Editorial round-up · 2026

Best landlord tax software (UK, 2026)

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) becomes mandatory from 6 April 2026 for landlords with £50k+ qualifying income, dropping to £30k from 6 April 2027 and £20k from 6 April 2028. We tested four platforms specifically on the tax layer — Section 24 modelling, SA105-shaped pack, MTD-dated quarterly summary, mileage log, joint-ownership splits — and ranked them on filing-grade output.

Last reviewed:19 April 2026Editor: Erdem Volkan

How we picked

We ran each tool through a simulated 2025–26 tax year for a higher-rate landlord with three properties, jointly owned, mortgaged and a 4-bed HMO with shared bills. Scoring axes: (a) Section 24 mortgage-interest restriction modelling, (b) SA105-shaped pack (UK property pages output), (c) MTD-dated quarterly summary on HMRC quarter-end dates, (d) Open Banking reconciliation, (e) joint-ownership ratio splits, (f) mileage log at HMRC 45p / 25p rates, (g) HMRC recognition for direct quarterly submission. Scores normalised 0–100 with HMRC recognition weighted 25%.

Top picks

1Best overall (HMRC-recognised filer)

Landlord Vision

HMRC-recognised, accounting-first.

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2Best for landlords who want a finance-first product

Hammock

MTD ITSA filing, Open Banking spine.

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3Best for tax-prep alongside compliance

LetCompliance

Tax-prep + compliance, not a filer.

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At a glance

Feature	Landlord Vision	Hammock	LetCompliance	FreeAgent
HMRC-recognised MTD ITSA quarterly submission
Open Banking reconciliation
Section 24 personal-vs-Ltd calculator	Basic
SA105-shaped Tax Pack (UK property pages)				Manual
MTD-dated quarterly summary on HMRC quarter-ends
Mileage log (45p / 25p HMRC rates)		Basic
Joint-ownership ratio splits			Basic	Manual
Compliance / Section 8 layer	Basic
Pricing starts at (2026)	£7.99/mo	£8/mo	£14.99/mo	Free with bank

The full ranking

1 Best overall (HMRC-recognised filer)

Landlord Vision

HMRC-recognised, accounting-first.

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Landlord Vision is HMRC-recognised for direct MTD ITSA quarterly submission and pairs Open Banking reconciliation with joint-ownership splits and a complete property-investor accounts model. It is the most complete tax-and-filing answer on this list. Compliance reminders are competent rather than deep; on a compliance round-up it slides down, but on this tax round-up it is the honest #1.

Strengths

HMRC-recognised MTD ITSA quarterly submission.
Open Banking reconciliation with rule-based categorisation.
Joint-ownership ratio splits.
SA105 property-pages output for year-end.

Gaps

Compliance reminder set is light vs LetCompliance / Arthur.
Pricing is per-tenancy, scales above 4 tenancies.

Pricing: From £7.99/mo Starter (4 tenancies, +VAT, 2026).
Best for: Landlords with £50k+ qualifying income who need direct MTD ITSA filing.

Read the full LetCompliance vs Landlord Vision comparison

2 Best for landlords who want a finance-first product

Hammock

MTD ITSA filing, Open Banking spine.

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Hammock is the most polished MTD-first product on this list — Open Banking is the spine, the UI is built around bank reconciliation and the quarterly submission flow is the cleanest we tested. The compliance layer is intentionally thin (you are not buying it for Section 8 or Awaab’s Law). For £50k+ landlords whose top pain is finance and filing, Hammock and Landlord Vision are the credible direct-filer options.

Strengths

HMRC-recognised MTD ITSA quarterly submission.
Best-in-class Open Banking reconciliation UI.
Joint-ownership splits.

Gaps

Compliance is reminder-only.
No Section 8 / Form 6A drafter.
Pricing per-property scales on portfolios.

Pricing: From £8/mo Basic (1–3 properties, +VAT, 2026).
Best for: Landlords whose primary pain is reconciling rent + expenses and submitting MTD.

Read the full LetCompliance vs Hammock comparison

3 Best for tax-prep alongside compliance

LetCompliance

Tax-prep + compliance, not a filer.

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LetCompliance is honest about its tax lane: we cover the 95% around filing (Section 24 personal-vs-Ltd calculator, SA105-shaped Tax Pack, MTD-dated quarterly summary on the actual HMRC quarter-end dates, mileage log at 45p / 25p) but we are not HMRC-recognised for the press-submit step. We earn rank 3 here because the prep layer is genuinely category-leading and pairs cleanly with Hammock or Landlord Vision — paste the totals across, file from there. For landlords whose primary pain is compliance and who want the tax shape ready for an accountant or a recognised filer, this is the honest fit.

Strengths

Section 24 personal-vs-Ltd calculator with year-by-year projection.
SA105-shaped Tax Pack export (CSV + PDF).
MTD-dated quarterly summary aligned to HMRC quarters.
Mileage log at HMRC 45p / 25p rates.

Gaps

Not HMRC-recognised for direct MTD ITSA submission.
No Open Banking reconciliation.

Pricing: £14.99/mo from 2 properties (2026).
Best for: Landlords who want compliance-first software with the tax shape ready for an accountant or a recognised filer.

Read the full LetCompliance vs LetCompliance comparison

4 Best free option for NatWest / RBS / Mettle customers

FreeAgent

General accounting (free with NatWest / RBS).

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FreeAgent is HMRC-recognised for MTD ITSA and is free if you bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle. It is general-purpose accounting rather than landlord-specific: there is no SA105 property-pages template baked in, no joint-ownership split logic, no Section 24 calculator and no compliance reminders. For a landlord who already uses FreeAgent for a Ltd company or freelance work and just needs MTD-recognised filing, it is a sensible add-on; as the primary landlord tool, Landlord Vision and Hammock are stronger.

Strengths

HMRC-recognised MTD ITSA submission.
Free for NatWest / RBS / Ulster / Mettle customers.
Strong general accounting and bank reconciliation.

Gaps

Not landlord-specific — no SA105 template, no Section 24, no compliance.
Joint-ownership splits require manual workarounds.

Pricing: Free with NatWest/RBS/Ulster/Mettle; otherwise from £19/mo (2026, see freeagent.com).
Best for: Landlords who already use FreeAgent for another business and want MTD filing in the same tool.

FAQs

Do I have to use HMRC-recognised software for MTD ITSA?

Yes for the actual submission. From 6 April 2026, landlords with £50k+ qualifying income must keep digital records and file quarterly updates plus a Final Declaration through HMRC-recognised software. Landlord Vision, Hammock and FreeAgent on this list are recognised; LetCompliance is not, so we ship the prep layer (Tax Pack, quarterly summary on the right dates) and you press submit in a recognised tool.

When do the MTD ITSA thresholds drop?

£50k+ qualifying income from 6 April 2026, £30k+ from 6 April 2027, £20k+ from 6 April 2028 (subject to confirmation). "Qualifying income" is gross self-employment + property income, not profit. Two properties at £12k each is £24k — below the 2028 threshold; add a third at £12k and you cross it.

Does any of this software calculate Section 24?

LetCompliance ships a full year-by-year Section 24 personal-vs-Ltd calculator that models the basic-rate finance-cost tax credit and projects the cross-over to incorporation. Landlord Vision shows a basic Section 24 figure in reports; Hammock and FreeAgent do not have a dedicated Section 24 modeller.

Can I use LetCompliance for tax if I already have an accountant?

Yes — this is the design. Most LetCompliance landlords export the SA105-shaped Tax Pack (CSV + PDF) at year end and hand it to their accountant. The accountant uploads the totals into their MTD-recognised filer and presses submit. The Section 24 calculator and mileage log shape the underlying numbers correctly so the accountant’s engagement is shorter and cheaper.

What if I have rental income below £20k?

You stay outside MTD ITSA mandation through the current programme. You still file an annual Self Assessment with the SA105 UK property pages — LetCompliance’s Tax Pack is shaped to fit those pages directly. Software is optional; the spreadsheet route still works at this scale, with all the deadline-tracking caveats elsewhere on this site.

How often do you re-test these tax products?

Quarterly, with an extra check around each HMRC announcement on MTD thresholds and recognised-software lists. Last verified 2026-04-19.

Try LetCompliance for free

14-day free trial, no card needed. See how the compliance score and Section 8 toolkit handle your portfolio before committing.

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