TRSM92010 - How to: contents: claim a trust and authorise an agent: contents: how to claim a trust online
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-14)


This guidance provides information on how to claim a trust using the online Trust Registration Service (TRS).

The claim a trust process is a security requirement that involves the trustee answering several questions about the trust. The answers they enter must match the information provided to HMRC when the trust was registered or last updated online. If the trustee provides an answer that doesn’t match the information HMRC holds, they will not be able to access the trust’s details.

A trustee must claim a trust:
- to update details of a trust that was registered by an agent
- before authorising an agent to view or make changes to the trust’s details
- to link a new Organisation Government Gateway user ID to the trust
If the trust was registered by someone else, such as an agent, the trustee will need to create a new Organisation Government Gateway user ID to link to the trust before they can claim it.

A trustee cannot use an existing Government Gateway user ID that is associated with another trust or GOV.UK service such as a personal tax account.

Individual Government Gateway user IDs cannot be used to claim a trust.

Claiming a trust online

A trustee can claim a trust online by completing the following steps:

1. Go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manage-your-trusts-registration-service

Alternatively, go to www.gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/) and search ‘Manage your trust’s details’.

2. Read the guidance on the page about claiming a trust and authorising an agent to access the trust.

3. Select the green ‘Start now’ button to access the ‘Sign in using Government Gateway’ page. The green ‘Start now’ button can be found in the ‘Using the online service’ section of the guidance near the bottom of the page.

4. If the trustee already has a Government Gateway account for the trust, they will need to sign in using the trust’s Government Gateway user ID and password, then go to step 9.

If trustee doesn’t have a Government Gateway account for the trust, they will need to continue to step 5 to set up a new account. The trustee will need to set up a new account if the trust was registered by an agent or a different trustee.

5. Select ‘Create sign in details’ to set up a new Government Gateway account for the trust. This link is located below the green ‘Sign in’ button.

6. Follow the instructions on screen to get a Government Gateway user ID for the trust. The trustee should make a note of the Government Gateway user ID and store it securely. They will be asked to enter the user ID and password each time they sign in to the service.

Before the trustee receives the Government Gateway user ID for the trust they will need to:
- Enter their email address
- Enter a code emailed to them by Government Gateway to confirm their email address
- Enter their full name
- Create a password
7. Follow the instructions on screen to set up additional security for the account. An access code will be sent to the trustee each time they sign in to the service.

To set up additional security, the trustee will need to:
- Confirm how they want to receive access codes (for example by text message, voice call)
- Enter a mobile phone number if they have selected to receive access codes by text message. To enter an international phone number, select ‘No’ to the question ‘Are you entering a UK phone number'.
- Enter the 6-digit access code sent from 60551 and select ‘Continue’. The code will expire after 15 minutes.
8. Answer the security questions shown on screen.

9. Check that the information has been entered correctly and select ‘Submit’.

The trustee will be notified on screen if they have successfully claimed the trust.

If the trustee wants to authorise an agent, they will need to tell their agent that they have claimed the trust. For more information on how to authorise an agent online see TRSM92020 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/trust-registration-service-manual/trsm92020).

If the details entered do not match

If the trustee has provided one or more incorrect answers, they will be advised on screen that the details entered do not match. The trustee will have 2 more attempts at claiming the trust before they are locked out of the service for 30 minutes.

The trustee should ensure that their answers match the information that was provided when the trust was registered or last updated. This includes any spaces between or after words.