The HMRC app is HMRC's free official app for checking and managing your tax. You can see your tax code, National Insurance number, Self Assessment UTR and what you owe, make payments, claim a refund if you've overpaid, check your State Pension and National Insurance gaps, and manage Child Benefit, signing in with a PIN, fingerprint or face ID.
Most people only open HMRC's website a few times a year, usually in a panic. The HMRC app makes the routine stuff quick: checking a tax code, finding a UTR, paying a bill. It does more than most people realise, including a few things that can save you money. Here's what HMRC says you can do in it.
Getting started
- Download the HMRC app from your phone's app store.
- Sign in with the details you use for HMRC online services. If you don't have any, you can create them in the app.
- Set up a 6-digit PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition for quicker sign-in next time.
What you can check
| In the app | Why it's useful |
|---|---|
| Your tax code | Spot a wrong code before it costs you over the tax year |
| Your National Insurance number | Save it to your Apple or Google wallet |
| Your Self Assessment UTR and what you owe | No hunting through old letters |
| Your Annual Tax Summary and employment history | See where your tax went and confirm your jobs are recorded |
| Gaps in your National Insurance record | Gaps can reduce your State Pension |
| Your State Pension summary | A forecast of what you're building up |
What you can do
- Make tax payments and set reminders so you don't miss a deadline.
- Claim a refund if you've paid too much tax.
- Pay gaps in your National Insurance record.
- Estimate your take-home pay with the tax calculator.
- Tell HMRC you no longer need to send a Self Assessment tax return.
- Update your name or address and choose how HMRC contacts you.
- Track forms and letters you've sent to HMRC.
- Apply for and manage Child Benefit, and Help to Save.
Checking your tax code in the app
Your tax code tells your employer how much of your Personal Allowance to use and how much tax to take. Codes can go wrong, especially around a job change, and a wrong code means the wrong tax every payday until it's fixed. In the app you can see the code and your employment history side by side, which makes it easier to spot when a job you've left is still showing or a new one is missing. If something's wrong, update HMRC from the app or online, and your employer gets the corrected code.
Three features worth knowing about
National Insurance gaps. The app shows gaps in your record and lets you pay to fill them. Gaps can affect your State Pension, so it's worth a look, especially if you've had years abroad, self-employment or time out of work.
Extra income checks. HMRC lists checking whether you need to report additional income from a second job, investments, or a sale or transfer of an asset. If you've started a side hustle, it's a good first stop.
Stop Self Assessment. If you've stopped being self-employed or no longer need to file, you can tell HMRC in the app. That can save you from penalties for returns you didn't think you needed to send.
What the app doesn't replace
The app is for checking and managing. You still file a full Self Assessment tax return through HMRC online services or compatible software, and sole traders and landlords who come into Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will use compatible software for their quarterly updates. Think of the app as the dashboard, not the whole filing system.
Is the HMRC app safe?
It's HMRC's own app, so download it from your phone's official app store rather than through a link in a message. HMRC says it will never ask you to disclose personal or payment information by text message, so if a message points you to an "HMRC app" download or update, ignore it and open the app or GOV.UK yourself.
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Who gets the most from the app
- Employees who want to check their tax code and claim a refund after a job change.
- The self-employed, for their UTR, what they owe and payment reminders.
- Anyone approaching retirement, for the State Pension summary and National Insurance gaps.
- Parents, to apply for and manage Child Benefit.
- People on a low income, who can check whether they're eligible for Help to Save.
Common problems
- Can't sign in. Use the same details as your HMRC online services account, or create new ones in the app.
- Can't see Self Assessment details. Your UTR appears once you're registered and HMRC has issued it.
- Tax code looks wrong. Check your employment history in the app first, then update HMRC.
My verdict
Everyone who pays UK tax should have the HMRC app. It's free and it's the official source. Five minutes with it can catch a wrong tax code, find a missing UTR or show a National Insurance gap you'd want to fix. If you're earning on the side, pair it with my sole trader vs limited company guide and, for creators, AdSense payments in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HMRC app free?
Yes. It's HMRC's official app, and you sign in with your HMRC online services details.
Can I find my UTR in the HMRC app?
Yes. The app shows your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference and how much tax you owe.
Can I claim a tax refund in the HMRC app?
Yes. HMRC says you can claim a refund in the app if you've paid too much tax.
Can I file my tax return in the HMRC app?
The app lets you check and pay, but you file your Self Assessment return through HMRC online services or software.
How do I sign in to the HMRC app?
With your HMRC online services details, then a 6-digit PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition.
