As a busy small business owner, setting up your Government Gateway account is probably just another task on your never-ending to-do list. It’s a pretty important one, though, especially if you want to stay on top of your taxes.
You can set up your Government Gateway account in a few easy steps:
- Head to HMRC online services
- Click ‘sign in’
- Scroll down and click ‘create sign in details’
- Follow the steps (Organisation is for Ltds and Partnerships)
- Once your account is set up, just click ‘add taxes’ to get started
If setting up your Government Gateway account has got you scratching your head, don’t worry. We have created a complete step-by-step guide for setting up your online account. In this blog, our experts dive deeper, covering what the Government Gateway is, how to use it and how you can set your business up for success.
Contact us today and get on top of your taxes today with personalised guidance from a friendly team of accountants.
What is a Government Gateway account?
Your Government Gateway account is the online platform for viewing your taxes, submitting your returns, and editing your information. It is part of the newer digital system for handling many HMRC online services and gives you online access to your personal and business tax affairs.
Who needs a Government Gateway account?
You’ll need a Government Gateway account to submit any type of return to HMRC. This is usually for people who need to submit their Self-Assessment tax return, set up Making Tax Digital, or access their business tax account to handle Corporation Tax, employer’s PAYE submissions, VAT returns, or CIS.
Though your accountant will have access to your taxes through their own online HMRC account, we usually recommend getting one for yourself as well.
Having your own online account gives you more control over your finances and tax affairs. There are also some things that can’t be done with an accountant’s (agent) HMRC online services account, such as setting up direct debits for taxes and changing specific details.
How long does it take to get a Government Gateway account?
Setting up your Government Gateway account is almost instantaneous. It is adding your taxes to the account which might take some time, as HMRC can be a bit disorganised.
Attaching VAT to your account is pretty straightforward, but taxes such as employer’s PAYE and Corporation Tax can take a lot longer. HMRC likes to take further security measures by sending you a letter in the post with a unique security code attached, which you’ll then have to use online to complete the process. At least you’ll know the online system is robust.
How do I know if I have a gateway account?
Government Gateway accounts can get a little complicated. If your tax has been going for a while, let’s say you’ve had your limited company or sole trader business for quite a few years, and you’ve had different accountants. The previous accountants may have set you up lots of Government Gateway accounts for your different taxes. This can make it hard to figure things out.
Ideally, you want one Government Gateway account with all your taxes on it. While this isn’t always possible, as you may have multiple entities, your accountant can definitely help you organise it.
The easiest way to see if you’ve already got an account for each of your taxes is to run the steps to set up a new one and then try to add your taxes to it. HMRC won’t let you add any of the taxes already on a personal or business account (not taxes attached to an accountant’s agent account). You can then backtrack to find lost login details or call HMRC online services to recover your details for each tax. If it allows you to add the tax, then great!
Steps to create a Government Gateway account
1) Head over to the online services login page to begin and click ‘sign in’.
2) Scroll down and click ‘create sign in details’.
3) Add your email address and click ‘continue’.
4) Enter the code HMRC sends to your email address (it should only take a few seconds, so check your spam folder if you don’t receive it). Once you have entered the code, click’ continue’.
5) Type in your full name
6) Add a strong Password, and remember to save it somewhere secure.
7) HMRC will then provide you with a unique ID number, also known as your Government Gateway User ID. You will need your User ID and password every time you log in. Make sure you save these details in a safe and secure place and never share them with anyone. Click ‘continue’ to carry on setting up your account.
8) Choose the type of account you need. ‘Individual’ is for your personal affairs and Self-Assessment, ‘Organisation’ is for limited companies, partnerships, and organisations, and ‘Tax Agent’ is for us, the accountants. Once you have chosen your account, click ‘continue’.
9) You’ll then be asked to create a 2-factor security sign-in (we find that text messages are easiest). Click ‘continue’ to set this up.
0) After you have set up your 2-factor sign-in, follow the rest of the steps to finish setting up your account. You’ll be asked to confirm your identity, which you can do in a few ways.
11) Once your account is set up, then add your taxes to the account.
How do I get my Government Gateway ID and password?
HMRC will send you your Government Gateway User ID during the set-up process. You will then have to create your own password, so make sure it is secure.
Never share your personal Government Gateway information with anyone!
Need help with your tax returns? Get in touch
Staying on top of your taxes isn’t always easy, especially when you’re busy juggling business and life. That’s why we do what we do. At Archimedia, we’re passionate about helping busy business owners, sole traders, property investors, and individuals get their tax affairs in order and save money and time in the process.
We are experts in taxes and have spent many years giving regular quality tax advice to our clients. As savvy entrepreneurs ourselves, we are proud to have built our own version of financial freedom, and we love helping others do the same.
Let us take care of your tax returns so you can enjoy life however you choose, whether that’s spending more time working on your business or being at home. When you join Archimedia, we’ll make you feel like an extension of our happy family. Contact us today to find out how we can help.
Frequently asked questions about Government Gateway accounts
Can I set up a new individual account with my existing details?
You can set up a new Government Gateway personal tax account for an existing tax using your existing UTR number or NI number. However, if you already have the specific tax linked to an existing Government Gateway personal tax account, then you’ll need to unlink it first. The best way to do this is to call HMRC’s personal tax helpline.
If the tax is linked to an accountant’s agent, Government Gateway, but not to a personal tax account yet, then you won’t have this problem. The easiest way to check is to try setting up a new Government Gateway account and linking the tax to it.
Can I amend my existing account to make it both an individual and business account?
Unfortunately, no. You’ll need separate Government Gateway accounts for your personal and business affairs (they are known as a personal tax account and a business tax account).
Do I need a separate Government Gateway account for VAT?
You don’t need to set up a separate Government Gateway account for VAT.
Can you delete a Government Gateway account?
You can delete a Government Gateway account, but we don’t recommend doing this as it makes it harder to access your information if you need to.
