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UK landlords · Income Tax · Get ready for April 2027

Making Tax Digital
for landlords.

If your rent and any self-employed income came to more than £30,000 before expenses in 2025–26, you’ll need to keep digital records and send HMRC quarterly updates from 6 April 2027. Here’s what that means and how to get ready.

Check if it applies to you

Plain-English summary of HMRC guidance.
Not tax advice.

By Lewis Danks at SproutletChecked Official sources ↓

01 /

Does it apply
to you?

It applies to landlords and sole traders registered for Self Assessment whose qualifying income is over the threshold. HMRC uses the tax return for the year shown.

Qualifying incomeIn tax yearYou start
Over £50,0002024–256 April 2026 (already started)
Over £30,0002025–266 April 2027
Over £20,0002026–276 April 2028

What counts as qualifying income

Your total income from UK and overseas property and self-employment, before expenses. It’s not your profit.

Wages from a job, pensions, dividends and a share of partnership profits don’t count towards it.

Jointly owned property

Only your share of the income counts. If you own a flat equally with a sibling and it brings in £20,000, your share is £10,000. If you’re only told your share after expenses, HMRC uses that figure.

Some people can get an exemption. Check the exemptions on GOV.UK.

02 /

What changes
in practice.

You keep records as you go and send running totals four times a year. The tax return and payment dates stay the same.

  1. Digital recordsFor each item of income or expense, record the amount, the date and a category, using compatible software.
  2. Quarterly updatesSend HMRC totals for each category. Each update covers the year so far, not just the last three months.
  3. Tax returnSubmit it by 31 January after the tax year ends, as now. Keep bank statements and invoices as supporting records.

Standard quarterly update deadlines

Update coversSend by
6 April to 5 July7 August
6 April to 5 October7 November
6 April to 5 January7 February
6 April to 5 April7 May

You can choose calendar quarters instead, before your first update of the year. Missing the tax return deadline gets a late submission penalty point.

03 /

Can I keep using
a spreadsheet?

Yes, if it’s linked to software that sends the updates to HMRC. That’s often called bridging software.

Simpler categories under £90,000

If your turnover is under £90,000, you only need to record whether each item is income or an expense.

Residential landlords also need to mark finance costs such as mortgage interest, because tax relief on them is restricted.

Jointly let property

You can keep less detailed records for jointly let property. You can also leave its expenses out of your quarterly updates and add them before you send your tax return.

About our free spreadsheetSproutlet’s free landlord spreadsheet is not Making Tax Digital software and can’t send anything to HMRC. It records rent and costs with dates, amounts and the same expense categories as the Self Assessment return, with totals by box, which makes it easier to move to MTD software or pass figures to an accountant.

04 /

Get ready
this winter.

If you might be over £30,000 for 2025–26, you have until 6 April 2027. That’s the tax year your return is due for by 31 January 2027.

  1. 1. Add up your incomeTotal the rent received in 2025–26, before expenses, plus any self-employed income. Use your share for joint property.
  2. 2. Choose softwareUse HMRC’s list of compatible software, or ask your accountant what they use. Some work alongside a spreadsheet.
  3. 3. Tidy your recordsMake sure every payment in and out has a date, an amount and a category, and that receipts are easy to find.
  4. 4. Sign upFollow HMRC’s guidance on signing up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
Does it apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Yes. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is run by HMRC for Self Assessment across the UK.

Do I need an accountant?

No, but you can use one. An accountant or agent can send the updates for you using their own software.

My income is under £20,000. Does anything change?

Not under the dates announced so far. Keep your Self Assessment records as usual, and check GOV.UK if your income grows.

Is Sproutlet Making Tax Digital software?

No. Sproutlet’s app is still in development and isn’t on HMRC’s list. Use HMRC’s list to choose software.

Check the official guidance

These HMRC pages set out the rules this guide summarises.

Tidy records make it easier.

Start with dated rent and costs in one place, then choose the software that sends them to HMRC.

Sproutlet’s app is still in development. These resources are free to use now.

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