How to Create Your Personal Tax Account Online

To create a personal tax account online, go to GOV.UK, choose “Create new sign in details” on the HMRC sign-in page, set up either a Government Gateway user ID or GOV.UK One Login, then prove your identity using photo ID and your National Insurance number. The whole process takes about 15 minutes if your documents are to hand.¹ The account itself is free and lets you check your tax code, view income history, claim refunds, manage Self Assessment, and update personal details without phoning HMRC.

What to Have Ready

Missing one item can stall the whole setup, so gather these first:

Your National Insurance number. It appears on payslips, your P60, and DWP letters. If you cannot find it anywhere, you can request it through GOV.UK using a passport or driving licence.²³
Photo ID. A UK passport, UK photocard driving licence, biometric residence permit, or biometric residence card works. An expired biometric residence permit is still accepted up to 18 months after the expiry date.⁴
A mobile phone or tablet. You need it to receive security codes during setup and for two-factor authentication every time you sign in afterwards.

Depending on the verification route, the system may also ask questions drawn from your credit record, such as the start date of a mortgage or details of a mobile phone contract. You do not need to look these up in advance, but it helps to know they may appear.

Creating Your Sign-In Details

HMRC online services accept two types of login: a Government Gateway user ID or GOV.UK One Login credentials. On the sign-in page, choose “Create new sign in details” and the system will route you to whichever applies.⁵ Even if you already use GOV.UK One Login for another government service, you may still be asked to create separate credentials for HMRC. Follow the on-screen prompts rather than assuming an existing login carries over.

The Government Gateway Route

Enter an email address and confirm it using the code the system emails you. Set a password. The system then generates a user ID of up to 12 characters and emails that to you as well. That ID is your permanent username, so save it somewhere safe.⁶ If you lose it later, you can recover it from the sign-in page.⁷

The GOV.UK One Login Route

GOV.UK One Login uses only your email address and a password. There is no separate user ID to remember. You create the account or sign in with your email, set a password, and then move straight into identity verification. This is the newer system, and the government is rolling it out across services.⁵

Proving Your Identity

After your sign-in details are created, the system will tell you whether you need to prove your identity. Most people do. There are three routes, and which are available depends on the documents you hold and the device you are using.⁴

The GOV.UK ID Check App

This is the fastest option. Download the GOV.UK ID Check app to your phone, photograph your passport or driving licence, let the app scan the biometric chip, then scan your face so the system can match you against the document photo. Accepted documents include a UK passport, UK photocard driving licence, non-UK passport with a biometric chip, biometric residence permit, biometric residence card, or Frontier Worker permit.⁴

Online and at a Post Office

If the app is not an option because of your phone or your document, you can enter your ID details online and then visit a participating Post Office, where staff scan your photo ID and take your picture to match against the document. This route accepts a UK or non-UK passport, a UK or EU photocard driving licence, or a national identity card from an EU country, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.⁴

Security Questions Online

If you have no photo ID and cannot get to a Post Office, you may be offered knowledge-based verification questions drawn from your credit record. These cover things like your mobile phone contract and bank account. You will also need to enter details from a UK passport, UK driving licence, or a current account with a UK bank or building society.⁴

Whichever route you use, the system runs automated checks against records held by the Passport Office, DVLA, or credit reference agencies. If everything matches, you get immediate access. Type carefully. A small mistake in a name, date, or document number can trigger a failed check, and repeated failures may lock you out of that verification method temporarily.

What the Account Gives You Access To

Once you are in, the dashboard is a single view of your tax affairs. From it you can:¹

Check your Income Tax estimate and tax code. A wrong tax code is a common reason people overpay or underpay, and this is the quickest place to spot one.
Submit, view, or manage a Self Assessment return.
Claim a refund if you have overpaid.
View your income from work and the Income Tax paid over the previous five years.
See your State Pension forecast and check whether voluntary National Insurance contributions would increase it.
Apply for or update the Marriage Allowance transfer between you and a spouse or civil partner.
Check your Child Benefit status.
Check or update benefits from your employer, such as a company car or medical insurance.
Tell HMRC about a change of name or address.
Find your National Insurance number or Unique Taxpayer Reference.

The account also replaces most postal communications. Alerts about tax code changes, deadlines, and messages from HMRC arrive through an internal inbox or by email.

Keeping the Account Secure

Every login after setup requires two-factor authentication. HMRC sends a code by text or voice call to your registered phone, or you can use an authentication app. A “Remember Me” option skips this step for seven days if you sign in frequently from the same device.⁸

If you receive sign-in codes when you are not trying to log in, treat it as a sign that someone else may have your credentials. Change your password immediately and contact HMRC. Do not share your Government Gateway user ID, password, or access codes with anyone, including an accountant.⁸

Letting Someone Else Help

If you use an accountant or tax adviser, you can authorise them through a “digital handshake” rather than sharing your login. Your agent sends you an email containing an authorisation link. You click it, sign in with your own credentials, and confirm. The link expires after 21 days.⁹ You remain legally responsible for your tax affairs after authorising someone, and you can remove the authorisation through your account at any time.

For friends or family who need help rather than a professional agent, HMRC has a “trusted helper” service. You can register as a trusted helper for up to five people. The person you are helping must accept the registration within 28 days, and online access lasts 90 days before it needs setting up again.¹⁰ If the person cannot go online at all, you can phone HMRC on their behalf, but you must be in the same room, and HMRC will confirm their identity and consent before discussing anything.

1
GOV.UK. Personal tax account: sign in or set up
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GOV.UK. National Insurance: Your National Insurance number
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GOV.UK. Find your National Insurance number
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GOV.UK One Login. How users can prove their identity
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GOV.UK. HMRC online services: sign in or set up an account
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GOV.UK. Use a Government Gateway user ID
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GOV.UK. Get help with signing in to HMRC online services
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GOV.UK. Keeping your HMRC sign in details safe
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GOV.UK. Authorise an agent for taxes that use the digital handshake
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GOV.UK. Help friends or family with their tax