Connecting to HMRC

What this is

Before Aligned can retrieve your tax obligations or submit returns on your behalf, you need to connect your account to HMRC. This is a secure authorisation process where you enter your National Insurance number, sign in with your Government Gateway credentials, and grant Aligned permission to communicate with HMRC for you.

What you see on screen

When you need to connect, the app takes you to the Get Started with HMRC page. This page shows:

• A National Insurance number input field (for individuals) or Agent Reference Number field (for agents)
• A “What happens next” checklist showing the four steps of the connection process
• A Connect to HMRC button (enabled once you enter a valid identifier)
• A security note confirming the connection uses OAuth 2.0

If you have not yet connected, the dashboard automatically redirects you to this page.

How to connect

1. Enter your National Insurance number on the Get Started page in the format AA 12 34 56 A
2. Click “Connect to HMRC” - you are redirected to the HMRC Government Gateway sign-in page
3. Sign in with your Government Gateway user ID and password and grant Aligned permission
4. Watch the progress page - Aligned checks your MTD status, fetches your business details, and loads your obligations. Each step ticks off as it completes.
5. You are redirected to your dashboard once setup is complete

Once connected, your dashboard will populate with your tax obligations and you can begin uploading data and filing returns.

Things to know

• You need an active Government Gateway account. If you do not have one, register at gov.uk before attempting to connect.
• Your Government Gateway password is never stored by Aligned. The connection uses a secure OAuth process - Aligned only receives an authorisation token, not your password.
• Your NINO is encrypted at rest using PII-specific encryption and is never stored in plain text.
• The connection expires after 18 months. When it expires, you will see a prompt to reconnect. Your NINO will be pre-filled from your previous connection.
• You can reconnect at any time. If your connection shows as expired, the Get Started page will show “Reconnect to HMRC” with your details pre-filled.

If something goes wrong

Government Gateway credentials rejected

Make sure you are using the correct user ID and password for your Government Gateway account registered for Self Assessment. If you have forgotten your credentials, you can recover them through gov.uk.

Invalid NINO format

Check the format is two letters, six digits, one letter (e.g. QQ 12 34 56 A). Prefixes BG, GB, NK, KN, TN, NT, and ZZ are not valid.

Progress page shows an error

If a step fails on the progress page, click Try Again to retry from that step. If it fails repeatedly, click Return to Get Started to start over.

Connection shows as expired

You will be taken to the Get Started page with “Reconnect to HMRC” and your NINO pre-filled. Simply click through the authorisation process again.

“Not enrolled for MTD” message

If HMRC reports that your account is not enrolled for Making Tax Digital, you will see a warning during the connection. You can still continue to your dashboard, but you will need to enrol for MTD with HMRC before submitting returns. Check your eligibility at gov.uk/guidance/sign-up-your-business-for-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax.

FAQ

What is Government Gateway?

Government Gateway is HMRC’s online sign-in service. It is the system you use to access any HMRC online services, including Self Assessment, PAYE, and Making Tax Digital. If you are already registered for Self Assessment online, you have a Government Gateway account.

Why do I need to authorise Aligned?

HMRC requires that any software acting on your behalf has your explicit permission. This is a legal requirement of Making Tax Digital. The authorisation confirms that you consent to Aligned retrieving your obligations and submitting returns for you.

Is it safe to connect?

Yes. The connection uses the same OAuth 2.0 process that all HMRC-approved MTD software must use. Your Government Gateway password is never shared with Aligned - only a secure token that allows Aligned to communicate with HMRC.