UK HMRC Gateway account

[Wales4rugbyWC23]

My wife has to report some rental income from the UK from this year onwards. She is non-British resident residing in Japan. I have had problems opening a HMRC gateway account for her, specifically where they ask about credit history also she does not have a British passport. Has any long term British resident been able to open a gateway account recently? when I opened my gateway account about 10 years ago, this question about credit history was not asked. Has anyone been not able to open a gateway account, but been able to submit a tax return?

[fools_gold]

I opened one a few months ago. I can't remember the credit history questions exactly, but one of them was to confirm the address associated with my credit history, along with some questions about loans taken out or credit cards applied for in the past (I think). As I've been here for 20 years now, most of the answers to the questions were "zero". It just seems to be a way of verifying your identity.

[Wales4rugbyWC23]

I opened one a few months ago. I can't remember the credit history questions exactly, but one of them was to confirm the address associated with my credit history, along with some questions about loans taken out or credit cards applied for in the past (I think). As I've been here for 20 years now, most of the answers to the questions were "zero". It just seems to be a way of verifying your identity.

For the first time ever I contacted HMRC by phone and they were surprisingly helpful. It appears they have a specialist department for non-resident Landlords and they explained the process. Basically, I have to send in a paper version of the application for reporting my wife's rental income in the UK and from that application they will send a unique taxpayer reference back to her, which should allow her to open gateway account later.

I have always corresponded with HMRC by post and they have been exceedingly slow, but not only did I get through to someone on the phone almost immediately but they were very helpful.