Starting a new job, chasing a mortgage, or finally looking at your pension? A new HMRC survey suggests a lot of people feel underprepared for those money moments — and more than three million customers turned to the HMRC app in July alone for tax information, budgeting tips and everyday account checks.
That matters in Northern Ireland as much as anywhere else in the UK. HMRC is the tax authority for NI taxpayers too, so the same app tools — tax code, PAYE history, National Insurance number, Child Benefit and State Pension forecast — sit in your pocket whether you’re in Belfast, Bangor or beyond.
What the research found
HMRC surveyed more than 5,200 people between late February and mid-March 2026. More than half said they weren’t prepared for life’s financial milestones. One in four admitted they lack basic money knowledge but feel too embarrassed to ask. Plenty wished they’d learned earlier about savings, mortgages and pensions — and about one in ten said they’d never checked their State Pension forecast.
Around one in five said they turn to the HMRC app when they want to understand money and tax. On job changes, more than 40% had used the app for tax code, National Insurance, income or employment history — the kind of detail that lands on day one of a new role.
What you can actually do in the HMRC app
Beyond a quick tax-code check, the app surfaces PAYE income for the previous five tax years, Self Assessment records, Child Benefit details and a State Pension summary. Users can also pull their National Insurance number and save it to a digital wallet. Pop-up explainers sit on services for people who want the plain-English version of tax basics.
HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer Myrtle Lloyd put it simply: whatever stage you’re at, the app is meant to help you face money moments with clearer information. The app is free via GOV.UK, the App Store or Google Play, and currently rates about 4.8 stars on iOS and 4.6 on Google Play.
Why it matters for Belfast and NI
Local businesses and households already feel the weight of tax decisions — from day-to-day PAYE to bigger debates like hospitality VAT north of the border. Keeping your own tax code, NI number and pension forecast straight won’t fix every bill, but it stops small gaps becoming costly ones when you move job, apply for credit or plan retirement.
If you’re self-employed or a landlord, it’s also worth reading alongside HMRC’s wider digital push — including how hundreds of thousands of sole traders and landlords are making tax digital — and the usual reminders around Self Assessment payment deadlines.
Bottom line: if money milestones are on your mind, the HMRC app is a practical first stop for UK and Northern Ireland taxpayers who want facts without the jargon.
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