The Government Gateway is an online system which is used to access some of the UK governments online services.
Many government departments use the Government Gateway to permit online access to their services for the first time. It is a central portal allowing you to gain entry into a variety of services including Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
HMRC uses the government gateway for both personal and business taxes with options available to select the type of tax or taxes that are relevant to you or your business.
Even if you don’t think you need access to your tax information online it is recommended to set up an account so it is available to you in the future.
More and more helpful information is being made available online by HMRC giving you the freedom to access it anytime you need it.
HMRC Government Gateway
HMRC uses the Government Gateway for popular services like Self Assessment, Personal tax account, Business tax account and VAT.
When you are registered for the Government Gateway you are given the option to sign into the available tax services that are appropriate to you.
You will need a separate Government Gateway account with a different user ID and password if you want to access HMRC services as an individual or organisation.
If you have more than one business each business will need its own Government Gateway user ID and password.
How do I sign up for HMRC Government Gateway?
You can sign up for a Government Gateway account here and then select the create sign in details link to start the set up process.
The Government Gateway sign up is used to verify your identity which is needed before being allowed access to HMRC online services.
When you click the create sign in details link you will be asked to do the following:
- Enter your personal email address.
- Verify your email address by replying to an email which includes a unique code.
- Enter your full name.
- Create a password and a recovery word just in case you lose access to your Government Gateway account.
It is important to securely keep your password, recovery word and Government Gateway user ID in a safe place to avoid access problems in the future.
GOV.UK verify is no longer available to use as an alternative verification tool to gain access to HMRC services.
How do I get help with my HMRC Government Gateway account?
If you are experiencing difficulties with using your Government Gateway account, you can call HMRC online services on 0300 200 3600 and +44 161 930 8445 from outside the UK.
HMRC online services opening hours are:
Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
Closed weekends and bank holidays.
There are online choices available if you are unable to find all or some of your Government Gateway login details. These are separated into the following categories:
I have forgotten my Government Gateway password
I have forgotten my Government Gateway user ID
I have forgotten my Government Gateway user ID and password
Each link asks you to follow some basic instructions so you can retrieve the login details needed.
