Comparison

HMRC vs Customs ePay

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HMRC

Manage your taxes, benefits, and savings securely and easily. Check your tax code, claim refunds, and track your State Pension. Access Self Assessment and Child Benefit information, and find your National Insurance number.

Highlights
  • Quick secure sign-in
  • Check tax code and pay
  • Claim tax refunds
  • View State Pension details
  • Self Assessment payments
  • Manage Child Benefit
  • Find National Insurance number
Features
Read full description

Take control of your money and tax with the HMRC app It’s secure, free to download, and easy to use. Get on it, and join millions of people already saving time with the HMRC app. Key Features: - Quick setup: sign in using face recognition, fingerprint scan, or a six-digit PIN - Stay in control: check your tax code and see your pay before it even shows in your bank, so you know you're paying the right amount - Claim a tax refund: find out if you’re due any tax back from us and quickly claim a refund if you’re owed one - Check your State Pension: see how much State Pension you could get, when you can get it and how to increase it, if you can - Self Assessment: a safe and secure way to make Self Assessment payments and get information you'll need to file - Child Benefit support: claim, manage, and update your Child Benefit details - National Insurance: find and save your National Insurance number so you have it when you need it - Go paperless: opt to receive key messages from HMRC online Download the HMRC app today and stay on top of your money and taxes

About

Customs ePay

This app simplifies the process of paying import duties and taxes on goods. It helps ensure your parcels are not delayed at customs by providing a quick and secure payment solution.

Highlights
  • Pay import duties and taxes
  • Secure payment processing
  • Avoid parcel delays
  • Receive payment notifications
  • Streamlined customs clearance
Features
Read full description

If you have received an SMS text message or an email informing you of the need to pay Import duty or tax from Customs ePay, this is because the seller of your goods has not charged you for either the import duty, in country tax or in some cases both at the point of purchase. Customs ePay is designed to make it easier for you to make these payments quickly and securely, which means that your parcel avoids being delayed at customs.

Screenshots

HMRC4 screens
Customs ePay4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HMRC at 47% against Customs ePay's 0%. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HMRC ships an update monthly, Customs ePay every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
HMRC versus Customs ePay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHMRCCustoms ePay
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (600 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews47.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings600 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB87 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHMRCCustoms Clearance Limited

Customer experience

HMRC

All ratings600 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews870 reviews
Positive47.5%
Neutral4.9%
Negative47.6%

Customs ePay

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

HMRC

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Endless login loops and redirects
  • App freezing and becoming unresponsive
  • Inconsistent behavior after app updates
  • Issues with Face ID and biometric authentication

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved notification system for tax updates
  • Ability to view and manage tax details in-app
  • Better integration with banking apps for payments
  • More user-friendly design and navigation

Customs ePay

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

HMRC

No in-app purchases

None

Customs ePay

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HMRC free?
HMRC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Customs ePay free?
Customs ePay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HMRC or Customs ePay have ads?
Neither HMRC nor Customs ePay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HMRC or Customs ePay?
HMRC ships an update monthly, and Customs ePay every 2 months. Most recently, HMRC was updated on October 15, 2026 and Customs ePay on October 7, 2026.

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