How do I turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app?

Signing in with a password asks for a code by email unless you set up an authenticator app. Signing in with Google asks for your authenticator code if you have one. A Google sign-in without one has no second step, so it cannot connect to HMRC or use your HMRC data until you set up an authenticator app. To set one up, open Settings → Account, select Set up authenticator app, scan the QR code, then enter the 6-digit code and select Verify & enable.

Where to find it in EasyTaxer: Settings → Account → Two-Factor Authentication

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Before you start

An authenticator app, for example Google Authenticator, 1Password or Aegis.

Step by step

Open Settings, Account from the menu and find Two-Factor Authentication. Without an authenticator app, signing in with a password asks for a code by email and signing in with Google asks for no code — and a Google sign-in with no code cannot connect to HMRC until you set up an authenticator app.
Select Set up authenticator app. If you signed in with Google or a passkey, first enter the 6-digit code EasyTaxer emails you.
Scan the QR code with your authenticator app (for example Google Authenticator, 1Password or Aegis), or add the secret shown under it by hand. Keep the secret private.
Enter the 6-digit code your app shows and select Verify & enable.
From then on, signing in with a password or with Google asks for a code from your app instead.
To turn it off, enter a current code from your app under Current code (to turn off) and select Turn off authenticator app. Signing in with a password then asks for an emailed code again.

Steps: the text version of this video

Two-factor authentication

Every sign-in to EasyTaxer already needs a code we email you. To use an authenticator app instead, open Settings, then Account.
Set up authenticator app

Select Set up authenticator app. Scan the QR code with an app such as Google Authenticator, 1Password or Aegis, or add the secret by hand.
Verify and enable

Enter the six-digit code your app shows, then select Verify and enable.
It's on

From now on, every sign-in asks for a code from your app. To turn it off, enter a current code and select Turn off.

What happens next

From then on, signing in with a password or with Google asks for a code from your app. To turn it off, enter a current code and select Turn off authenticator app; signing in with a password then asks for an emailed code again.

Related

On the same page in EasyTaxer: How do I sign up and connect EasyTaxer to HMRC?
Getting started with EasyTaxer (guide)
Connecting EasyTaxer to HMRC (guide)
Previous in this playlist: How do I download a copy of my data from EasyTaxer?
Next in this playlist: How do I delete my EasyTaxer account?
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Checked against EasyTaxer on 1 October 2026. Screens can change between releases; if something here does not match what you see, please tell us.