HMRC makes Government Gateway easier to access

Personal and business tax accounts require a Government Gateway login to access. However, some taxpayers have been struggling to set up an account due to the strict ID requirements. Naturally, the requirement to verify the identity of the individual is crucial due to the sensitive nature of the information contained in the accounts, but using Verify (the government’s former digital sign in service) was removed in April 2022, reducing the number of options available.

HMRC has responded by permitting GB driving licences to be used as one of the two ID options. Taxpayers can now choose any two items from the following:

• tax credit claim details 
• P60 or most recent payslips 
• UK passport details 
• information held on a credit file (such as loans, credit cards or mortgages) 
• a self assessment tax return (in the last three years) 
• GB driving licence (DVLA-issued) or NI driving licence (DVA-issued)