Tell Us Once: how to report a death to government departments in one go
Published · 3 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
Tell Us Once is a free GOV.UK service that lets one person report a death to several government bodies at the same time. This guide explains who can use it, what it covers and what still needs separate contact.
What Tell Us Once is
When someone dies, there are many organisations to inform. Tell Us Once is a service that lets you give the details once, instead of contacting each government department yourself. It is described on GOV.UK as the second step in the process that follows a death, after the death has been registered.
Who can use it
The service is available when the death is reported in England, Scotland or Wales, including a person who died while temporarily abroad. The death must first have been registered, or reported to a coroner, and a final or interim death certificate obtained.
How it works
At the register office, the registrar either completes the service with you or gives you a unique reference number so you can use it yourself online or by phone. GOV.UK says you must use the reference number within 28 days of receiving it.
The phone service can be used with Relay UK for people with hearing or speech difficulties, and there is a video relay service for British Sign Language users.
Registering the death first
GOV.UK says a death should be registered within 5 days in England and Wales, or 8 days in Scotland, of getting confirmation from the medical examiner's office. These time limits include weekends and bank holidays. If more time is needed, the register office should be told straight away. After registering, you get a certificate for burial or cremation, often called the green form, which goes to the funeral director.
Information you may need
- The person's surname, date of death and details of the executor or administrator.
- Details of a surviving spouse or civil partner and the next of kin's address.
- Details of any hospital, care home or similar organisation involved.
- Optional details that can help, such as passport number, driving licence number, vehicle registration and Council Tax details.
- National Insurance numbers for some public sector pension schemes, including Civil Service, Local Government Pension Scheme, NHS Pensions, Pension Protection Fund and Scottish Public Pension Agency schemes.
Who gets told
GOV.UK lists organisations the service contacts, including HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Passport Office, DVLA, local councils, Veterans UK and Social Security Scotland. Public sector pension schemes are also told so that future payments can stop.
What you still need to do yourself
Tell Us Once does not reach private firms. GOV.UK says you will need to contact banks, mortgage providers, insurance companies, utility providers, private pension schemes and employers separately. Other tasks listed include updating property records, telling DVLA about any change in vehicle ownership, telling HMRC about business taxes and the Student Loans Company about any outstanding student debt.
Support
Dealing with a death while grieving is hard, and many people find the paperwork difficult. Free, impartial help with the money side is available from MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice, and GOV.UK has a section on finding bereavement support.
Check before you act
Rules, time limits and what the service covers can change, and some details differ between the nations of the UK. It can be worth confirming everything on the official GOV.UK pages linked below before relying on this guide. Figures and time limits here were checked on 7 October 2026.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
