5.6 million people used the HMRC app in the 2025 to 2026 tax year, checking their pay an average of 18 times each. Checking PAYE information before it lands in the bank account is the single most-used function, at 4.14 million users, ahead of State Pension forecasts, Child Benefit management and National Insurance number lookups.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED Updated 2 July 2026
- 5.6 million people used the HMRC app this tax year, checking pay 18 times on average.
- Checking PAYE pay before payday is the single most-used function: 4.14 million users.
- State Pension forecast checks up almost 664,000 year on year.
- Total annual app logins reached 136 million, up 20% on the year before.
KEY FACTS
- 5.6 million people used the HMRC app since 6 April 2025, checking pay an average of 18 times a year.
- Checking PAYE information before it hits the bank account is the single most-used function: 4.14 million users.
- State Pension forecast checks rose to 2.38 million in 2025, up almost 664,000 on the year before.
- Almost 960,000 people used the Child Benefit area of the app in 2025, up 160,000 on 2024.
- 383,000 people saved their National Insurance number to the app in 2025, up 70,000 on 2024.
- Total annual app logins reached 136 million across the year, up 20% on 2024.
- The app is rated 4.8 out of 5 across more than 237,000 App Store reviews.
HMRC has published fresh usage figures for its app, showing 5.6 million people used it during the 2025 to 2026 tax year, checking their pay an average of 18 times each. The figures give the clearest picture yet of which tax and benefit tasks people are now handling digitally rather than by phone or post.
Checking pay before payday is the most-used function
Of the 5.6 million users, 4.14 million used the app specifically to check PAYE information, including pay details, before the money lands in their bank account. That makes it the single most-used function in the app, ahead of State Pension forecasts, Child Benefit management and National Insurance number storage.
| App function | Users (2025-26 tax year) |
|---|---|
| Checking PAYE pay before payday | 4.14 million |
| State Pension forecast | 2.38 million (+664,000 year on year) |
| Child Benefit management | 960,000 (+160,000 year on year) |
| National Insurance number saved to app | 383,000 (+70,000 year on year) |
Growth across the wider tax base
Total annual logins reached 136 million across the year, a 20% increase on 2024, and total annual app users passed 7.18 million, up from 5.09 million the year before. Self Assessment customers paid £1.6 billion through the app during the 2025-26 tax year, and more than 650,000 families claimed Child Benefit through the app or online in the 12 months to April 2026.
What the growth reflects
The app has expanded steadily since its 2016 launch, moving from a simple tax calculator to a service covering PAYE checks, State Pension forecasts, Child Benefit claims, National Insurance number storage and Self Assessment payments. HMRC's stated ambition is for 90% of interactions to be digital by 2029 to 2030, with further work planned on digitising post and adding customer-specific notifications inside the app.
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DISCLAIMER
This article is editorial information, not financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Figures were correct at the last review date shown above; verify current rates and rules with the primary sources listed below before acting.
Frequently asked questions
How many people use the HMRC app?
5.6 million people used the HMRC app in the 2025 to 2026 tax year, checking their pay an average of 18 times each. Total annual app users passed 7.18 million.
What is the most-used function in the HMRC app?
Checking PAYE information, including pay, before it reaches the bank account. 4.14 million people used this function in the 2025-26 tax year.
Can I check my State Pension forecast in the HMRC app?
Yes. 2.38 million people checked their State Pension forecast in 2025, an increase of almost 664,000 on the year before.
Can I claim Child Benefit through the HMRC app?
Yes. Almost 960,000 people used the Child Benefit area of the app in 2025, and more than 650,000 families claimed Child Benefit online or via the app in the 12 months to April 2026.
SOURCES
- GOV.UK: 5.6 million taxpayers check their pay in the HMRC app an average of 18 times a year – accessed 2 July 2026
