The HMRC App – Why It’s More Useful Than You Might Think

If you’ve ever wished you could just check your tax stuff with a few taps on your phone—well, it turns out you can. The HMRC app might not sound like the most exciting addition to your home screen, but for business owners, self-employed folks, and even PAYE employees, it’s surprisingly handy. Let’s take a look at what it does, who can use it, and why it might just be one of the more useful apps you didn’t know you needed.

What Is the HMRC App?

In short, the HMRC app is a free mobile application provided by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. It allows UK taxpayers to access their personal tax information on the go. No digging through paperwork, no waiting for hold music, and no need to boot up a laptop every time you want to check your tax code.

It’s available for both Android and Apple devices—just search for HMRC in your app store (the official one, not a rogue imposter!).

Who’s It For?

The beauty of the HMRC app is that it’s useful for just about everyone:

• Self-employed individuals

• Company directors

• PAYE employees

• Landlords

• Anyone who files a Self Assessment tax return

• And even those who are just trying to keep an eye on their tax codes or National Insurance contributions

Basically, if you interact with HMRC in any way, the app can help streamline the experience.

What Can You Do With the App?

Now for the good stuff. Here’s a rundown of what the HMRC app lets you do—all from your phone:

🧾 Check Your Tax Code

Yes, that confusing string of numbers and letters that determines how much tax you pay. The app shows your current tax code and what it means, helping you understand whether you’re being taxed correctly. Handy if you’ve changed jobs or income streams recently.

💰 View Your Income and PAYE Details

Employees and company directors can see how much income has been reported to HMRC by employers and how much tax has been deducted. It’s useful for double-checking payroll figures or keeping tabs on year-to-date totals.

📅 Track Your Self Assessment

If you’re self-employed or a landlord, you can:

• Check when your next payment is due

• See how much you owe (or are owed!)

• View your past Self Assessment submissions

It’s like having a mini tax timeline in your pocket.

🧾 Manage Your National Insurance (NI)

You can check your NI number, see your contribution history, and even find out whether you’ve got any gaps in your record that might affect things like your State Pension eligibility.

💳 View and Manage Payments

You can make payments to HMRC directly from the app or set up payment plans. It also gives a history of any payments you’ve made—so no more wondering if that direct debit actually went through.

🪪 Access Your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)

For anyone who files a Self Assessment return, your UTR is basically your tax ID. Instead of rifling through old paperwork, you can find it instantly in the app.

🗓️ See Key Dates

The app gives you an easy view of upcoming deadlines—for filing, payments, and more. A quick check-in now and then can help you avoid those dreaded late-filing penalties.

And There’s More...

While those are the most popular features, there are some lesser-known but still helpful functions too:

• Update your address: No need to call or fill out forms.

• Get an estimate of your tax: Based on your earnings and tax code.

• Set reminders: You can add key tax dates straight to your phone’s calendar.

• Enable biometric login: Use your fingerprint or Face ID to log in securely (and much faster than typing a password).

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Is It Secure?

Yes. The HMRC app uses two-factor authentication and biometric login if enabled. You’ll need a Government Gateway account to sign in (you can set this up through the app if you don’t already have one). Once you’re in, your data is encrypted and stored securely. If you’re a bit wary of doing financial admin on your phone—understandable!—it’s worth noting that HMRC has built this app to be both secure and user-friendly. Just remember to keep your phone’s operating system up to date and don’t share your log-in details.

Why We Think It’s Worth Downloading

If you’re the kind of person who likes having a little more control over your financial admin (without spending all day doing it), the HMRC app is a simple way to stay informed. It won’t replace full bookkeeping or tax prep software, but it can definitely complement the tools and systems you already use. Think of it as your quick-glance tax companion—always there when you need to check something in a pinch.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a busy sole trader, a growing small business owner, or someone just trying to stay on top of your tax affairs, the HMRC app is a genuinely helpful tool that’s well worth the free download.

It’s user-friendly, informative, and can save you time, stress, and possibly even money by helping you stay on top of your obligations. You might not use it every day—but when you do, you'll be glad it’s there.