Self-assessment tex return: can someone help me identify my Government Gateway user ID?

[Aridane]

OK - trying to login here and failing at the first hurdle. And HMRC helpline tells you there is no one available to take your call and that call ends.

So I'm trying to work out what my Government Gateway user ID is.

I have options here:
I) UTPR number
ii) something called UserID - which doesn't seem to get me in
iii) a number prefixed with 'IR', and
iv) something that looks more like what would probably a self-chosen password.

Any ideas (before I lock myself out for 2 hours)?

to anyone who can help!

That sounds like similar issues to me. I had to escalate my call to a manager to be given my user number as my email wasn't working. Good luck.

Mine is a 12 digit number, and iirc it was posted to me!

It’s your User ID. Honestly. I had to write this down myself a few years ago and keep the bit of paper

Thanks, Bacon - in which case I'm failing at the password phase!

I had this issue. I now login via Government verify which is much quicker and easier! Takes about 15 mins to set up and you'll need your passport and driving licence.

They will email your gateway id to you if you press the 'forgot my user ID) you can also reset your password if you click on the forgot my password button. It is easier than I thought.

Thanks, all - tax return now filed! Was just confused with the amount of user I'd / UTPR numbers along the way!

The whole HMRC/public online interface is so badly designed it is laughable. It's like they got a sandwich year student to knock it up.

PS very offended by HMRC - they commented on the calculation that my investment income seemed somewhat low compared with. Y overall summary!!!!!

I'm going to have to do this next year - I didn't realise the Govt made comments on the forms!!

I've never had that before, grace! and was a bit

(it would have been an automated comment - sorry, HMRC, that my ntefest on savings is so low. Tips for higher investment returns welc Med!!)

oh I realise it's automated but wow, who built that into the system?!

sorry, I've been interested in this because I will be freelancing and I was puzzling over people employing accountants because of the nightmare of forms. I am beginning to see the nightmare of forms from the posts on MN about this.

It's like they got a sandwich year student to knock it up.

Nah - a sandwich year student would have done a much better job. It's awful and hideous - I'm an accountant and use HMRC online systems daily - it's the worst part of my job by far.

My favourite is a message "HMRC are awaiting confirmation that HMRC have received your return" - complete nonsense.

Oh - I got a comment as well that my expenses were high compared to income!

Guess that means investigation coming my way!

I think it’s Accenture that provide the hmrc IT - it will be a very highly paid consultant that did the messages then!

@Eve

one contact of mine gave up freelancing after being investigated, they didn't find anything but he said it was the most stressful experience ever. I couldn't tell if that's because he couldn't provide receipts etc.

Also confused about why you don't have to put all interest earning accounts on a tax return (apparently?) - if I was doing it, I'd put it on if it only made 2pence in the tax year, but I've not done this yet....that said, it doesn't sound like the HMRC forms are going to make things any clearer.

Also confused about why you don't have to put all interest earning accounts on a tax return

You have to declare all interest (well except if under £1).

oh okay, thanks.

Don't understand why I got that (automated) comment as my savings interest this year has been the highest I've ever had. Never had that comment in previous years...

The reason it's such a mess is because each team working in it have to work on a different section, i.e. they're not allowed to doore than one section of the form to avoid any chance of them tweaking people's returns.

I pay my accountant £300pa to do mine plus my company accounts. Very worth it!

Having said that, I do have the Govt gateway thing for various stuff, and they text me a code to log in with. That does make it simple.

They've stuffed up my tax code twice in the last three months though, they seem to be being super efficient but causing problems. I've had to speak to them three times about three different things.

The whole system is ridiculous.