Latch vs QuickBooks for MTD: Do Landlords Need an Accounting Giant?
QuickBooks supports MTD but it is built for general business accounting. Compare its MTD features with Latch's purpose-built landlord compliance tools.
The Latch Team
Editorial
QuickBooks is one of the most recognised accounting brands in the world. Intuit's UK version supports Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment, making it an option for landlords approaching their MTD obligations. But QuickBooks is built for general business accounting, not for landlords.
Latch is purpose-built for UK landlords with MTD compliance included free for up to 3 leases. This comparison examines whether an accounting giant or a specialist landlord tool is the smarter choice for MTD compliance.
The answer depends on your portfolio size, your accounting expertise, and whether you need property management alongside tax compliance.
Quick MTD Comparison: Latch vs QuickBooks
| Feature | Latch | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Free MTD Access | Yes — free for up to 3 leases | No — 30-day trial only, then £12+/month |
| Built for Landlords | Yes — property-specific workflows | No — general business accounting |
| Digital Record Keeping | Yes — landlord-focused categories | Yes — full business accounting |
| Quarterly Submissions | Yes — quarterly summary generation | Yes — MTD quarterly filing |
| HMRC API Integration | Yes — direct HMRC submission | Yes — direct HMRC submission |
| Bank Feed Integration | Yes — Open Banking | Yes — Open Banking |
| AI Categorisation | Yes — Matt the AI agent (paid plan) | Rule-based categorisation |
| Property Compliance | Yes — Gas, EICR, EPC, deposit tracking | No — no property features |
| Tenant Management | Yes — full tenant and lease lifecycle | No — no tenant features |
| Learning Curve | Low — designed for non-accountants | Moderate to steep — accounting terminology throughout |
MTD Pricing Comparison
Latch Free
£0
forever
Up to 3 leases, all core MTD features
Latch Pro
£20
per month
Up to 8 leases, Matt AI agent, full property management
QuickBooks Simple Start
£12
per month
Basic accounting, 1 user, limited features
QuickBooks Essentials
£22
per month
Bills management, 3 users
QuickBooks Plus
£32
per month
Project tracking, inventory, 5 users
QuickBooks offers no free tier and no permanent free option. After a 30-day trial, you pay a minimum of £12 per month (£144 per year). Most landlords needing proper expense management would require the Essentials plan at £22 per month (£264 per year).
Latch is free for landlords with up to 3 leases. For larger portfolios, Latch Pro at £20 per month is cheaper than QuickBooks Essentials while including property management features QuickBooks completely lacks.
QuickBooks often runs promotional discounts (such as 50% off for the first 6 months). But promotional pricing expires and the standard rate applies. Plan for the full price when comparing annual costs.
MTD Feature Deep Dive
Digital Record Keeping
QuickBooks provides solid business accounting with expense tracking, invoicing, and bank reconciliation. For landlords, you need to manually set up income categories for rental income and expense categories matching HMRC requirements. The software does not guide you through landlord-specific categorisation.
Latch provides landlord-specific digital records from the start. Categories are pre-configured for rental income and allowable expenses. Guided workflows help you assign transactions correctly without accounting expertise.
Quarterly Submissions
Both platforms support direct MTD quarterly submissions to HMRC. QuickBooks has experience with MTD for VAT and now supports Income Tax Self Assessment. Latch generates quarterly summaries tailored to rental income reporting.
The Complexity Problem
QuickBooks is powerful but complex. The interface uses accounting terminology throughout: chart of accounts, journal entries, reconciliation workflows, and reporting dimensions. For landlords without an accounting background, the learning curve is steep.
A common pattern: a landlord signs up for QuickBooks, spends several hours trying to configure it for rental properties, and either gives up or pays their accountant to set it up. That accountant setup cost adds to the total expense of MTD compliance.
Latch uses plain language and landlord-specific workflows. Add a property, connect your bank, categorise transactions with guided prompts. No chart of accounts configuration required.
Property Management
QuickBooks has no concept of properties, tenants, leases, or compliance certificates. It is a financial tool only. All property management happens outside the platform.
Latch combines MTD compliance with property management: tenant records, lease tracking, compliance certificate reminders, maintenance management, and rent collection. Your MTD data is connected to your actual property operations.
QuickBooks MTD Pros and Cons
QuickBooks MTD
Pros
- Established accounting platform with strong reputation
- Direct HMRC API integration for MTD
- Good bank feed integration
- Widely used by UK accountants
- Full invoicing and billing capabilities
- Mobile app for expense capture
Cons
- No free tier — minimum £12/month after trial expires
- Not landlord-specific — requires manual configuration
- Steep learning curve for non-accountants
- No property compliance tracking
- No tenant management or lease features
- Promotional pricing can be misleading about long-term cost
Latch MTD Pros and Cons
Latch MTD
Pros
- Free MTD compliance for up to 3 leases
- Purpose-built for landlords — no accounting setup needed
- Low learning curve with guided workflows
- Full property management alongside MTD
- AI-powered categorisation via Matt on paid plans
- Direct HMRC API integration
Cons
- Free tier capped at 3 leases
- Less general accounting functionality than QuickBooks
- No invoicing or billing features
- AI features require paid plan
- Smaller integration ecosystem
The Latch Approach: Why We Made MTD Free
Landlords should not need an accounting degree to comply with MTD. We built Latch so that any landlord can be compliant in minutes, not hours. And for landlords with up to 3 leases, we made it free because MTD is a government mandate, not a premium feature.
Verdict
Latch vs QuickBooks for MTD
QuickBooks is a capable accounting platform, but for landlord MTD compliance specifically, it is expensive and complex compared to purpose-built alternatives. Latch offers free MTD for up to 3 leases, landlord-specific workflows, and property management in a single platform. For landlords whose accountant already uses QuickBooks and manages their books, staying with QuickBooks makes sense. For self-managing landlords, Latch is simpler, cheaper, and more relevant.
Best for: Latch is best for self-managing landlords wanting simple, free, purpose-built MTD compliance. QuickBooks is best for landlords whose accountants already use it or who need general business accounting alongside property income.
Simple MTD Compliance for Landlords
No accounting degree required. Latch gives you landlord-specific MTD compliance in minutes. Free for up to 3 leases, no credit card required.
Ready to simplify your property management?
Create your free account today and see how organized financial tracking can streamline your portfolio.
Get Started with LatchDisclaimer: This article provides general information about MTD software options and pricing. It does not constitute tax advice. Software pricing is based on published rates as of February 2026 and may change. Promotional discounts may apply for limited periods. Consult a qualified accountant or tax adviser for advice specific to your circumstances.
