What Should You Do If Your Government Gateway Account Is Locked?
By
HuutiMoney
If you are wondering about what to do if your Government Gateway account is locked, you will find the answer to your question in the following blog post. In addition to this, we will also explore the potential reasons why you might be locked out of your Government Gateway account and suggest some steps to follow to avoid this from repeating in the future.
What Should You Do If Your Government Gateway Account Is Locked?
If your Government Gateway account is locked, you will need to wait for at least 2 hours before you can make another attempt to log in. During this time, you should search your emails thoroughly for your Government Gateway account registration details so that you can use them for your next login attempt.
If you are unable to find the login details for your Government Gateway account, it is suggested that you follow these steps so that you are able to log back in:
- go to the Government Gateway website
- click on the link marked “Forgot your password?”
- enter the email address registered on the Government Gateway website
- click on the “Send me a link” button
You will receive an email with a set of instructions to follow. This includes setting up a new password so your Government Gateway account can be accessed again.
However, if you’ve waited for a substantial amount of time that goes beyond 2 hours. You may need to set up a new Government Gateway account in the same way as you did the first time. You will need to provide the following information for this:
- your name
- an email address
- a password
You can use the same email address that you used for the Government Gateway account that you were locked out of.
While it may not be common, but if you are locked out of your Government Gateway account and are unable to log back in even after waiting for a substantial amount of time, you may need to contact HMRC, inform them of your situation and seek their advice on how to proceed further. You can call the HMRC helpline at 0300 2003600.
Why Is My Government Gateway Account Locked?
There are a few reasons why your Government Gateway account might be locked. These include the following:
- You have entered an incorrect password too many times. If you enter an incorrect password (this can be the same password entered repeatedly or different passwords) more than 5 times, your Government Gateway account will be locked.
- There is suspected fraud or malicious activity connected to your Government Gateway account and the system has locked your account to protect your account details from being misused by someone who is trying to access your Government Gateway account,
- You have not been using your account for a long time and it has been locked for being dormant.
How Can I Prevent My Government Gateway Account From Being Locked In The Future?
There are a few things you can do to prevent your Government Gateway account from being locked in the future. These include:
- use a strong password that is different from your other accounts (personal and official)
- write down your Government Gateway user ID and password and keep it in a safe place
- never share your Government Gateway account login details with anyone else
- if you don’t remember your password while trying to log in to your Government Gateway account, select the “forgot password” option rather than entering the wrong password too many times
- try to use your account frequently to keep it active and look out for email notices regarding your account activity
Conclusion:
If your Government Gateway account is locked, you should wait for a few hours before making another login attempt. If you’be==ve forgotten your login details, you can enter your registered email address on the main webpage and request to set up a new password. However, in some cases, you will need to set up a new Government Gateway account to use HMRC’s online services.
References:
HMRC services: sign in or register: Problems signing in – GOV.UK