What is Government Gateway?

For people who need to sign in to HMRC online services, such as their personal tax account.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Government Gateway is a way to sign in to HMRC online services using a user ID of up to 12 characters and a password.

It gives you access to your personal tax account, business tax account or tax agent account.
The other way to sign in is GOV.UK One Login, which uses an email address and password.
Over time, GOV.UK One Login will replace Government Gateway.
If you lose your details, you can recover or reset them when you try to sign in.
After too many wrong attempts you are locked out for 2 hours.

Key facts

User ID up to 12 characters
Used for HMRC online services
Being replaced by GOV.UK One Login
Lockout lasts 2 hours

What Government Gateway is

Government Gateway is a sign-in system for HMRC online services. You use it to prove it is really you before you see or change your tax details online.

With Government Gateway you sign in using:

a user ID of up to 12 characters
a password you choose
an access code sent to your phone or authenticator app

What you can use it for

Your HMRC sign-in details let you get into:

your personal tax account, for things like your tax code, Self Assessment, refunds, Child Benefit and State Pension details
a business tax account
a tax agent account

The same details also work in the HMRC app.

Government Gateway and GOV.UK One Login

There are now two ways to sign in to HMRC online services:

Sign-in method	What you use
Government Gateway	User ID (up to 12 characters) and password
GOV.UK One Login	Email address and password

GOV.UK One Login is the newer system. Over time it will replace all other ways to sign in to services on GOV.UK, including Government Gateway. For now, only some government services use One Login.

If you already have Government Gateway details, keep using them.

How to create sign-in details

Go to the HMRC online services sign-in page on GOV.UK.
Select Create new sign in details.
Follow the steps. The service guides you to create either Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login details.

Access codes

When you sign in, you get an access code. You can choose to get it by:

text message
voice call
an authenticator app

To change how you get codes, sign in with your Government Gateway user ID and password, then select You can get help when asked for an access code.

Problems signing in

Lost your user ID or password? You can recover or reset your details. You are told how when you try to sign in.
Locked out? This happens if you enter the wrong details too many times. Your account unlocks by itself after 2 hours. Helpdesk advisers cannot unlock it for you.
Still stuck? Ask HMRC's digital assistant, or ask for a webchat with an adviser if one is available.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Common questions

I have lost my Government Gateway user ID. What do I do?

You can recover or reset your sign-in details. You are told how to do this when you try to sign in.

Can HMRC unlock my Government Gateway account?

No. Your account unlocks by itself after 2 hours, and helpdesk advisers cannot unlock it.

Should I create a Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login account?

If you already have sign-in details, keep using them. If you are new, select 'Create new sign in details' and the service guides you.

Official sources

1.Sign in to HMRC online services (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services
2.Sign in to HMRC online services: register (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services/register
3.Using your GOV.UK One Login (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/using-your-gov-uk-one-login
4.Problems signing in to HMRC online services (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services/problems-signing-in

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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