A personal tax account is your own secure online space on the HMRC website where you can view, manage, and update your personal tax details — all in one place, without calling HMRC or waiting weeks for a letter. If you are self-employed, a sole trader, or a business owner in the UK, having access to your personal tax account is one of the simplest things you can do to stay on top of your tax affairs.
What is a Personal Tax Account?
A personal tax account (often called a PTA) is a free online service provided by HMRC — HM Revenue & Customs. Think of it like an online banking app, but instead of your bank balance, it shows your tax records, National Insurance history, tax codes, and any refunds you may be owed.
HMRC launched the personal tax account in December 2015 to make it easier for people to deal with their tax affairs digitally, rather than relying on phone calls, paper letters, and long wait times.
You can access your personal tax account through the GOV.UK website at any time — it is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Who Needs a Personal Tax Account in the UK?
Anyone who pays tax in the UK can benefit from having a personal tax account. However, it is especially useful if you are:
- Self-employed or a sole trader who needs to file a Self Assessment tax return each year
- A business owner managing income from multiple sources
- A landlord earning rental income
- A contractor or freelancer trying to track your tax position throughout the year
- An employee who wants to check whether their tax code is correct
If you have ever wondered whether HMRC has the right information about you, or whether you are paying the right amount of tax, a personal tax account is where you find out.
What Can You Do With a Personal Tax Account?
This is where it gets genuinely useful. Your personal tax account brings together most of the things you would normally need to phone HMRC about. Here is what you can do once you are logged in:
Can You Check Your Tax Code on a Personal Tax Account?
Yes, and this is one of the most important things to do. Your tax code tells your employer or HMRC how much Income Tax to take from your pay or pension. If it is wrong, you could be paying too much or too little tax without even knowing it.
Inside your personal tax account, you can:
- Check what tax code HMRC currently has for you
- See why HMRC has assigned that code
- Update it if something has changed, for example, if you have stopped receiving a company benefit
Can You View and File Your Self-Assessment Return Through a Personal Tax Account?
Yes. If you are registered for Self Assessment — which most self-employed people and sole traders in the UK will be — your personal tax account lets you view your Self Assessment status, check your deadlines, and in many cases file your return directly online.
For the 2024/25 tax year, the online Self Assessment deadline is 31 January 2026. Missing this date means a £100 automatic penalty, even if you have no tax to pay. Your personal tax account helps you keep track of this.
Can You Claim a Tax Refund Through Your Personal Tax Account?
Yes. If you have overpaid Income Tax — perhaps because you started a job partway through the tax year, were put on an emergency tax code, or stopped working — your personal tax account will show whether a refund is due.
You can claim a refund for up to four previous tax years directly through the account. There is no need to write to HMRC or wait on hold.
What Else Can You Manage in Your Personal Tax Account?
Your personal tax account covers a wide range of tax tasks in one place, including:
- View your National Insurance record — check how many qualifying years you have built up towards your State Pension
- Check your State Pension forecast — see what you are likely to receive and when
- Find your National Insurance number — useful if you have misplaced it
- Find your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) — essential if you are self-employed and need to file a tax return
- Update your address and contact details — so HMRC always reaches you
- Manage your tax credits — check payments and report any changes in your income or circumstances
- Update your company car or work benefits, which affect how much tax is taken through PAYE
- Tell HMRC about changes — such as a new employer, a change in income, or a new child benefit claim
How Is a Personal Tax Account Different From a Business Tax Account?
This is a question that catches a lot of business owners off guard.
A personal tax account deals with your individual tax affairs — your Income Tax, National Insurance, Self Assessment, and personal allowances.
A business tax account (accessed through HMRC’s Business Tax Account portal) handles business-level obligations such as Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE for employees, and the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).
If you run a limited company, you will likely need access to both. If you are a sole trader, your personal and business tax largely overlaps — your personal tax account will be your main point of contact with HMRC.
How Do You Set Up a Personal Tax Account?
Setting up your personal tax account takes around 10 to 15 minutes. You do it online through GOV.UK. Here is what you need before you start:
What Do You Need to Create a Personal Tax Account?
You will need the following:
- Your National Insurance number — this is on any letter from HMRC, your payslip, or a P60
- Proof of identity, which can be one of the following:
- A valid UK passport
- A UK photocard driving licence
- A recent payslip (within the last three months)
- A P60 from a previous employer
What Are the Steps to Set Up a Personal Tax Account?
Follow these steps:
- Go to www.gov.uk and search for “personal tax account”
- Click “Start now” on the HMRC sign-in page
- If you do not already have one, create a Government Gateway account — you will receive a 12-digit User ID by email (keep this safe, as it cannot be changed)
- Enter your National Insurance number and verify your identity using one of the documents listed above
- Set up two-step verification — HMRC will send a code to your phone or email each time you log in
- Once verified, you are in
If you already have a Government Gateway account from a previous employer or from filing a Self Assessment return, you can use those same login details.
Is the Personal Tax Account the Same as the Government Gateway?
Not exactly — but the two are closely connected.
The Government Gateway is the login system HMRC uses to verify your identity before giving you access. The personal tax account is what you see and use once you are logged in.
You could think of the Government Gateway as the front door and the personal tax account as the room behind it.
HMRC is currently rolling out a newer system called UK One Login, which will eventually replace the Government Gateway as the way people access government services online. If you are setting up access for the first time in 2025 or 2026, you may be directed to use UK One Login instead.
Is a Personal Tax Account Safe to Use?
Yes. HMRC’s personal tax account uses the same level of security as online banking. Every time you log in, you are required to verify your identity through two-step verification — a code sent to your mobile phone or email address.
You should never share your Government Gateway login details with anyone other than a trusted and authorised agent such as your accountant. If you do allow your accountant to act on your behalf, they will have separate agent access — they do not need your personal login credentials.
What Happens If You Do Not Have a Personal Tax Account?
You are not legally required to have one, but not having one puts you at a disadvantage — especially if you are self-employed or running a business in the UK.
Without a personal tax account:
- You cannot check online whether your tax code is correct
- You cannot see how much tax you owe or have paid over the year
- You cannot claim tax refunds online
- You may miss important updates or notices from HMRC
- Resolving tax issues means phoning HMRC, which often involves long waiting times
With Making Tax Digital (MTD) continuing to roll out in the UK — requiring sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000 to file quarterly digital updates from April 2026 — having a personal tax account and being comfortable with HMRC’s online services is becoming increasingly important, not optional.
FAQs About the Personal Tax Account
Does a Personal Tax Account Automatically File My Self Assessment?
No. Your personal tax account shows your tax information and gives you access to the Self Assessment filing service, but it does not automatically file your return. You still need to complete and submit your Self Assessment tax return each year by the deadline. Most self-employed people and business owners work with an accountant to do this accurately.
Can My Accountant Access My Personal Tax Account?
Not directly through your own login. If you want your accountant to act on your behalf with HMRC, they need to be set up as your tax agent. You authorise them through HMRC, and they then have access to your tax information through a separate agent login. Your personal account login stays private to you.
What If I Have Gaps in My National Insurance Record?
You can check your National Insurance record inside your personal tax account. If you have gaps — for example, from years when you were not working or not paying enough contributions — you may be able to make voluntary NI contributions to fill them. This can increase your State Pension entitlement. Gaps can generally be filled going back up to six years.
Can I See Previous Tax Years in My Personal Tax Account?
Yes. Your personal tax account lets you look back at previous tax years, check how much Income Tax you paid, and see what records HMRC holds for each year. This is useful if you think you may have overpaid tax in a previous year and want to claim a refund.
Why is a Personal Tax Account Important for Business Owners in the UK?
If you are running a business, even a small one, your personal tax affairs do not sit separately from your work. As a self-employed person or sole trader, you and your business are treated as one entity for tax purposes. That means your personal tax position directly affects how much tax you pay on your business profits.
Having access to your personal tax account means:
- You always know your current tax code and whether it is correct
- You can track your Self Assessment deadlines and avoid late filing penalties
- You have a direct line to your HMRC records without waiting on the phone
- You can spot errors early — before they turn into unexpected tax bills
- You are better prepared when working with your accountant, who can then focus on planning rather than correcting avoidable mistakes
Do You Need Help With Your Personal Tax or Self Assessment?
Understanding what your personal tax account shows is one thing. Knowing what to do with that information — how to file your Self Assessment correctly, how to reduce your tax bill legally, how to stay on the right side of HMRC — is where professional support makes a real difference.
At Right Choice Consulting, we help self-employed individuals, sole traders, and business owners across the UK manage their personal and business tax affairs with confidence. Whether you need help setting up your Self Assessment, reviewing your tax position, or simply making sense of what HMRC is telling you, our experienced team is here.
Disclaimer: All the information provided in this article is general in nature and it does not intend to disregard any of the professional advice.