TaxYearSheetsLast checked by hand against GOV.UK: 10 October 2026. Sources are linked in each section. HMRC updates its guidance, so always check the source before you act.
The short answer
For each property income and expense, your digital record must show:
- the amount
- the date the income was received or the expense incurred
- the category – MTD uses the same income and expense categories as Self Assessment
The records must be created and stored using software that works with MTD for Income Tax. You also keep your usual supporting documents (or copies), such as bank statements and invoices.
Source: GOV.UK – Create digital records.
The UK property categories
HMRC's update notice lists these categories for UK property:
| Property income | Property expenses |
|---|---|
| Total rent | Rent, rates, insurance and ground rents |
| Other income from property | Property repairs and maintenance |
| Premiums for the grant of a lease | Non-residential property finance costs |
| Reverse premiums and inducements | Residential property finance costs |
| Residential finance costs brought forward | |
| Legal, management and other professional fees | |
| Costs of services provided, including wages | |
| Travel expenses | |
| Other allowable property expenses |
Source: GOV.UK – Making Tax Digital for Income Tax update notice (section 2.1, UK property).
Simpler categories if your property turnover is under £90,000
If your total UK property turnover is less than £90,000, you can choose to categorise records in less detail for the tax year. But residential landlords must still:
- record whether each transaction is income or an expense, and
- for expenses, record whether it is a restricted finance cost (such as mortgage interest on a residential let).
If your turnover reaches £90,000, you must categorise all records for that income source in full before you can send your next quarterly update.
Source: GOV.UK – Simpler categorisation of your digital records.
Common landlord situations
- Several UK properties: they count as one UK property business, so you don't need separate digital records for each property. Your share of any jointly let property is part of the same business. (Many landlords still track each property for their own use – that's optional.)
- Jointly let property: you only record your share, and you can choose less detailed records. See MTD for joint property owners.
- Mortgage payments: record either just the interest, or the full payment and make an adjustment before you finalise your tax position.
- Letting agent pays you net rent: ask for the full rent before deductions, record that, and record the agent's fees and other expenses separately.
- Foreign property: separate records for each foreign property (and your share if it is jointly let), all treated as one foreign property business.
- Property allowance or Rent-a-Room: if you're in MTD, you may still need digital records of this income – GOV.UK gives worked examples.
Source: GOV.UK – Create digital records (landlord, part capital and part revenue, and net income sections).
When to record, and how long to keep records
- Create the digital records for an update period before you send that quarterly update, and by its deadline at the latest. GOV.UK suggests recording transactions as close to the date as possible.
- Keep digital records for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline for the tax year.
- If you keep records in a spreadsheet, you need bridging software to send updates, and the spreadsheet must be digitally linked to it – see Can I use a spreadsheet for MTD?
Source: GOV.UK – Create digital records. Deadlines: MTD quarterly deadlines 2026/27.
Not sure if you need MTD yet? Use the free MTD checker.
Questions
Do I need separate MTD records for each rental property?
Not for UK property. GOV.UK says all your UK properties are treated as one UK property business, so you do not need separate digital records for each one. Foreign property is different: you need separate records for each foreign property.
How long do I need to keep MTD digital records?
At least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline for the tax year – the same as for Self Assessment.
Do I still need receipts and bank statements?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must keep records as you normally do for Self Assessment, including the original records or supporting documents (or copies) such as bank statements and invoices.