How to create a Government Gateway Account

If you are planning to apply for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme then you will need to know how to create a Government Gateway Account. Here are some step by step instructions:

You will need to have the following information ready in order to create a Government Gateway Account:

• Your National Insurance Number
• One form of identification from the list below:
  • Payslips from the last 3 months
  • Valid UK Passport
  • Most recent P60

If you don’t have any of these, you may be able to verify who you are through the multiple choice questions but this may involve checking your credit report.

Step 1 – Copy and paste this link to your browser

Step 2 – Click on the green button which says ‘Sign In’

Step 3 – You should have been diverted to a page about COVID-19. Under the heading If you don’t need coronavirus guidance there will be a link ‘continue to account’, which you should click on.

Step 4 – Click the ‘create sign in details’ found directly underneath the green ‘sign in’ button

Step 5 – Enter your email address and press continue. This will send a unique code to your email address.

Step 6 – Enter the unique code that you have just been emailed, and click continue. You will then be prompted to enter your name and to set up your password and a recovery word.  It must be between 6 and 12 characters, with at least one number and no special characters.  Once completed this should generate a government gateway ID for you, which is 12 numbers.  You should take a note of this and keep it somewhere safe.  Click on Continue.

Step 7 – Select the type of account you want to open, which will be individual, organisation or agent. Click on Continue.

Step 8 – Enter your name and set up additional security.  For the additional security, you need to choose how you want to receive an access code, this can be sent via text message, voice call or authorisation app. Click on the appropriate button and follow the on screen prompts.  Once you’ve received the access code you will need to enter this into the relevant box on your screen. Click on Continue.

Step 9 – You will then be asked to complete some security questions to verify who you are. To do this you will need the following information:

• National insurance number
• A form of identification from the list below:
  • Payslips from the last 3 months
  • Valid UK Passport
  • Most recent P60

If you don’t have any of these, you may be able to verify who you are through the multiple choice questions before you can create a Government Gateway Account.

Step 10 – Finally, you choose how to get your legal notices, penalty letters & tax letters which will either be by post or online.

Once all the above steps have been completed you have been able to successfully create a government gateway account.