Landlord Lookout: Making Tax Digital

Says whether a UK sole trader or landlord must use Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, from when, and why, using the qualifying income tests in HMRC's rules (SI 2026/336). Give the person's income types and, for each tax year you know, their qualifying income: self-employment turnover plus property income before expenses, counting only their share of jointly owned property. Returns the start date, the reasons, GOV.UK sources and a link to the matching Landlord Lookout page.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "income_types": {
      "type": "array",
      "description": "Every kind of income the person has. Only self_employment, uk_property and foreign_property count towards MTD; the others are accepted so the answer can say they do not count.",
      "items": {
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "self_employment",
          "uk_property",
          "foreign_property",
          "partnership",
          "employment",
          "pension",
          "savings",
          "dividends"
        ]
      },
      "minItems": 1,
      "uniqueItems": true
    },
    "qualifying_income_2024_25": {
      "type": "number",
      "minimum": 0,
      "description": "Qualifying income in pounds for the 2024-25 tax year (6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025): self-employment turnover plus rent and other property income before expenses, their share only. Over £50,000 means MTD from 6 April 2026. Leave out if not known."
    },
    "qualifying_income_2025_26": {
      "type": "number",
      "minimum": 0,
      "description": "Qualifying income in pounds for the 2025-26 tax year (6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026): self-employment turnover plus rent and other property income before expenses, their share only. Over £30,000 means MTD from 6 April 2027. Leave out if not known."
    },
    "qualifying_income_2026_27": {
      "type": "number",
      "minimum": 0,
      "description": "Qualifying income in pounds for the 2026-27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027): self-employment turnover plus rent and other property income before expenses, their share only. Over £20,000 means MTD from 6 April 2028. Leave out if not known."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "income_types"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Lists software from HMRC's list of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax software that meets the needs given, in fit order (no product pays for its place). Filters: income types, how records are kept now (spreadsheets needs bridging software), a free plan, number of properties, filing the year-end tax return, other income, VAT, Welsh, and where it runs. Each product comes with its price, why it fits, what to watch out for, its HMRC listing, the vendor's website and a link to Landlord Lookout.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "income_types": {
      "type": "array",
      "description": "Income the software must report. Leave out to search every product.",
      "items": {
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "self_employment",
          "uk_property",
          "foreign_property"
        ]
      },
      "uniqueItems": true
    },
    "records": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "spreadsheets",
        "paper_or_nothing",
        "software"
      ],
      "description": "How records are kept now. spreadsheets: only products that send figures from a spreadsheet (bridging). paper_or_nothing: only products that keep the records themselves. software or left out: no filter."
    },
    "free_plan": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "true: only products with a free plan that covers these needs (not free only with a business bank account)."
    },
    "properties": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "1",
        "2-3",
        "4-10",
        "11+"
      ],
      "description": "How many properties are let. Used to check free plan limits."
    },
    "files_tax_return": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "true: only products that also file the year-end tax return."
    },
    "other_income": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "yes",
        "no",
        "unsure"
      ],
      "description": "Whether wages, pensions, savings or dividends also go on the return. Products that cannot confirm this rank lower."
    },
    "vat_registered": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "true: only products that handle VAT."
    },
    "welsh": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "true: only products offered in Welsh."
    },
    "platforms": {
      "type": "array",
      "description": "Where it must run. Every value given must hold.",
      "items": {
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "iphone",
          "android",
          "desktop",
          "web"
        ]
      },
      "uniqueItems": true
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 25,
      "default": 10,
      "description": "How many products to return, 1 to 25. Default 10."
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Facts about one product on HMRC's list of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax software, by name: price, free plan, income types, whether it files the year-end tax return, VAT, Welsh, where it runs, its HMRC listing, the vendor's website and a link to Landlord Lookout. If several products match, returns their names to choose from.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "name": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "maxLength": 100,
      "description": "Product or vendor name, such as \"FreeAgent\" or \"Landlord Vision\"."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "name"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false
}

The next Making Tax Digital for Income Tax deadlines from today: the next quarterly update (with the period it covers) and the next Self Assessment tax return and payment date, plus the upcoming list, the penalty rules that apply now and a calendar feed. Give start_year to see only the dates for people who start MTD that year.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "start_year": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "2026",
        "2027",
        "2028"
      ],
      "description": "The April the person starts MTD (2026: income over £50,000 in 2024-25; 2027: income over £30,000 in 2025-26; 2028: income over £20,000 in 2026-27). Leave out for every deadline."
    },
    "count": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 12,
      "default": 6,
      "description": "How many upcoming deadlines to list, 1 to 12. Default 6."
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}