What is the Government Gateway?

Hi there, Nicholas Campion here from 1st Formations, and welcome to another episode of Whiteboard Thursday, where we provide advice on a wide range of business and company matters.

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Today, I want to cover the subject of the Government Gateway, including the Government Gateway ID and GOV.UK Verify.

To do so, let’s first discuss what the Government Gateway actually is because when you form a company, you hear a lot of references about it in HMRC’s letters and the government’s website.

Simply put, it is a method of verifying your identity when using online services provided by HMRC, or HM Revenue & Customs, to use their full name.

When signing in to HMRC online services you will be prompted to sign in using the Government Gateway. A Government Gateway user ID and password is needed to log in to most of these services.

So, what does the Government Gateway allow you to access?

Signing in to HMRC online services via Government Gateway gives you access to the full range of HMRC services, including:

• Charities Online
• Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
• Corporation Tax
• Customs Declaration Service
• Employment Intermediaries
• Gift Aid
• Managing Pension Schemes
• Money laundering supervision
• PAYE for employers
• Pensions Schemes Online
• Personal tax account
• Self Assessment
• Shared Workspace
• Stamp Taxes
• VAT
• and VAT EU Refunds

A full list of services available from HMRC can be found on the GOV.UK website and we have included the link below.

So that’s what Government Gateway is, and what you can access with it… so what’s the process for registering for it?

If you do not have an account, you can register on the GOV.UK website – this link is also available below. Alternatively, you will be provided with instructions for registering when attempting to access HMRC services for the first time.

For example, if signing into Personal Tax services, you will be prompted to prove your identity by signing in with Government Gateway or GOV.UK Verify and there will also be an option to create a new account.

To register, the following information will be required:

For Government Gateway – your National Insurance number or UK address and a recent payslip, or P60, or a valid UK passport.

And for GOV.UK Verify – a UK address, a mobile phone, and at least one valid form of photo ID from any country

Now, let’s take a look at using a Government Gateway ID

When accessing an HMRC online service you will simply need to enter your Government Gateway user ID and password.

Upon doing so, you will receive a text message to your mobile phone which contains a 6 digit code. This code will need to be entered to continue to the HMRC online service.

If you have problems signing in, you can get help from HMRC online services, as follows:

1. If you forget your user ID or password – you can recover your user ID and reset your password
2. If you lose your activation code, you can ask for a new one if it is within 28 days of enrolling, otherwise, you will need to enrol for the service again.
3. If you get locked out of your account because you have entered the wrong user ID or password 5 times, you will need to wait 2 hours for it to unlock and try again.

So far, I’ve made several references to GOV.UK Verify, in addition to Government Gateway. But what exactly is GOV.UK Verify?

Well, this is simply an alternative method of identity verification. It can be used to access your Personal Tax Account and to complete your Self Assessment. However, it cannot be used to access your Business Tax Account.

GOV.UK Verify can also be used for other types of government online services. For example, when applying for Universal Credit or viewing your driving licence information.

So, it is useful to have an account. But anyone who needs to access their Business Tax Account will still require a Government Gateway ID.

So, here’s the thing – should you use Government Gateway or GOV.UK Verify?

Well, most people who run their own business will probably want to use Government Gateway so that they can access their Business Tax Account and the full range of HMRC online services.

For example, anyone who conducts business through a limited company will need access to their Business Tax Account to submit their Corporation Tax Return.

On the other hand, some sole traders may only require access to their Personal Tax Account, if they do not have any employees and are not registered for VAT, so they may find GOV.UK Verify is adequate.

So, there you have it!

The Government Gateway is a subject that many people have great difficulty with; however, when it is broken down into its constituent parts, as we have done today, it really is quite simple.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section. In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to our channel, to get more advice on limited companies, reporting requirements, and tax obligations.

We’re always happy to hear from you, and we cannot wait to help. Until next time, cheerio.