How to choose the best MTD software for landlords
"Best" isn't one product — it's the tool that fits your portfolio. Here's the landlord's checklist for Making Tax Digital software, so you pick something that keeps your records straight and tells you which door makes money.
Buyer's guide · updated August 2026 · not tax advice.
Recognition for filing is set by HMRC — check GOV.UK.
Why the choice matters more than the price
From 6 April 2026, many landlords must keep digital records and send HMRC a quarterly update through compatible software. New to the rules? Start with our plain-English MTD for landlords guide first, then come back.
The tool you pick isn't just a filing box to tick four times a year — it's where your portfolio lives. Choose one that only spits out numbers for the return and you've done the work for HMRC's benefit, not yours. Choose well and the same records tell you which property is quietly losing money.
Compliant, but blind.
Plenty of tools will get your numbers to HMRC and stop there. You stay compliant and none the wiser — still not knowing your net profit per door after the mortgage. The best MTD software does both jobs at once:
- › Keeps you on the right side of HMRC
- › Turns the same data into a decision you can act on
- › Doesn't make you re-type a portfolio to get started
Compliance is the floor. Insight is the reason to bother.
Six things to check before you commit
Run any MTD tool past these. If it fails two or more, keep looking.
HMRC-compatible for filing
To send quarterly updates and your final declaration, the software must be on HMRC's recognised list. Confirm this on GOV.UK before you pay for anything.
Digital records that stick
Rent and expenses captured as you go, not re-entered in a panic at quarter-end. Digital record-keeping is the whole point of MTD.
Imports your existing data
You shouldn't have to re-key years of history. Good software reads the spreadsheet you already use — messy is fine — so switching isn't a project.
Built for a portfolio
Four properties or twenty-five — you need income and costs lined up door by door, not one lump total. Per-property is how landlords actually think.
Shows profit, not just totals
The best tools turn the same records into net profit per property, after the mortgage — so tax season also tells you which door to keep and which to question.
Priced for the value
Cheapest isn't best value if you lose hours to data entry. Weigh the fee against time saved and whether it answers a question you actually have.
Some landlords keep records in one tool and file with another recognised one. That's fine — just confirm the combination on GOV.UK and with your accountant.
Records that do a second job
Monkey Riot keeps your rental records digital and MTD-ready per property — and turns them into the number that actually matters: net profit per door, after the mortgage. You tidy up for HMRC and learn something worth knowing in the same move.
Keep your spreadsheet
Drop in the file you already use — messy is fine. No re-keying to go digital. More on switching →
Statements in automatically
Connect Gmail (read-only) and rent statements and invoices flow straight into the right property.
Records kept as you go
Income and costs captured per property all year — so quarter-end isn't a cliff edge.
One number per door
The Property Efficiency Score tells you which property makes money and which quietly loses it.
Portfolio, not a lump
Every door lined up side by side — built for 4 to 25 properties, not a single return.
Ahead of April 2026
Get your portfolio in order now, so the first MTD deadline is a non-event.
Monkey Riot keeps your records digital and MTD-ready. For submitting quarterly updates directly to HMRC, check GOV.UK's list of recognised software and confirm the right setup with your accountant.
Choosing MTD software, answered
What is the best MTD software for landlords? +
There's no single best MTD software for every landlord — it depends on how many properties you have, whether you self-file or use an accountant, and how your records are kept today. Look for software that keeps digital records, is compatible with HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, imports the data you already have, and shows profit per property rather than just totals for the return.
Does MTD software have to be recognised by HMRC? +
To send quarterly updates and your final declaration directly to HMRC, you must use software compatible with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. HMRC publishes a recognised list on GOV.UK. Some landlords keep records in one tool and file with another, recognised one — check GOV.UK and confirm with your accountant.
Is Monkey Riot MTD software? +
Monkey Riot keeps your rental records digital and MTD-ready and shows net profit per property. For filing quarterly updates directly to HMRC, check GOV.UK's list of recognised software and confirm the right combination with your accountant.
Can I use a spreadsheet instead of MTD software? +
Under MTD your records must be kept digitally and updates sent through compatible software, so a spreadsheet on its own isn't enough. Bridging software can connect a spreadsheet to HMRC, but many landlords find a purpose-built tool less fragile. Monkey Riot reads your existing spreadsheet as-is, so switching doesn't mean starting again. See our spreadsheet alternative guide.
How much should MTD software cost a landlord? +
Prices range from a few pounds a month for basic filing tools to more for software that also manages your portfolio. The cheapest option isn't always the best value — factor in the time saved on data entry and whether the tool shows you which properties actually make money, not just numbers for your return.
This page is general information about Making Tax Digital software, not tax, legal or financial advice. Which software is right depends on your circumstances; recognition for filing, thresholds and rules are set by HMRC and can change — always check GOV.UK and your accountant for your own situation.