Your HMRC Personal Tax Account is the official online service for checking and managing your personal tax information with HM Revenue & Customs.
You can use it to check your tax code, Income Tax history, Self Assessment information, National Insurance number and record, State Pension, tax refunds, Child Benefit and other HMRC records.
To sign in, use the official GOV.UK Personal Tax Account service. Existing users may continue using their current HMRC sign-in details, while new personal tax customers may be guided to create GOV.UK One Login details.
This independent Accounting People guide explains how to access your Personal Tax Account, what you can do once signed in and where to go if you have problems with your tax information.
HMRC Personal Tax Account: Quick Access
Official service: GOV.UK Personal Tax Account
Used for: Income Tax, tax codes, Self Assessment, refunds, UTR, National Insurance, State Pension and more
Already have HMRC sign-in details? Use your existing details
New user? HMRC may guide you through GOV.UK One Login
Cost: Free
Sign in to your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK
How to Sign In to Your HMRC Personal Tax Account
Go to the official GOV.UK Personal Tax Account service and select Start now to sign in or create access.
HMRC currently supports two sign-in routes. Existing users may continue using their Government Gateway credentials. For personal tax services, some users can use GOV.UK One Login, and new customers may be guided through the appropriate sign-in setup.
If you do not already have sign-in details, follow the GOV.UK prompts to create them. HMRC may also ask you to prove your identity, normally using photo identification such as a passport or driving licence.
Personal Tax Account Sign-In Update for 2026
HMRC started introducing GOV.UK One Login for new individual customers in February 2026. If you already use HMRC online services, continue using the sign-in details HMRC tells you to use. Do not create new credentials unnecessarily.
GOV.UK One Login and Government Gateway are sign-in systems. Your Personal Tax Account is the HMRC service you access after signing in.
Personal Tax Account vs Government Gateway vs GOV.UK One Login
These terms are related but they are not the same thing.
Personal Tax Account is the HMRC service containing your personal tax information.
Government Gateway is an older HMRC sign-in method still used by many existing customers.
GOV.UK One Login is the newer government sign-in system being introduced for personal tax services.
Always follow the instructions shown on the official GOV.UK service when signing in.
What is a Personal Tax Account?
A Personal Tax Account, often shortened to PTA, is an online HMRC account for individuals. It gives you access to key tax records held by HMRC and allows you to complete certain tax-related tasks online.
Think of it as your personal HMRC dashboard. Instead of searching through old payslips, letters or tax documents, you can use your account to check important information such as your tax code, employment income, Income Tax history, National Insurance record and some benefit-related details.
The service is available through GOV.UK and can be used to manage a range of tax matters online. HMRC also offers many similar features through the HMRC app, including access to tax codes, National Insurance number, income history, UTR for Self Assessment, Child Benefit, State Pension forecast and National Insurance gaps.
What can you do with a Personal Tax Account?
Your Personal Tax Account can help you check, manage and update several areas of your tax position.
1. Check your Income Tax estimate and tax code
You can use your account to view your current Income Tax estimate and tax code. This is useful if you are employed, receive pension income, have changed jobs, started receiving benefits from work or think your tax code may be wrong.
HMRC’s online Income Tax service also lets users check their Personal Allowance, estimated income from jobs and pensions, expected tax for the current year and whether their tax code has changed.
2. Claim a tax refund
If you have paid too much tax, your Personal Tax Account may allow you to claim a refund online. GOV.UK lists claiming a tax refund as one of the services available through the Personal Tax Account.
Refunds may arise for several reasons, such as an incorrect tax code, employment ending part-way through the tax year, overpaid pension tax, or eligible employment expenses.
3. View employment income for the previous 5 years
Your account can show income from work for the previous 5 years. This can be helpful when checking old employment records, preparing tax information, reviewing mortgage application details or comparing HMRC records against your own payslips and P60s.
4. Check how much Income Tax you paid in previous years
You can also check how much Income Tax you paid in the previous 5 years. This is particularly useful if you think you may have overpaid or underpaid tax in an earlier year.
Where an underpayment or overpayment is identified, HMRC may issue a tax calculation, adjust your tax code or ask you to take further action.
5. View or manage Self Assessment records
If you are registered for Self Assessment, your Personal Tax Account can help you submit, view or manage a Self Assessment tax return. GOV.UK lists Self Assessment as one of the services available through the account.
This can be relevant if you are self-employed, a landlord, a company director, a high earner, receive untaxed income, or need to report income not fully taxed through PAYE.
6. Find your Unique Taxpayer Reference number
If HMRC has already issued you with a Unique Taxpayer Reference, commonly called a UTR, you may be able to find it in your Personal Tax Account. GOV.UK confirms that the account can be used to find your UTR if you already have one.
A UTR is commonly needed for Self Assessment tax returns, tax agent authorisation and some HMRC correspondence.
7. Find your National Insurance number
Your Personal Tax Account can also help you find your National Insurance number. GOV.UK says users can view their National Insurance number online if they can prove their identity, for example using a passport or driving licence.
This can be useful when starting a new job, completing tax forms, applying for certain benefits or checking pension records.
8. Check your State Pension forecast and National Insurance record
You can use your account to check your State Pension forecast and review your National Insurance record. GOV.UK also states that users can check whether they may benefit from paying voluntary National Insurance contributions and whether they can pay online.
This is especially important if you have gaps in your National Insurance record due to self-employment, time abroad, career breaks or periods of low earnings.
9. Check and update Marriage Allowance
Marriage Allowance allows some married couples and civil partners to transfer part of one partner’s Personal Allowance to the other. Through your Personal Tax Account, you can check or update your Marriage Allowance claim.
10. Tell HMRC about a change of name or address
Keeping your details up to date with HMRC is important. Your Personal Tax Account allows you to tell HMRC about a change of name or address. GOV.UK also confirms that you can create a Personal Tax Account when signing in for the first time to update your address.
Updating your details reduces the risk of missed letters, delayed refunds or incorrect tax records.
11. Check or update work benefits
If you receive taxable benefits from your employer, such as a company car or private medical insurance, you may be able to check or update these details through your Personal Tax Account. GOV.UK includes company car details and medical insurance as examples of benefits you can check or update.
This matters because taxable benefits can affect your tax code and the amount of PAYE deducted from your salary or pension.
12. Track forms submitted online
Your account can help you track tax forms submitted online. This gives you a clearer view of what has been sent to HMRC and can reduce uncertainty when waiting for HMRC to process a request.
13. Check Child Benefit information
Your Personal Tax Account can be used to check Child Benefit. GOV.UK also provides online services for reporting changes that affect Child Benefit, although only the person claiming Child Benefit can report a change.
This is particularly important if your child’s circumstances change, your family circumstances change, or your income means the High Income Child Benefit Charge may apply.
14. Check a Simple Assessment tax bill
If HMRC sends you a Simple Assessment tax bill, your Personal Tax Account can help you check it. Simple Assessment is usually used where HMRC believes tax is owed but a full Self Assessment tax return may not be required. GOV.UK lists checking a Simple Assessment tax bill as a Personal Tax Account service.
15. Check historic tax credits information where relevant
Tax credits have now ended. GOV.UK states that tax credits ended on 5 April 2025 and that no more payments will be made. However, some individuals may still need to contact HMRC about historic tax credits issues, such as overpayments or previous claims.
16. Review working-from-home tax relief claims for earlier years
Working-from-home tax relief has changed. From 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027, employees cannot claim tax relief for working from home, but GOV.UK says claims can still be made for the previous 4 tax years where eligible.
This means individuals should be careful before assuming they can claim for the current tax year. Eligibility depends on the tax year and the circumstances.
Why is a Personal Tax Account useful?
A Personal Tax Account can help you stay in control of your tax position throughout the year, not just when a deadline is approaching.
It can help you:
- Spot incorrect tax codes earlier
- Check whether HMRC has the right employment income
- Review historic tax paid
- Keep your address and personal details updated
- Access your UTR and National Insurance number
- Monitor Self Assessment information
- Check Child Benefit and State Pension details
- Reduce the need to call HMRC for routine information
For employees, self-employed people, landlords, pensioners and individuals with multiple income sources, regularly checking your Personal Tax Account can help avoid surprises.
When should you speak to an accountant?
Your Personal Tax Account gives you access to HMRC’s records, but it does not always explain whether the information is correct or whether you are claiming everything you are entitled to.
You may benefit from professional advice if:
- Your tax code looks wrong
- You have changed jobs or have more than one job
- You receive employment benefits such as a company car
- You are self-employed or earn untaxed income
- You are a landlord
- You have received a Simple Assessment bill
- You think you have overpaid or underpaid tax
- You need help with Self Assessment
- You have Child Benefit and income above the relevant threshold
- You are unsure whether you can claim tax relief for previous years
Accounting People can help review your HMRC records, explain what the figures mean and support you with tax returns, refunds, Self Assessment and tax planning.
What is a Personal Tax Account?
A Personal Tax Account is a secure online HMRC account that lets individuals check and manage personal tax information, including Income Tax, tax codes, refunds, Self Assessment, Child Benefit, State Pension, National Insurance records, Marriage Allowance, work benefits, UTR details and Simple Assessment bills.
FAQs
Is a Personal Tax Account the same as Self Assessment?
No. A Personal Tax Account is your wider online HMRC account as an individual. Self Assessment is one part of the tax system used by people who need to report income through a tax return. If you are registered for Self Assessment, you may be able to view or manage your return through your Personal Tax Account.
Can I find my UTR in my Personal Tax Account?
Yes, if HMRC has already issued you with a UTR, you may be able to find it in your Personal Tax Account.
Can I find my National Insurance number online?
Yes. GOV.UK says you can view your National Insurance number online if you can prove your identity, for example using a passport or driving licence.
Can I claim a tax refund through my Personal Tax Account?
In many cases, yes. GOV.UK lists claiming a tax refund as one of the things you can do through a Personal Tax Account.
Can I still claim working-from-home tax relief?
For the 2026/27 tax year, employees cannot claim tax relief from HMRC for working from home. However, GOV.UK says eligible claims can still be made for the previous 4 tax years.
Do tax credits still exist?
Tax credits ended on 5 April 2025 and no more payments are being made. Some people may still need to deal with historic issues, such as overpayments or previous claims.
Need help understanding your HMRC records or checking whether your tax code is correct? Accounting People can help you review your Personal Tax Account, identify potential issues and deal with HMRC confidently.
