A Government Gateway user ID is HMRC's own login. You may already have one from a previous job, a tax return or a benefits claim, so it is worth checking before you create another. Having two accounts causes more problems than it solves.
Do you need one? For most TaxPro claims, no. We connect to HMRC on your behalf using the authorisation you have already given us. If you have been asked to sign in and you are not sure why, message us first and we will tell you whether it is actually needed for your claim.
What to have ready
Your National Insurance number
Your UK postcode
An email address you can access right now
Your phone, for the security code
Creating the account
Go to gov.uk/personal-tax-account and choose to create sign in details.
Enter your email address and confirm it using the code HMRC sends you. Check your junk folder if it does not arrive.
Enter your name, date of birth, National Insurance number and postcode. These must match HMRC's records exactly — one wrong digit in an NI number is the most common reason this step fails. Check yours against a payslip or P60.
Choose a password and save the user ID HMRC gives you. It is a 12-digit number and you will not be shown it again, so write it down or screenshot it now. 📝
Set up security codes to your phone. You will need a code every time you sign in, so use a number you will keep.
Two things that trip people up
Link an email address to the account. Without one you cannot recover your details online later, and HMRC will only reset it over the phone.
Keep the phone number current. If you change your number without updating HMRC, getting back in becomes much harder.
Already have an account and cannot get in? See the article on signing in problems instead, it covers forgotten user IDs, locked accounts and lost access codes.