Making Tax Digital for Landlords: Have You Checked Your Start Date?

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is no longer something sitting on the horizon.

For some landlords, it has already started.

For others, April 2027 or April 2028 will be the important date.

The key message for landlords is simple:

Don’t wait until your start date to get organised.

Getting your records, software and property information in order early should make the transition considerably easier.

Which landlords need to use Making Tax Digital?

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is being introduced in stages.

Your start date depends on your qualifying income from property and self-employment.

The current timetable is:

Qualifying income over £50,000
Making Tax Digital applies from 6 April 2026

Qualifying income over £30,000
Making Tax Digital applies from 6 April 2027

Qualifying income over £20,000
Making Tax Digital applies from 6 April 2028

An important point for landlords is that qualifying income is based on your gross property and self-employment income before expenses.

It is not simply your taxable rental profit.

What changes under Making Tax Digital?

Landlords who fall within the rules will need to use compatible software to keep digital records of their property income and expenses.

The software is also used to send quarterly updates to HMRC and, ultimately, submit the relevant tax return information.

That means landlords who currently keep paperwork in different places, rely heavily on spreadsheets or only bring everything together at the end of the tax year may want to review how they work well before their MTD start date.

Why getting organised early matters

There’s nothing particularly appealing about discovering a few weeks before a deadline that your records aren’t quite as organised as you thought.

Preparing early gives you time to:

• check when MTD applies to you

• speak to your accountant or tax adviser

• identify suitable MTD-compatible software

• make sure your rental income records are complete

• review how property expenses are recorded

• get used to maintaining information digitally

• resolve any gaps before they become urgent

A few months of preparation is very different from trying to change everything at the last minute.

Don’t assume HMRC will remind you first

HMRC has begun signing up some people who should already be using Making Tax Digital for the 2026/27 tax year.

But landlords should still check their own position rather than wait for a letter or email.

If your qualifying income brings you within the rules, responsibility for being ready ultimately sits with you.

Where Personal Economy Lettings can help

We are not accountants and we don’t provide tax advice.

What we can do is help landlords with the property administration behind the figures.

That includes helping you keep clear rental information and records available, and we can also help you identify suitable software to support the new digital requirements.

For landlords using our services, rent monitoring and organised tenancy administration also mean there is already a clearer trail of information available when it is needed.

That can make conversations with your accountant considerably easier.

As Lisa Bailey of Personal Economy Lettings explains:

“Making Tax Digital is another good example of why getting organised early matters. You don’t want to be trying to find twelve months of information when a deadline is approaching. Good systems make everything easier.”

Take five minutes and check your position

If you haven’t yet done so, this week is a good time to find out exactly when MTD applies to you.

Check your qualifying income.

Check your start date.

Speak to your accountant.

And think about what software and information you will need.

You may not need to change everything today.

But knowing what is coming gives you time to prepare properly.

And if you’d like some help getting the property side organised, we’re happy to have a conversation.

Personal Economy Lettings

0117 9856703
personaleconomylettings.co.uk

Get organised early. Stay confidently in control.

 

Updated October 2026

Information only – this article provides general information and is not tax or accounting advice. Landlords should speak to their accountant or tax adviser about their individual circumstances.