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Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once: report a death to government in one step

Tell Us Once is a free government service that lets you report a death to most government departments in a single step, instead of contacting each one separately. There's no rush — the registrar gives you what you need, and you can use it when you're ready.

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Take it one step at a time.

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Get your reference number when you register the death

When you register the death (within 5 days of the medical examiner's office confirming you can register, in England and Wales; 8 days in Scotland), the registrar will offer you Tell Us Once and give you a unique reference number. This number is what unlocks the service. Tell Us Once covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not covered — there you notify departments individually through nidirect.gov.uk.

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Use the service within 28 days of getting the reference

The reference number is valid for 28 days from when the registrar issues it — not from the date of death. You can complete Tell Us Once online at gov.uk/tell-us-once, by phone, or sometimes with the registrar there and then. It takes around 20 minutes. If you miss the 28 days, you can still notify each department yourself; you've lost the shortcut, not the right.

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Have a few details ready before you start

Helpful to gather first: the date of death and the deceased's National Insurance number, plus, if they had them, their passport number, driving licence number, any vehicle registrations, and which benefits or services they received. You'll also be asked for the next of kin, the person dealing with the estate, and anyone receiving certain benefits. Don't worry if some are missing — you can leave gaps and the service still works.

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Let one report reach all the departments at once

From a single report, Tell Us Once notifies HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Passport Office, the DVLA, your local council, Veterans UK, and several public-sector pension schemes — 13 government bodies and your council in total. The State Pension stops automatically on the date of death, and the council updates Council Tax and the electoral register. Departments usually write to confirm within roughly 4 to 8 weeks.

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A short checklist for this step.

Free to use — nothing to sign up for. Work down it at your own pace.

Checklist · 6 steps

Register the death — the registrar gives you the Tell Us Once reference number
Note the 28-day window: it runs from when the reference is issued, not the date of death
Gather the NI number, passport and driving licence numbers, and vehicle registrations
Complete Tell Us Once online, by phone, or with the registrar
Remember it reaches government only — banks, insurers and private pensions are separate
Make a short list of banks, utilities and private pensions to notify yourself

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Answered, plainly.

In one report it tells HMRC, the DWP, the Passport Office, the DVLA, your local council, Veterans UK and several public-sector pension schemes — 13 government bodies in all. This covers things like the State Pension, Council Tax, the passport, the driving licence and the electoral register.

It reaches government bodies only. You still need to contact banks and building societies, insurers, private and workplace pensions, utilities, subscriptions, the Land Registry, and any bank or mortgage provider yourself. Selling or transferring a vehicle is also separate from the DVLA cancellation.

The only time limit is the 28-day validity of your reference number, counted from when the registrar issues it. Most of the wider admin after a death is not urgent. If you miss the window, you simply notify each department directly instead.

The registrar offers Tell Us Once when you register the death and gives you the reference number then. If you weren't offered it, you can phone the Tell Us Once service to set it up.

No. Tell Us Once covers England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland you notify government departments individually — start at nidirect.gov.uk.

Yes. Once you've reported through Tell Us Once, the DWP stops the State Pension and benefits as of the date of death and reconciles any over- or under-payment. You don't need to contact them separately for this.

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Related next steps

↑ OverviewWhat to do when someone dies →→ StepRegistering the death →→ StepNotifying banks and building societies →→ StepPensions after a death →↓ HelpGet help with the forms →

When you're ready

Tell Us Once handles government. For the banks, insurers, pensions and utilities you still have to contact yourself, the free Notification Map gives you the order and what each one asks for, so nothing slips through.

Notification Map — everyone Tell Us Once misses

Informational, not legal or financial advice. This guide covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. Always confirm current rules and figures at GOV.UK before acting.