Use this guide to sign in to your HMRC account online, choose the right service, and understand what to do when you cannot get in.
Most sign-in issues come from picking the wrong login route rather than a technical fault. You will find the right route for your situation below, along with direct links to the GOV.UK sign-in pages.
If you have forgotten your details or are locked out, go straight to the HMRC login recovery guide.
Choose the right HMRC login
Before you sign in, work out which HMRC login route your service uses. Choosing the wrong one is the single most common reason people cannot access what they need.
HMRC currently uses two sign-in systems:
- GOV.UK One Login — used for newer accounts and some services
- Government Gateway — used by existing users and most business services
Most HMRC services still require a Government Gateway ID. Even if you use GOV.UK One Login elsewhere, you may not see your HMRC services unless you sign in through Government Gateway.
Which HMRC login to use
If you want to check your tax, PAYE, or personal details, use the Personal Tax Account. If you need to submit a Self Assessment return, use the Self Assessment login. To manage VAT, use the VAT account through Government Gateway. To run payroll or PAYE for employees, use the PAYE for employers service. And to access multiple business taxes in one place, use the Business Tax Account.
Signs you have picked the wrong login route
You may have signed in successfully but still cannot find what you need. Watch for these signs:
- You sign in but cannot see the service you need
- You are redirected to a different dashboard than expected
- You start trying to recover your details when the issue is actually the wrong login route
If any of this happens, go back and choose a different sign-in option before assuming your account is broken.
HMRC login: how to sign in
To sign in to HMRC online, go to the HMRC login page on GOV.UK and enter your credentials.
You will usually need three things:
- Your user ID — either your Government Gateway ID or the email address linked to GOV.UK One Login
- Your password
- A security code sent to you by text, authenticator app, or automated phone call
What to expect during HMRC sign in
During sign-in HMRC may ask you to complete additional security checks. You may need to confirm a code from your phone or authentication app. Once signed in, some services will redirect you to a specific dashboard rather than the main HMRC homepage.
If you do not receive your security code, check your mobile signal, blocked numbers, or app notifications before trying again.
For most users, the direct HMRC login online is at: HMRC login – GOV.UK.
Government Gateway login
Government Gateway is the login system HMRC has used for years, and it still covers most tax services. If you registered before GOV.UK One Login existed, or if you use business tax services, you will sign in through Government Gateway.
What you need for Government Gateway login
To sign in through Government Gateway you need:
- Your 12-digit Government Gateway user ID
- Your Government Gateway password
- Access to your registered security method for the second step
If you have forgotten your Government Gateway user ID or password, use the recovery options on the sign-in page.
Which services use Government Gateway
Government Gateway is the entry point for the majority of HMRC business and tax services, including VAT, PAYE for employers, Corporation Tax, Self Assessment for many existing users, and the Construction Industry Scheme.
You can find the full sign-in page at: Government Gateway sign in – GOV.UK.
Government Gateway vs GOV.UK One Login
These are different systems, and this is where most confusion starts. Government Gateway is the older system that still runs most tax services. GOV.UK One Login is the newer system being rolled out for other government services.
For HMRC specifically, most tax services still require Government Gateway. If your service is not appearing after signing in with GOV.UK One Login, that is likely the reason.
HMRC self assessment login
To sign in to submit or manage a Self Assessment tax return, use the HMRC self assessment login on GOV.UK. This is the same Government Gateway sign-in, but the service you land on will be Self Assessment.
What you need for self assessment login
You will need your Government Gateway user ID and password, plus your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) once you are signed in. Your UTR is a 10-digit number that HMRC sent you when you registered for Self Assessment.
What you can do once signed in
Once you sign in to Self Assessment you can file your return, view previous returns, check what you owe, make payments, or update your details. You can also see any letters HMRC has sent you about your return.
Self assessment deadlines to remember
Self Assessment has strict annual deadlines. You must submit your online return by 31 January following the end of the tax year. So a return covering the 2025 to 2026 tax year is due by 31 January 2027. Missing the deadline triggers an automatic £100 penalty even if you owe no tax.
You can start the process at Self Assessment sign in – GOV.UK.
Personal Tax Account login
The Personal Tax Account is for individuals managing their own tax affairs. If you are employed and want to check your tax code, view PAYE details, or see your income record, this is the account you need.
What you can do in your Personal Tax Account
Once signed in you can check your tax code, view your income and employment details, manage PAYE, and complete Self Assessment if you are registered for it. You can also update your address and see any tax refunds due to you.
When your account looks different than expected
Your tax code may change automatically if HMRC updates your estimated income based on new PAYE data. You may not see Self Assessment options unless you are registered for it. And some sections only appear once you have used them for the first time.
If something looks wrong, it is often because your circumstances or enrolments have changed rather than a technical fault.
Sign in at Personal tax account – GOV.UK.
Business Tax Account login
The Business Tax Account is for anyone running a business or handling business taxes. It uses Government Gateway to sign in.
What you can do in your Business Tax Account
You can manage VAT, submit PAYE for employers, access Corporation Tax, use Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) services, and see all your business tax obligations in one dashboard.
What to expect after signing in
Some services open in separate sections after login rather than sitting on the main dashboard. You may need additional enrolments to access certain taxes — Corporation Tax and CIS both require you to enrol before the service appears. And some tasks, such as filing VAT returns, may require external accounting software rather than the HMRC web portal.
If a service is missing, the usual reason is that it has not been added to your account yet.
HMRC sign in problems
If you cannot sign in, the cause is usually one of three things: you are using the wrong login route, your account is temporarily locked, or you are trying to reach a service you are not enrolled in.
Common HMRC login problems
Watch for these patterns before assuming your account is broken:
- You signed in but the service you need is not visible — likely a wrong login route
- You receive repeated “incorrect details” messages — check for typing errors or password manager mismatches
- You are stuck in a security code loop — check your phone signal, blocked numbers, or authenticator app notifications
- You reach a dashboard you do not recognise — you may have signed in through the wrong system
When to try recovery instead
If you have genuinely forgotten your Government Gateway ID or password, or you have lost access to your security code method, do not keep retrying the login page. Use the HMRC login recovery guide for the recovery routes.
Before you try again
Before you call HMRC or start recovery, check that you are using the correct login route for your service, your password is correct, your security code method is working, and you are using a supported browser and device. Many login problems resolve when you retry with the right service and correct details.
Contact HMRC about login issues
If you have exhausted self-service options, HMRC’s online services helpdesk can help with access problems, error messages, and issues using HMRC online services.
HMRC online services helpdesk
- Telephone: 0300 200 3600
- Opening times: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Best time to call HMRC
Call volumes vary through the day and across the year. The quietest period is usually 8am to 9am, first thing in the morning. Midday to early afternoon tends to be busiest. And January is the peak period across the whole year because of Self Assessment deadlines.
If your issue is not urgent, calling outside busy periods will reduce your wait.
What HMRC will ask you
Before you call, have these details ready:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if relevant
- Your address
- A clear summary of the problem
HMRC may not be able to help if they cannot confirm your identity, so having these to hand will save time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I log in to HMRC online?
Go to the HMRC login page on GOV.UK and enter your Government Gateway user ID and password. You will then be asked for a security code sent to your phone or authenticator app. Most HMRC services still use Government Gateway rather than GOV.UK One Login.
What is my HMRC login?
Your HMRC login is your Government Gateway user ID and password, or your GOV.UK One Login email and password for newer services. The Government Gateway user ID is a 12-digit number issued when you first registered. If you have forgotten it, you can recover it through the GOV.UK login page.
What is Government Gateway?
Government Gateway is the sign-in system HMRC and some other government services use to verify who you are. It is separate from GOV.UK One Login. Most HMRC tax services still require Government Gateway even though newer government services have moved to One Login.
How do I sign in to HMRC self assessment?
Use the HMRC self assessment login on GOV.UK. Sign in with your Government Gateway user ID and password. You will also need your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) — a 10-digit number HMRC sent you when you registered for Self Assessment.
Why can’t I sign in to my HMRC account?
The most common reason is choosing the wrong login route — for example, signing in with GOV.UK One Login when your service needs Government Gateway. Other common causes are incorrect passwords, missing security codes, or trying to access a service you are not enrolled in.
Is HMRC login the same as Government Gateway?
For most HMRC services, yes. When people refer to “HMRC login” they usually mean signing in through Government Gateway, which is the system HMRC has used for years. GOV.UK One Login is a newer system that covers some services but has not yet replaced Government Gateway for HMRC.
How do I recover my HMRC login details?
If you have forgotten your Government Gateway user ID, password, or lost access to your security code method, use the recovery options on the GOV.UK sign-in page. The HMRC login recovery guide walks through each recovery route in detail.
Can I sign in to HMRC without Government Gateway?
For most tax services, no. Government Gateway is still the required sign-in system for Self Assessment, VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax. Some newer or non-tax services use GOV.UK One Login, but the main HMRC tax services have not moved across yet.
Next Steps
- HMRC login not working: troubleshooting guide – GOVexplained
- HMRC identity check: how to prove your identity – GOVexplained
- Self assessment tax return: what you need to know – GOVexplained