How to Log In to My HMRC Account

Guidance checked against GOV.UK on 22 September 2026.

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To log in to your HMRC account, open the official HMRC login page on GOV.UK and select “Sign in”. Enter the Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login details you already use for HMRC, then complete the security checks.

If you cannot get in—or can sign in but cannot find the tax service you need—the next step depends on where the process stops.

HMRC Login: Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login?

Government Gateway uses a user ID and password. GOV.UK One Login uses an email address and password. Existing HMRC users should continue with their current credentials; having One Login for another government service does not mean you should switch from Government Gateway.

If you have never used HMRC online services, select “Create new sign in details”, even if you already have One Login elsewhere. HMRC will direct you through the appropriate setup. Check HMRC’s sign-in instructions.

Keep your security-code device available. For personal tax accounts, HMRC may also ask you to prove your identity, normally using photo ID such as a passport or driving licence. Follow the requirements displayed during your application. Personal tax account guidance.

HMRC Login Not Working? Find Your Next Step

Your problem	What to do
Forgotten Government Gateway user ID or password	Use the recovery or reset options shown during sign-in.
Changed phone number or cannot receive a Government Gateway access code	Enter your user ID and password, then select “You can get help” on the access-code screen. Follow the instructions to change the delivery method.
Locked out after incorrect Government Gateway attempts	Wait two hours for the account to unlock. HMRC helpdesk advisers cannot unlock it sooner.
GOV.UK One Login credentials are not working	Follow the separate One Login support route linked from HMRC’s sign-in help page.
HMRC displays a service error	Check service availability through HMRC’s help page before trying again.
You can sign in, but Self Assessment is missing	Check your Self Assessment registration and online-service access. A password reset does not establish your tax registration.

The Government Gateway recovery instructions above come from HMRC’s sign-in troubleshooting guide. That page also provides access to HMRC’s digital assistant and, where available, adviser webchat.

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Choose the Right Tax Account

Your personal tax account helps you check your tax code, review employment income and manage Self Assessment. It can also display your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you already have one. Access your personal tax account.

For company and employer matters, use HMRC’s business tax services, including Corporation Tax, VAT and employer PAYE. Childcare accounts and Capital Gains Tax on UK property use separate sign-in routes, linked from the HMRC online services page.

Logging In Does Not Complete Your Tax Registration

Creating HMRC sign-in details does not register you for Self Assessment. GOV.UK provides a separate registration service. Check the personal tax account guidance.

Consider someone who has always used their account to check a PAYE tax code and has now started self-employment. Their existing login may work perfectly, but they still need to establish whether they must register for Self Assessment and complete the relevant steps.

At Naail & Co, we recommend checking three things before a filing deadline: can you sign in, is the required tax registration complete, and can you access the relevant service? Treating these as separate checks helps identify the actual problem sooner.

Appointing an accountant is another separate step. Keep passwords and security codes private and use the appropriate HMRC agent-authorisation process. HMRC expressly says you must not give an agent your sign-in credentials. Read HMRC’s authorisation guidance.

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Get Your Tax Affairs Moving Again

Start with the official HMRC login and match any access problem to the guidance above. Once you can sign in, check that the tax service you need is available before leaving the task until a deadline.

For help with Self Assessment registration, preparing your tax return or understanding your obligations, Naail & Co Chartered Certified Accountants and Tax Advisors can help you take the next step.

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Frequently Asked Questions About HMRC Login

HMRC Login is the sign-in process for accessing HM Revenue & Customs’ online tax services. Depending on your account and registrations, you can check your tax code, manage Self Assessment or access business taxes. Start from the official HMRC sign-in page and choose the service relevant to your circumstances.

Government Gateway uses a user ID and password, while GOV.UK One Login uses an email address and password. Continue using the credentials you already use for HMRC. Having One Login for another government service does not automatically replace your Government Gateway account. First-time HMRC users should follow the “Create new sign in details” route. HMRC sign-in guidance.

Creating HMRC sign-in details and accessing your online tax account is free. You do not need to pay an intermediary simply to obtain access. An accountant may charge separately for registration assistance, tax advice or preparing returns. Those professional fees are distinct from using HMRC’s own online services.

Yes, you can recover a forgotten Government Gateway user ID or reset your password through the sign-in process. Follow the recovery instructions shown on screen rather than repeatedly guessing your details. If you use GOV.UK One Login, follow its separate support route. HMRC’s sign-in help page directs you to the appropriate assistance.

Yes, you can update how you receive your Government Gateway access code. Enter your user ID and password, then select “You can get help” when asked for the code. Follow the instructions to change the delivery method; identity checks may be required. For One Login, use its separate recovery guidance. HMRC access-code help.

Government Gateway locks your account after too many incorrect sign-in attempts. HMRC says it unlocks after two hours, and helpdesk advisers cannot unlock it sooner. Once access is restored, use the recovery process if you remain unsure of your credentials. This two-hour guidance applies to Government Gateway. HMRC account-lockout guidance.

Having HMRC sign-in details does not automatically register you for Self Assessment. Whether registration is necessary depends on your circumstances and any requirement from HMRC to submit a return. For example, someone who previously checked only their PAYE tax code may need separate registration after starting self-employment. GOV.UK distinguishes account access from Self Assessment registration.

Check your HMRC access several weeks before you intend to file, leaving time to resolve registration or security problems. For 2025/26, the usual online filing and balancing-payment deadline is 31 January 2027. If you need to notify HMRC that you must file, the relevant notification deadline is generally 5 October 2026. Check your circumstances against HMRC’s deadlines.

Yes, your personal tax account lets you check your Income Tax estimate and tax code, and claim a tax refund where applicable. It also provides access to employment-income information and certain personal details. Accessing the account does not itself establish that a refund is due; your underlying tax position determines entitlement. Personal tax account services.

No, you must not give your HMRC sign-in credentials to an accountant or anyone else. Your accountant should use the appropriate agent-authorisation process to act for you. Authorisation allows agreed representation without sharing your password, but you remain responsible for your tax affairs. HMRC’s agent-authorisation guidance.