Your First Login

What this is

When you first log in as an individual, you land on your personal Dashboard - the central place for managing your MTD submissions. On your first visit, the dashboard will be mostly empty because you have not yet connected to HMRC. This guide walks you through what you see and the steps to start filing your returns.

What you see on screen

On your first login, the Dashboard at /app shows:

• Your obligations overview - this will be empty until you connect to HMRC
• A prompt to connect with HMRC - the app needs your authorisation to retrieve your tax obligations and submit returns on your behalf
• The sidebar on the left with navigation sections
• The header at the top with the Aligned logo, your tax year selector dropdown, notifications bell, and the help assistant icon

The sidebar includes these items:

• Dashboard - your personal overview (you are here)
• My Businesses - manage your business income sources
• Quarterly Statuses - see which quarters are open, fulfilled, or overdue
• Upload Quarterly Data - upload your spreadsheet
• Past Submissions - view your submission history
• Tax Estimate - in-year tax calculation

How to get started

Follow these steps to set up your account and start filing:

Step 1: Connect to HMRC

You need to authorise Aligned to communicate with HMRC on your behalf. This is a secure process using your Government Gateway credentials.

1. Look for the Connect to HMRC prompt on your dashboard
2. Click to start the authorisation process
3. You will be redirected to the HMRC Government Gateway login page
4. Sign in with your Government Gateway user ID and password
5. Grant Aligned permission to access your MTD data
6. You will be redirected back to Aligned with your account now connected

Step 2: Check your obligations

Once connected, your dashboard will populate with your tax obligations:

1. Your quarterly deadlines will appear showing which periods are open
2. Check the Quarterly Statuses page for a detailed view of all your obligations
3. Note any upcoming deadlines - these are the quarters you need to submit data for

Step 3: Upload your first spreadsheet

When you are ready to submit your quarterly data:

1. Go to Upload Quarterly Data in the sidebar
2. Upload an Excel file (.xlsx) - or download the pre-formatted template first
3. Use Smart Map to match your spreadsheet columns to HMRC fields
4. Review your data and submit to HMRC

Things to know

• Government Gateway credentials are required. You need an active Government Gateway account registered for Self Assessment to connect with HMRC. If you do not have one, register at gov.uk.
• Your connection is secure. Aligned uses the official HMRC OAuth process. Your Government Gateway password is never stored by Aligned - only a secure authorisation token.
• Tokens expire periodically. If your connection to HMRC expires, you will be prompted to reconnect. This is normal and only takes a moment.
• The tax year selector in the header controls which tax year’s data you see. Make sure it is set to the correct year before uploading or reviewing.

FAQ

What is Government Gateway?

Government Gateway is HMRC’s login system for accessing online tax services. If you are registered for Self Assessment, you already have a Government Gateway account. If not, you can create one at gov.uk.

Why do I need to authorise Aligned?

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

What if my HMRC connection stops working?

Authorisation tokens expire after a set period. When this happens, you will see a prompt to reconnect. Simply click through the authorisation process again - it only takes a few seconds since HMRC remembers your previous consent.