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Tell Us Once: report a death in one go
Tell Us Once lets you report a death to most government organisations in a single go. It is free and saves a lot of phone calls.
What it is
GOV.UK describes Tell Us Once as a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. A registrar explains it when you register the death. If you do not use it, you must contact each organisation yourself.
When you can use it
- The person lived in England, Scotland or Wales. This includes someone who died while temporarily abroad, such as on holiday.
- The death has been registered, or reported to a coroner (or the procurator fiscal in Scotland) and you have a final or interim death certificate.
- It cannot be used if the person lived in Northern Ireland or lived abroad permanently.
It can be used for a child or baby. However, if you receive benefits as the child's parent or carer, GOV.UK says you must tell the Department for Work and Pensions separately.
How to use it
- At registration, the registrar will either complete the service with you or give you a unique reference number.
- If you get a reference number, use the online service or phone line. GOV.UK says you must use the service within 28 days of getting your unique reference number.
- If an inquest is under way, you can still ask a registrar for a reference number once you have an interim death certificate from the coroner.
What you will need
- the reference number
- the person's surname and date of death
- details of their executor or administrator
- details of any surviving spouse or civil partner, or next of kin if there is not one
- the name of the hospital, nursing home, care home or hospice, if they died in one
You also need the permission of the relevant people before sharing their details. Other information helps: passport, driving licence and vehicle details, council services, Blue Badge, and benefit or pension information. A National Insurance number is needed for some public sector pension schemes and otherwise helps match records faster.
Who it tells
- HM Revenue and Customs (tax, Child Benefit, tax credits)
- Department for Work and Pensions (benefits and State Pension)
- the Passport Office
- DVLA (driving licence and up to five vehicles)
- the local council (Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Blue Badge, council housing, electoral register)
- Veterans UK
- Social Security Scotland
- some public sector pension schemes, such as Armed Forces, Civil Service, Local Government and NHS schemes
What it does not cover
GOV.UK is clear that you still need to contact these yourself:
- banks, building societies, mortgage lenders and insurers
- utility companies
- landlords and housing associations
- private or workplace pension schemes
- property records, if the person owned property
- HMRC business taxes such as VAT
- the Student Loans Company
The banks, pensions and benefits page covers these, and home, tenancy and digital accounts covers the rest.
If you cannot use Tell Us Once
You can report the death to each organisation yourself. GOV.UK suggests, for example, the HMRC Bereavement Helpline, the Department for Work and Pensions Bereavement Service, DVLA and HM Passport Office. Report a death to the Child Benefit Office within 8 weeks. Contact pension providers quickly to avoid overpayments being claimed back.
Practical tips
Have the death certificate or the registrar's details to hand. Sit down with a spouse or next of kin and agree the information you will share. Write down the confirmation you receive. If you are an executor, tell the service so records show who is dealing with the estate. For what happens next, see the checklist.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and they change. Check the official pages linked at the bottom of each page, and ask a solicitor or Citizens Advice about your own situation. Last checked November 2026.