What is an HMRC tax check for taxi drivers?

An HMRC tax check is a mandatory check introduced in April 2022 under tax conditionality rules. It verifies that taxi and PHV licence applicants are properly registered for tax and have their tax affairs in order. You complete it online through your Government Gateway account and receive a 9-character code that you give to your licensing authority. Without this code, your council cannot issue or renew your licence.

How do I complete a tax check?

Sign in to your Government Gateway account, navigate to the HMRC tax check service, and answer questions about your tax registration and filing history. Once complete, you receive a 9-character tax check code. Give this code to your licensing authority. They verify it directly with HMRC. The code is valid for 120 days, so make sure to submit it to your council before it expires.

What happens if I fail my tax check?

If you fail your HMRC tax check, your licensing authority cannot issue or renew your taxi licence. Common reasons for failure include not being registered for self assessment, having unfiled tax returns, or having outstanding tax debts. TaxiLaw can help you resolve these issues by registering you for self assessment, filing overdue returns, and getting your tax affairs in order so you can pass the check.

Do I need to be registered for self assessment?

Yes. All taxi and PHV drivers who are self-employed must be registered for self assessment with HMRC. If you are not registered, you will fail the tax check and your licensing authority will not be able to issue or renew your licence. TaxiLaw can register you for self assessment and file any outstanding returns quickly.

How long does a tax check take?

The online tax check itself takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes if your tax affairs are in order and your Government Gateway account is set up. However, if you need to register for self assessment, file outstanding returns, or resolve other tax issues first, the preparation can take significantly longer. Plan well ahead of your licence renewal date.

HMRC Tax CheckHMRC Vergi Kontrolu

HMRC Tax Check for Taxi Drivers: Everything You Need to KnowTaksi Soforleri Icin HMRC Vergi Kontrolu: Bilmeniz Gereken Her Sey

Since April 2022, every taxi and PHV driver must complete an HMRC tax check. Your council cannot issue or renew your licence without a valid code.Nisan 2022'den beri her taksi ve PHV soforunun HMRC vergi kontrolunu tamamlamasi gerekmektedir. Gecerli bir kod olmadan belediyeniz ehliyetinizi veremez.

What Is an HMRC Tax Check?

HMRC Vergi Kontrolu Nedir?

An HMRC tax check is a verification process introduced under tax conditionality rules. It was designed to ensure that people applying for certain licences, including taxi and private hire driver licences, are properly registered for tax and meeting their tax obligations.

HMRC vergi kontrolu, vergi kosullu kurallar kapsaminda getirilen bir dogrulama suresidir. Belirli lisanslar icin basvuran kisilerin vergiye duzgun sekilde kayitli oldugunu dogrulamak icin tasarlanmistir.

The check is administered by HMRC but enforced by your local licensing authority. When you apply for or renew your taxi licence, the council requires a tax check code before they can process your application. No code, no licence.

Kontrol HMRC tarafindan yonetilir ancak yerel lisanslama otoriteniz tarafindan uygulanir. Kod yok, lisans yok.

Who Needs to Complete a Tax Check?

Vergi Kontrolunu Kimler Tamamlamali?

Taxi drivers renewing an existing licence, as every renewal now requires a fresh codeMevcut lisansini yenileyen taksi soforleri. Her yenileme artik yeni bir kod gerektirir
Taxi drivers applying for a new licence (where they have held a licence before)Yeni lisans icin basvuran taksi soforleri (daha once lisans sahibi olmuslarsa)
Private hire drivers renewing or reapplying. The same rules apply to all PHV driversYenileyen veya yeniden basvuran ozel kiralama soforleri
Private hire operators applying for or renewing an operator licenceOzel kiralama operatorleri: operator lisansi icin basvuranlar
Drivers moving between councils. You still need a valid tax checkBelediyeler arasi gecen soforler. Hala gecerli bir vergi kontrolu gereklidir

How to Complete Your HMRC Tax Check

HMRC Vergi Kontrolunuzu Nasil Tamamlarsiniz

Sign in to Government Gateway

Sign in to your Government Gateway account. If you don't have one, create one at gov.uk. Allow extra time, as verification can take a few days.

Go to the HMRC tax check service

Navigate to the HMRC tax check service through your Government Gateway dashboard.

Answer the questions

HMRC asks about your tax registration, self assessment filing status, and tax payments. Answer honestly. HMRC cross-references your answers.

Get your tax check code

Receive a 9-character alphanumeric code valid for 120 days. Save it somewhere safe.

Give the code to your licensing authority

Provide the code to your local council licensing team. They verify it with HMRC. Once verified, your application can proceed.

Top tip: Make sure your self assessment is filed and any tax owed is paid before you start the tax check. Outstanding returns or debts are the most common reason drivers fail.

Ipucu: Vergi kontrolunu baslatmadan once oz degerlendirmenizin dosyalandigini ve borclu olunan verginin odendigini dogrulayin.

What Happens If You Fail Your HMRC Tax Check?

HMRC Vergi Kontrolunde Basarisiz Olursaniz Ne Olur?

Failing the HMRC tax check means your licensing authority cannot issue or renew your licence. For a taxi driver, that means you cannot legally work until the issue is resolved.

HMRC vergi kontrolunde basarisiz olmak lisanslama otoritenizin ehliyetinizi verememesi anlamina gelir. Sorun cozulene kadar yasal olarak calisaamazsiniz.

The most common reasons drivers fail:

Soforlerin basarisiz olmasinin en yaygin nedenleri:

Not registered for self assessment. Every self-employed driver must be registeredOz degerlendirme icin kayitli degil. Her serbest calisan sofor kayitli olmalidir
Unfiled tax returns. HMRC wants to see that your returns are filed, even if lateDosyalanmamis vergi beyannameleri. HMRC gec olsa bile dosyalanmis gormek ister
Outstanding tax debts. Significant unpaid tax can complicate the processOdenmemis vergi borclari. Onemli odenmemis vergi sureci zorlastarabilir
Incorrect tax registration, such as wrong category or dormant registrationsYanlis vergi kaydi, yanlis kategori veya etkin olmayan kayitlar

If you have failed your tax check, or you suspect you will fail, TaxiLaw can help. We work with taxi drivers every day to resolve exactly these problems. If your tax check has revealed deeper issues, read about our HMRC investigation support.

Vergi kontrolunde basarisiz olduysaniz veya basarisiz olacaginizdan supheleniyorsaniz TaxiLaw yardimci olabilir.

How TaxiLaw Helps Taxi Drivers with Tax Checks

TaxiLaw Vergi Kontrolleri Konusunda Nasil Yardimci Olur

Self assessment registration: we get you registered with HMRC quickly and correctlyOz degerlendirme kaydi: sizi hizli ve dogru bir sekilde HMRC'ye kaydederiz
Filing overdue returns: we prepare and file any outstanding self assessment returnsGeciken beyannamelerin dosyalanmasi: bekleyen beyannameleri hazirlar ve dosyalariz
Resolving tax debts: we negotiate with HMRC on outstanding balancesVergi borclarinin cozumu: odenmemis bakiyeler icin HMRC ile muzakere ederiz
Tax check guidance: we walk you through the online process step by stepVergi kontrolu rehberligi: cevrimici surec boyunca adim adim yonlendiririz
Bilingual support: Turkish-speaking drivers can work with our team in their first languageIki dilli destek: Turkce konusan soforler ekibimizle ana dillerinde calisabilir