How to recover your HMRC login user ID

If you’ve lost the User ID you used for your HMRC login, you can request a new one directly by visiting the HMRC Services registration page.

Here’s a guide on what to do once you’re there.

Once on the page above, go to the “problems signing in” section and click “user ID”.

You’ll be taken to another page where you’ll be asked to select what account you have. Select “individual” if you’re looking to do your personal tax return.

Next you’ll have to tell HMRC if you’ve used any online tax service before:

• If this is your first time, select “None”.
• If you’ve done your tax return before, select “Self Assessment”.

If you’ve never used HMRC online before

In this case HMRC will need more information about you – in case you have used the service before but forgot.

If they can’t find you then you’ll be directed to creating a new User ID.

This will allow HMRC to match you with existing records from their database.

If they can’t find you, you’ll be directed towards creating a new User ID.

Click “Continue” – it’s very straightforward.

If you’ve submitted a Self Assessment in a previous year

In this case things are a bit simpler.

You’ll simply need to provide the same information to HMRC and select how you prefer to receive your User ID: online or by post.

Select online if you’re sure of the email address you used previously.

Otherwise choose “receive my ID by post”. Of course, this will take longer: around 14 days.

Click “submit” and you’re done!