GOV.UK One. What Is It, And How Will It Affect Us?
Most of us who are in business will, at some point, need to log on to one Government web site or another, whether that be Companies House, DVLA / DVSA, or HMRC for Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, PAYE / NI or VAT etc.
Under existing procedures, we are required to register our personal information with each agency separately.
The aim of GOV.UK One is to streamline this process, thereby allowing us to access a variety of Government agencies and services, using one central set of login credentials Companies House is already beginning to roll this out, and, shortly, this will be extended to many other agencies. The list of these is extensive, but will give us access to many services, a small selection of which will include;
Applying for a vehicle operator licence
Applying to become a social worker
Various apprenticeship services and management
Checking if a health condition could impact on your driving licence
Claiming support, including compensation for victims of violent crime
Finding and applying for grants
Sign a mortgage deed and;
Use a lasting power of attorney
This is by no means an exhaustive list of services that will be accessible, however, for the majority of us, the GOV.UK One account is likely to be used to access our details and submit forms to Companies House and the same for HMRC, thereby replacing the existing HMRC Government Gateway.
HMRC began the changeover last year, and Companies House are currently writing to all company Directors, requesting them to register with the service by the end of November 2025. So far, it is reported that a little under 2 Million users are currently registered on the platform, which gives access to over twenty public service providers, with more services due to transition in the near future.
In order to create your GOV.UK One login, you will need an email address and a means of receiving security codes, either via a mobile phone or authenticator app. You can then create your account using the link here.
Select; ‘Create your GOV.UK One Login’ and follow the step by step instructions.
The beauty of this system is that you will only need to verify your ID once, for all agencies.
Start with the Government Service
Visit the service you need, and you will be directed to the GOV.UK ID check app when identity verification is needed.
Get Your Photo ID Ready
You can leverage one of the following IDs:
UK photocard driving licence
UK passport
Non-UK passport with a biometric chip
UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
UK biometric residence card (BRC)
UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP)
Download the GOV.UK ID Check App
For iPhone users: Ensure your device runs iOS 14 or higher.
For Android users: Ensure your device runs Android 10 or higher. Search for the app in the App Store or Google Play, or scan the QR code if using a computer or tablet. Make sure you’re not in private browsing or incognito mode.
Link the App to the GOV.UK
Open the app and follow the prompts to link it with the service you are trying to access. Tap ‘Continue,’ and on the ‘Link this app to GOV.UK’ screen, select the ‘Link app to continue’ option.
Scan Your Photo ID
UK Driving Licence: Place the licence on a dark, matte surface to avoid glare, ensuring it fits within the app’s frame. The app will automatically capture the photo.
Passport: Ensure your passport has a biometric chip, then scan it with your phone and follow the app’s instructions to scan your face.
BRP/BRC: Take a photo of your BRP or BRC, scan the chip, and follow the instructions to scan your face.
Scan Your Face
Use your phone’s front camera to align your face with the on-screen oval. Look straight ahead and hold still while the app scans your face.
Once you complete these steps, your identity will be verified, and you’ll be able to use GOV.UK One Login for multiple programs without needing further verification.
Whilst this might all seem a bit of a faff, it will make things so much simpler in the long run, with all applicable agencies working from one set of login credentials, and the need to verify your ID just the once, when signing up for the service.
