How Do I Set Up a Government Gateway Account?
Step-by-step guidance to create and activate your HMRC business tax portal
Setting up a Government Gateway account gives you direct access to your business tax records, including your PAYE liabilities, Corporation Tax, and VAT. This setup ensures you're in full control of your obligations — in real time.
💡 We highly recommend each business sets this up, even if Intelligent Payroll handles your submissions. It improves transparency, keeps your records accessible, and supports faster resolutions with HMRC.
📌 What Is a Government Gateway Account?
A Government Gateway account is the HMRC-managed online portal that allows businesses to:
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View PAYE liabilities
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Submit tax returns (e.g., VAT, Corporation Tax)
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Manage access to other HMRC services
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Authorise agents like Intelligent Payroll
It forms the foundation for accessing your Business Tax Account, which is where all taxes are managed centrally.
🛠 How to Create a Government Gateway Account
Follow these steps:
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Go to the official HMRC login page: https://www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services
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Click the green "Sign in" button
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Select “Create sign-in details”
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Enter your email address
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You’ll receive a confirmation code — enter this to verify your email
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HMRC will now issue you a User ID
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Important: Save this in a secure place (it's not easy to memorise)
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You will be asked what type of account you're creating
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Choose “Organisation” for business use
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Complete the security questions and 2-Step Verification setup (via mobile or authentication app)
Once complete, you’ll have created your Government Gateway account. This only needs to be done once per business.
🧾 Adding Taxes to Your Gateway Account
Once your account is set up, you need to add the relevant tax services (like PAYE) to your profile:
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Log in to your Government Gateway account
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On the dashboard, select "Get online access to a tax, duty or scheme"
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Choose the relevant service, e.g., PAYE for Employers
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Enter your business’s PAYE details:
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Employer PAYE Reference (e.g., found on your P30/P60)
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Accounts Office Reference
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HMRC will post an activation code to your registered business address (allow 7–10 days)
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Once the code arrives, log back in and enter the activation code
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You’ll now be able to see that tax in your account
Repeat this process for each tax you are registered for (e.g., VAT, Corporation Tax).
🧠 Helpful Tips
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Create one Gateway account per business for cleaner recordkeeping
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Only add taxes you are actually registered for
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Enable 2-Factor Authentication to protect your account
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Share access securely with authorised individuals only
❓Need Help?
If you're unsure what your PAYE reference numbers are, or you need help setting up your Gateway access:
💬 Contact us here and our team can assist.
We also recommend storing your login credentials securely — losing your Gateway login can delay tax submissions or PAYE payments.