The 'Gateway 1046 authentication error' is the most common error that occurs when trying to submit a repayment claim from Fund Filer.

 

It relates to the username and password held at HMRC not matching those being entered when submitting Fund Filer.

 

Passwords

 

The password is almost always the culprit.

 

Passwords are case-sensitive for data submissions through the Gateway of the type that are sent by Fund Filer. They are not case sensitive for logging into your account on the HMRC website. 


Therefore, it’s possible to put in a password that works on the HMRC site but fails when submitting from Fund Filer.

 

If you’re not absolutely sure of what is upper and lower case on your password, log in to the HMRC website, change your password, make a very careful note of the capitals and lower case, put that into Fund Filer and it will work. This workaround rarely fails.

 

Failing to activate your account

 

On registering for the first time with Charities Online, you will be sent an activation code separately by post to activate your account. Nothing will work until you activate your account using this code. To activate, log into the HMRC site at https://online.hmrc.gov.uk and enter the code when asked.


Usernames

 

These don’t often cause a problem. However, remember that the username is a very long number made up wholly of numbers and will have been issued when your charity first registered with HMRC’s Charities Online service. It’s not your HMRC registration number (the one that usually begins with a X)!