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HMRC sign-in & agent services
HMRC Government Gateway Login and Agent Services Links
Official links only, organised by task, with notes on who uses each one.
Official sources only · Links checked 23 September 2026 · Last updated 23 September 2026
Quick answer
Accountants sign in to HMRC through HMRC online services (Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login). Agent work runs through an agent services account, which you apply for once and then use to request client authorisations. Individuals use a personal tax account; businesses use a business tax account.
Sign in to HMRC
Clients and firms sign in here. Keep firm and personal credentials separate.
| Task | Official link | Who uses it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign in to HMRC online services | Open Sign in to HMRC online services (opens in new tab) | Firms, clients | Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login |
| Personal tax account | Open Personal tax account (opens in new tab) | Individual clients | — |
| Sign in to your HMRC business tax account | Open Sign in to your HMRC business tax account (opens in new tab) | Business clients | — |
Agent services
Apply once for the firm, then request authorisation from each client.
| Task | Official link | Who uses it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apply for an agent services account | Open Apply for an agent services account (opens in new tab) | Firms | — |
| Sign in to your agent services account | Open Sign in to your agent services account (opens in new tab) | Firms | — |
| Register as a professional tax agent with HMRC | Open Register as a professional tax agent with HMRC (opens in new tab) | New firms | — |
| Get authorised by a client (Online Agent Authorisation) | Open Get authorised by a client (Online Agent Authorisation) (opens in new tab) | Firms | — |
Contacting HMRC
Check expected reply times before chasing. HMRC phone numbers change, so use the official contacts page.
| Task | Official link | Who uses it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check when you can expect a reply from HMRC | Open Check when you can expect a reply from HMRC (opens in new tab) | Firms | — |
| Find HMRC contacts | Open Find HMRC contacts (opens in new tab) | Firms, clients | — |
See it working with your own clients
Client references, payment reminders and deadlines in one place.
Keep all of this inside your practice management software
Store each client’s UTR, VAT number, PAYE reference, Accounts Office reference and Corporation Tax payment reference in custom fields on the client record. Create one payment instructions email template with tokens that fill in each client’s own reference, then send it to one client or in bulk before each deadline. Set automated reminders and recurring tasks for every payment date, and pull filing deadlines with Companies House sync. Remindoo doesn’t submit filings, take payments or connect to HMRC — it keeps the references and the reminders in one place.
See the Remindoo how-to guides and getting started.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Government Gateway and do accountants need one?
The Government Gateway is the sign-in system behind HMRC online services; HMRC is also moving users to GOV.UK One Login. Accountants need their own firm credentials for the agent services account. They should never use a client’s personal login, which gives no audit trail and breaches HMRC’s terms.
What’s the difference between an agent services account and HMRC online services for agents?
The agent services account is HMRC’s newer service for managing client authorisations and taxes such as MTD for VAT and MTD for Income Tax. Older HMRC online services for agents still cover some taxes. Many firms use both. Check GOV.UK for which service applies to each tax.
How does a client authorise me as their agent?
From your agent services account, create an authorisation request and send the link to the client. The client signs in with their own credentials and accepts. GOV.UK explains the Online Agent Authorisation process for taxes still handled in the older service.
Do I need to register as a tax adviser with HMRC in 2026?
HMRC has announced mandatory registration for tax advisers who interact with HMRC on clients’ behalf. The detail and start dates are set out on GOV.UK; check HMRC’s current guidance before relying on any date, as the rules have been changing.
How can I store every client’s HMRC references in one place?
Use custom fields on each client record in your practice management software. In Remindoo you can hold the UTR, VAT number, PAYE and Accounts Office references and Corporation Tax payment reference on the client record, so the whole team finds them in seconds.
Where do I find HMRC’s phone numbers?
Use the Find HMRC contacts page on GOV.UK. We don’t list phone numbers here because HMRC changes them and adds new agent lines; the official page is always current.
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Last updated 23 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice. Always follow the official GOV.UK page.
Why recording every task matters in an accountancy practice
Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.
Avoid penalties
HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.
Nothing depends on memory
Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.
Consistent quality
Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.
Visibility for managers
Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
- Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
- Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
