio does exactly that – without fuss.
3. Hammock
Best for: Landlords who want a clear picture of their finances, day to day.
Overview:
Hammock connects directly to your bank accounts, so instead of waiting for spreadsheets or end-of-year surprises, you see what’s happening in real time. Rent in, bills out, where the gaps are. It’s a bit like having a live dashboard for your property business. Do you know exactly how much tax you’ll owe if HMRC asked today? With Hammock, you probably would.
Pricing: Free to get started, with paid plans from around £8 per month.
Key features:
Every rent payment is automatically matched to the right tenant. Missed payments don’t get buried; the system flags them straight away. Expenses are tracked too, so by the time tax season rolls around you already have a breakdown of rental income, allowable expenses and even a forecast of your tax liability. That last one matters: instead of being hit with a big tax bill, you can plan months ahead.
Strengths:
Where Hammock shines is visibility. You don’t have to guess what your numbers look like; the software lays it out clearly, even if you own several properties. For landlords who’ve ever been caught off guard by due dates, this kind of early warning system is worth its weight in gold.
4. Xero
Best for: Landlords who already work with an accountant.
Overview:
Xero is one of the most recognised accounting tools in the UK. It wasn’t designed just for landlords, but because so many accountants use it, it’s often the easiest way to stay in sync with professional advice. For landlords whose property income sits alongside another business, Xero’s flexibility can be a real plus.
Pricing: Starts at £16 per month, with higher plans offering more features and users.
Key features:
It handles bank feeds, reconciles income and expenses, and supports full MTD compliance. You can set up categories to track property costs separately and generate reports that highlight your tax liability. And because most accountants are fluent in Xero, you don’t have to explain what you’re sending over – they’ll know how to work with it. Xero is often chosen by landlords who run their properties through a limited company, as it can handle both property finances and wider business accounting. That includes tracking your corporation tax position, so you’re ready when it’s time to pay corporation tax alongside your property accounts.
Strengths:
For landlords who want software that their accountant already understands, Xero saves time and avoids confusion. It’s not as property-specific as some tools here, but the trade-off is rock-solid accounting with a big ecosystem of integrations.
5. QuickBooks Online
Best for: Landlords who want a familiar accounting tool with strong tax features.
Overview:
QuickBooks is a big name in small business accounting, and it covers landlords too. It’s fully approved for Making Tax Digital and offers a wide set of tools for keeping on top of income tax and tax returns. If you want something mainstream and well-supported, QuickBooks is usually near the top of the list.
Pricing: Entry-level plans from £10 a month, rising up to £115 depending on features.
Key features:
Like Xero, QuickBooks brings in your bank transactions automatically. You can tag them against properties, generate clear reports, track finance costs, tax calculation and keep track of upcoming tax bills. There’s also a solid mobile app, so you don’t need to be at a desk to keep things updated.
Strengths:
QuickBooks is widely recognised, so finding accountant support is easy. It’s also flexible, which makes it a good option for landlords who have both rental and other income streams to manage.
6. FreeAgent
Best for: Small landlords and side-hustlers who want something simple.
Overview:
FreeAgent is a straightforward cloud accounting platform that’s popular with freelancers and small businesses. Many UK banks even offer it free with certain accounts, which makes it a cost-effective way to handle rental income alongside other earnings.
Pricing: Around £14.50 per month, or free through some bank accounts.
Key features:
FreeAgent shows a running timeline of your due dates and expected tax bills, which makes budgeting far less stressful. You can log allowable expenses, track financial records, and give your accountant access without hassle. Everything is stored digitally, ready for MTD.
Strengths:
Its big selling point is simplicity. For landlords with just a few properties, FreeAgent gives you enough functionality to stay compliant without drowning you in features you’ll never use.
7. Untied
Best for: Landlords who just want to handle self-assessment quickly.
Overview:
Untied is a mobile-first tax app aimed at making self assessment less painful. It’s not built for property specifically, but you can log rental income and expenses and file directly with HMRC from your phone. If you just want to get your tax returns done without spreadsheets, it’s a neat option.
Pricing: Starts from around £64.99 a year (roughly £5.40 a month).
Key features:
Untied keeps a running estimate of your tax owed and supports the quarterly updates required under MTD. It’s very lightweight, which makes it fast to set up, and the ability to file straight from the app means one less thing to worry about when deadlines loom.
Strengths:
It won’t manage your whole rental property business, but it doesn’t try to. For landlords with a single flat or a very small portfolio, Untied is a cost-effective way to pay tax and stay compliant without investing in a more complex system.
How to Choose the Right Tax Management Software
We have provided you with some great options there, but only you will know which one is the right option for your business. Here are some things to think about when considering your tax management software.
- Portfolio scale – Do you need detailed property-by-property breakdowns, or a broad accounting tool?
- Mobile access – On-the-go landlords may prefer Landlord Studio or Untied.
- Document storage and tenancy functions – Tools like Landlord Vision combine tax with wider property management.
- Accountant involvement – Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent work seamlessly with accountants.
- Budget vs feature depth – Hammock and Studio are cost-effective, but Landlord Vision offers the widest feature set.
Conclusion & Next Step
It can be difficult for landlords to keep on top of tax regulations in the UK, but it doesn’t need to be. Making Tax Digital does not need to be something to fear, it can be used to help you save time and money in the long run. All your record keeping in one place, neatly stored and easily accessible, with very little effort on your part.
Choosing the right property tax management software will change the way you work. Take the time to find the right one. Create a shortlist of options that suit your portfolio, and book a demo with those that offer it (you can book a Landlord Vision demo here). See first hand what a difference it could make top your business.
FAQs
Q: Which tools are fully HMRC-certified for MTD ITSA?
A: Landlord Vision, Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Hammock, and Untied are all HMRC-recognised or pledged for Making Tax Digital.
Q: Do any of these tools provide automated tax filing reminders?
A: Yes. Landlord Vision, Hammock and FreeAgent provide alerts for upcoming due dates and expected tax bills.
Q: Can I involve my accountant directly in any of the recommended solutions?
A: Yes. Most platforms allow data export or accountant access. Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent are especially popular with accountants, while Landlord Vision also provides secure sharing of financial records and compliance data.
