Most people only think about HMRC sign-in details when a deadline is close. You’ve started a side business, taken on a rental property or been told to file a tax return, and the first screen asks for a user ID you’ve never had. Working out how to get a Government Gateway ID shouldn’t eat into the time you need for the return itself.
This guide walks through the sign-up as it works in October 2026, including the change many older guides miss: HMRC is gradually moving new users to GOV.UK One Login. You’ll know which screen to expect, what to have ready and what to do once you’re in.
How to Get a Government Gateway ID: The Short Version
If you just want the steps, here they are. Each one is explained in more detail further down.
- Open HMRC’s sign-in page on GOV.UK, or start from the service you need, such as Self Assessment or your personal tax account.
- Choose “Create new sign in details” instead of signing in.
- Enter your email address and type in the confirmation code HMRC sends you.
- Add your name and create a password.
- Set up 2-step verification by text message, phone call or an authenticator app.
- Write down your user ID and keep it somewhere safe. You’ll need it every time you sign in.
What is a Government Gateway ID?
A Government Gateway ID is the user ID you type in, with your password, to reach HMRC’s online services. GOV.UK describes it as a user ID of up to 12 characters. It works as a login, not a tax reference. It doesn’t replace your National Insurance number or your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), and having one doesn’t mean HMRC has registered you for anything.
Once you have a government gateway id, you can use it to file a first Self Assessment tax return, check your tax code, view your National Insurance record and manage business taxes, depending on the account type you choose.
Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login? What You’ll See in 2026
HMRC now offers two kinds of sign-in. Government Gateway uses a user ID and password. GOV.UK One Login uses your email address and a password. According to the Government Digital Service, a share of people using HMRC online for the first time have been directed to One Login since 9 February 2026, and that share is set to grow over the coming months.
So if you follow the steps above and never see a user ID, nothing has gone wrong. The service has simply set you up with One Login instead. Use the table to work out which route applies to you.
| Your situation | What you’re likely to see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You already have a Government Gateway user ID | The usual user ID and password screen | Keep using it. GOV.UK tells existing users to continue with the details they have. |
| You’re using HMRC online for the first time | Either Government Gateway or One Login sign-up | Follow the route the service guides you to. You can’t usually pick. |
| You already have One Login for another government service | A One Login screen asking for your email | Sign in with your existing One Login email and password rather than creating new details. |
| You need a business tax or agent account | Government Gateway sign-up | Create a Gateway ID. GOV.UK currently lists One Login for personal tax services. |
What You Need Before You Start
The sign-up itself is quick. What slows people down is stopping halfway to find a phone or a document. Have these ready first.
- An email address you check regularly. HMRC sends a code to it that you must enter to carry on.
- A mobile phone, landline or authenticator app for 2-step verification. You’ll need it every time you sign in, so don’t use a work phone you might hand back.
- Your National Insurance number, if you’re setting up a personal account.
- Photo ID, such as a UK passport or photocard driving licence, in case you’re asked to prove who you are.
- Your business details (company name and registration number, for example) if you’re creating an organisation account.
A note on photo ID: the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group points out that whichever identity route you take, you’ll need to provide photo ID at some stage.
How to Get a Government Gateway ID Step by Step
Here is the full process for how to get a Government Gateway ID if the service sends you down the Gateway route. HMRC adjusts these screens from time to time, so the order may differ slightly, but the information asked for stays the same.
- Start from GOV.UK. Go to the HMRC online services sign-in page, or open the service you need and press “Start now”. Typing the address yourself is safer than clicking a link in an email.
- Select “Create new sign in details”. If you’re shown a One Login screen instead, follow that route. The steps are similar, but you’ll sign in with your email rather than a user ID.
- Confirm your email address. Enter it, then type in the confirmation code HMRC sends. Check your junk folder if it doesn’t arrive within a few minutes.
- Enter your full name and create a password. Pick a strong password you don’t use anywhere else.
- Save your user ID. Your Government Gateway user ID appears on screen. Write it down or save it in a password manager straight away, because it’s a random string you won’t remember.
- Set up 2-step verification. Choose a text message, voice call or authenticator app. The six-digit number you get each time is your government gateway access code, and you’ll enter it after your password whenever you sign in.
- Choose your account type. Pick individual, organisation or agent. The next section explains which one suits you.
- Confirm your identity if asked. For personal tax services, HMRC may ask you to prove who you are using photo ID or other checks before it shows your tax records.
Individual, Organisation or Agent: Which Account Do You Need?
The account type decides which HMRC services you can add later, so it’s worth getting right. Many people asking “how do I get a government gateway id for my business?” end up with the wrong type and have to start again.
| Account type | Who it’s for | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | You, as a person | Personal tax account, Self Assessment, checking your tax code or State Pension |
| Organisation | Limited companies, partnerships, trusts and employers | Corporation Tax, PAYE for employers, VAT for a company |
| Agent | Accountants and tax advisers acting for clients | Setting up an agent services account to manage client taxes |
Sole traders sit in between. LITRG notes that self-employed sole traders can hold both an individual and an organisation account. It also reports that sole traders aren’t treated as “individuals” for the One Login rollout, so they currently stay on Government Gateway. If you’re self-employed and only need to file a tax return, an individual account is usually enough.
Directors of a limited company normally need two sets of details: an individual account for their own tax return and an organisation account for the company. If you’d rather not manage both, an accountant for your limited company can handle the company side as your agent. If it’s your first return as a sole trader, our first tax return service can do the same for you.
What to Do After You Get Your ID
This is where many first-timers stall. Your new sign-in details let you reach HMRC online, but they don’t tell HMRC you need to pay tax. Those are two separate jobs.
If you’ve started working for yourself or have other untaxed income, the next step is to register for Self Assessment. GOV.UK says you need to sign in to register, and if you don’t yet have sign-in details you can create them at that point. You must tell HMRC by 5 October after the end of the tax year you need to file for. For the 2025/26 tax year, that deadline was 5 October 2026.
Once you’ve registered, HMRC usually posts your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) within 15 working days, or 21 days if you’re abroad. It can take longer during busy periods. You’ll need that UTR to file your return, so register well before the January deadline. Later on, the same sign-in also lets you view your past Self Assessment returns. For more step-by-step help, browse our tax return guides.
How Long Does It Take?
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Create your Government Gateway ID | A few minutes, online |
| Confirm your identity (if asked) | Often in the same session, if your photo ID is to hand |
| Register for Self Assessment | Same day, once signed in |
| Receive your UTR by post | Usually 15 working days (21 days abroad), longer at busy times |
Lost Your ID or Locked Out?
Don’t create a new account as your first fix. Try these instead.
- Forgotten user ID or password: use the recovery option on the HMRC sign-in page. GOV.UK says you can recover or reset lost details, and the service shows you how.
- Too many wrong attempts: your account locks and then unlocks automatically after 2 hours. Helpdesk advisers can’t unlock it any sooner, so calling won’t speed things up.
- Lost the phone that gets your access codes: sign in with your user ID and password, then choose “You can get help” when asked for the code.
Keeping Your Account Secure
Your sign-in details open your tax records, bank details held by HMRC and any refunds due to you, so treat them like online banking details.
- Never share your user ID, password or access code, even with family. An accountant doesn’t need them either: agents use their own agent services account, and you authorise them to act for you.
- Be wary of “tax refund” messages. HMRC says it will never send a notification of a tax rebate by text message, and never asks you to disclose personal or payment information by text.
- Report anything suspicious. Forward suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599.
- Sign in from GOV.UK directly rather than through a link in a message.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems people hit when working out how to get a Government Gateway ID come down to four slips.
| Mistake | What goes wrong | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Creating a second ID | Your old records don’t show in the new account | Recover your existing details first |
| Picking the wrong account type | You can’t add the service you need | Individual for yourself, organisation for a company |
| Assuming the ID registers you for tax | No UTR arrives and the 5 October deadline passes | Register for Self Assessment as a separate step |
| Not saving the user ID | A recovery process at the worst possible time | Store it in a password manager the moment it appears |
FAQs
How do I get a Government Gateway ID?
Go to HMRC’s sign-in page on GOV.UK, choose “Create new sign in details”, confirm your email, set a password and 2-step verification, then save the user ID you’re given. Some first-time users are set up with GOV.UK One Login instead.
Is a Government Gateway ID free?
Yes. Creating sign-in details on GOV.UK costs nothing. Be cautious of any website that charges to set one up for you.
Can I get Government Gateway ID details the same day?
Yes. The ID is created online in a few minutes. Anything sent by post, such as your UTR after registering for Self Assessment, takes longer.
What is a Government Gateway access code?
It’s the six-digit code you enter after your password each time you sign in. You get it by text message, voice call or an authenticator app.
Is my Government Gateway ID the same as my UTR?
No. The ID is your sign-in name. Your UTR is a 10-digit tax reference that HMRC issues when you register for Self Assessment.
What if HMRC sends me to GOV.UK One Login instead?
Follow that route. HMRC has been moving some first-time users to One Login since February 2026, and you’ll sign in with your email address rather than a user ID.
Can my accountant use my Government Gateway ID?
They shouldn’t. Accountants use their own agent services account, and you authorise them to deal with HMRC for you.
What happens if I enter the wrong details too many times?
Your account locks and unlocks automatically after 2 hours. HMRC’s helpdesk can’t unlock it sooner.
Final Verdict: How to Get a Government Gateway ID
Knowing how to get a Government Gateway ID is about doing a few things in the right order. Start on GOV.UK, choose the right account type, set up 2-step verification you won’t lose, and save your user ID straight away. Then register for Self Assessment separately if you need to file. If the service sets you up with One Login instead, that’s normal in 2026, and the next steps are the same.
- Create your sign-in details on GOV.UK’s HMRC sign-in page.
- Read our guide to filing your first Self Assessment return.
- Prefer someone to handle it? Get a free quote, call 0116 403 0595 or contact our team.
- Help registering for Self Assessment and getting your UTR
- Your tax return prepared and filed as your authorised agent
- Fixed fees agreed before we start
Get a free quote
Call 0116 403 0595
- Written by Marina Jahan and reviewed by a chartered management accountant (ACMA, MAAT) with more than 15 years’ UK practice experience.
- Every step checked against current GOV.UK guidance, updated September 2026.
- Covers the 2026 move to GOV.UK One Login that many older guides miss.
- Last reviewed: October 2026. Find out more about Tax Return Accountants.
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