What is a Personal Tax Account?

If you’re self-employed, a company director, or receive income that isn’t taxed at source (like rental income or dividends), you’ve probably heard of Self-Assessment. But are you aware of the Personal Tax Account?

It’s a free, secure tool from HMRC that gives you visibility and control over your personal tax affairs, from checking your tax code to tracking payments.

In this post, I’ll break it down simply: what it is, why it matters, and how to set one up.

A HMRC Account, for You as an Individual

A Personal Tax Account is your secure, online space with HMRC. It’s separate from your Business Tax Account, and it’s designed for managing your personal taxes — things like:

• Income from employment or pensions

• Self-Assessment tax returns

• National Insurance contributions

• Marriage Allowance claims

• Tax codes and PAYE history

• Student loan repayments

• State Pension forecasts

Whether you’re self-employed or just need to check your tax code, it’s a helpful way to stay in the loop.

Why Bother If My Accountant Does It All?

It’s true — if you have an accountant, they may complete and submit your Self-Assessment return for you.

But your Personal Tax Account is your direct link to HMRC, and there are real benefits to having access yourself:

✅ See what HMRC sees — including your tax code, returns, and payments

✅ Check your income and employment history

✅ Track payments on account and refund status

✅ Update personal details or apply for allowances

✅ Reduce dependency — stay informed even if someone else manages the process

Think of it like online banking for your taxes. You may not check it every week, but it’s empowering to know you can log in and understand where things stand.

How Do I Set Up a Personal Tax Account?

Getting started is simple — and free.

1. Go to HMRC’s Personal Tax Account page

   👉 https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account

   
   

2. Sign in or create a Government Gateway account

   If you’ve already set up your Business Tax Account, you may already have a Government Gateway user ID but you will need a different Government Gateway login for your Personal Tax Account.  Just make sure you make a note of both.

   
   

3. Have this information ready:

   • National Insurance number

   • Passport or payslip/P60 for ID verification

   • Access to your email and mobile phone for security codes

     
     

4. Follow the prompts to complete setup

   Once verified, you’ll be taken to your Personal Tax Account dashboard — your digital overview of all things personal tax.

Common Uses for Your Personal Tax Account

Here are just a few ways you might use it:

• Check your tax code is correct (especially after a job change or pension adjustment)

• View and download your Self-Assessment tax calculation

• Make payments toward your tax bill

• Claim Marriage Allowance

• Track student loan repayments

• Check your National Insurance record and forecast your State Pension

You might only dip into it a couple of times a year, but when you do, it can save a lot of time, confusion, and unnecessary phone calls.

Let’s chat...

If the idea of setting up your Personal Tax Account feels overwhelming, I’m here to help. I offer friendly, one-to-one support to walk you through the process — with no jargon and no pressure.

📅 Book a call with me here https://calendly.com/esther-freedom-financials/30min

📩 Or drop me a message at Esther@freedom-financials.co.uk

I look forward to connecting with you,

Esther

🌿 Automating the boring, so you can live the beautiful.