Can I Find My Company UTR Online?

Yes. You can request your company's Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) online through GOV.UK if you have a UK limited company and cannot find the number. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will send the UTR to the business address registered with Companies House.

If your company already has its Corporation Tax service set up, you may also be able to access its tax information through your HMRC business tax account. However, if you have never received the UTR or cannot access the relevant service, requesting it online is usually the best starting point.

Your company UTR is a 10-digit number used to identify your business for Corporation Tax purposes. You may need it to activate HMRC online services, file a Company Tax Return, manage Corporation Tax payments or communicate with HMRC. This guide explains how to find your company UTR online, what to do if your company is new, how long the process takes and what options are available if you cannot access your HMRC account.

How Can I Find My Company UTR Online?

The quickest option is HMRC's official UTR service. Follow these steps:

1. Open the official GOV.UK UTR service.
2. Select the guidance for a limited company rather than an individual or sole trader.
3. Follow the instructions to request your company's Corporation Tax UTR.
4. Check that the company's registered office address is correct at Companies House.
5. Wait for HMRC to send the UTR to that registered business address.

HMRC confirms that limited companies can request their Corporation Tax UTR online and that the number will be sent to the address registered with Companies House. Use the official government website rather than an unofficial service that claims it can retrieve your tax reference. Your UTR is confidential business information, so there is no need to share company tax credentials with third-party websites.

Can you see the UTR immediately online?

Not necessarily. Requesting your company UTR online does not mean HMRC will display the number on screen immediately. The online service is a way to request the reference, which HMRC sends to the company's registered business address. This distinction matters if you need the number urgently to set up an online account. You may need to wait for the letter before completing the next stage.

Can I Find My Company UTR in My HMRC Online Account?

Yes, if your company's Corporation Tax service is already set up, you may be able to access its tax information through your HMRC business tax account. Start here: Sign in to HMRC online services. Once signed in, select your business tax account and look for the Corporation Tax service. If it has already been added, you can use the available service to manage Corporation Tax matters, including filing Company Tax Returns and making payments.

However, there is an important limitation: you generally need your company UTR to add the Corporation Tax service to your business tax account in the first place. If you have never enrolled for Corporation Tax online and do not know the number, request it through GOV.UK instead. Your login details are also different from your UTR. A Government Gateway user ID or GOV.UK One Login credentials allow you to access online services; they do not identify your company for Corporation Tax.

Where Else Can I Find My Company UTR?

If you cannot retrieve the number through your online account, check your existing business records before requesting a replacement.

1. Check letters from HMRC

HMRC sends company UTRs by post. Look for correspondence about Corporation Tax, particularly the initial letter sent after your company was set up for Corporation Tax. The UTR may be described as a “Unique Taxpayer Reference”, “UTR” or “tax reference”.

2. Review previous Company Tax Returns

If your company has filed a Company Tax Return before, check previous returns and related Corporation Tax documents. HMRC notices to file a return, tax calculations and payment correspondence may also contain the reference.

3. Ask your accountant or formation agent

If an accountant, tax adviser or company formation agent helped establish your company, they may have retained relevant HMRC correspondence or recorded the UTR in your company's tax records. Make sure they provide the UTR for the correct company. If you own several limited companies, each company's Corporation Tax record must be treated separately.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Company UTR?

HMRC says you will usually receive a UTR by post around 15 days after registering your company. If you have not received it within 15 working days, you can request it online. Delivery may take longer if you live overseas. If you are waiting for your company's UTR, use this checklist:

• Confirm the registered office address. HMRC sends the UTR to the business address registered with Companies House.
• Check who receives the post. If your company uses a registered office service, ask whether official correspondence has arrived and whether it has been forwarded to you.
• Check your incorporation records. Confirm the company was successfully incorporated and that you are using its correct legal name and registration number.
• Request the UTR online if it has not arrived. Use the official GOV.UK service rather than submitting duplicate requests through multiple unofficial channels.

If you are an overseas founder, allow additional time for international post. HMRC also notes that certain steps in setting up online Corporation Tax services can take longer when you live abroad. Do not assume that waiting for a UTR removes your company's tax responsibilities. Keep track of when your company begins doing business and check what you must report to HMRC.

What If You Have Just Registered a UK Limited Company?

New company owners often expect to receive every tax reference immediately after incorporation. In practice, company registration and tax administration involve separate steps. When Companies House incorporates your company, it issues a company registration number (CRN). The company's UTR is an HMRC tax reference associated with its Corporation Tax record. If you have recently registered your company, the process may look like this:

1. Companies House confirms the company's incorporation and issues its company registration number.
2. HMRC establishes or updates the company's Corporation Tax record as appropriate.
3. HMRC sends the company UTR by post.
4. You use the UTR and other required information to add Corporation Tax to your HMRC business tax account.
5. HMRC sends a separate activation code for the online Corporation Tax service.

HMRC says that the activation code is normally sent within 10 days, or within 21 days if you live abroad. This code is not the same as your UTR. You should add Corporation Tax services when your company starts doing business. HMRC describes business activity broadly: it can include buying, selling, advertising, renting property or employing someone.

What If You Cannot Access Your HMRC Account?

If you have forgotten your login details, start with the official HMRC sign-in and account guidance. Follow the recovery options for the type of account you use. If you can sign in but cannot see Corporation Tax, check whether the service has been added to your business tax account. If you have not enrolled, you will need the company UTR and other required details to do so.

If the company UTR itself is missing, requesting it online is usually the appropriate route. If the online process does not resolve the issue, use HMRC's official Corporation Tax contact page: HMRC states that you can ask for a copy of your Corporation Tax UTR if you do not know it. Its advisers cannot simply give the reference over the phone, so be prepared to follow the relevant request process.

Company UTR vs Company Registration Number: What Is the Difference?

These numbers are easy to confuse, particularly when you are setting up your first company.

A company registration number is issued during incorporation. A company UTR is used for Corporation Tax administration. A personal UTR belongs to an individual, while a VAT number is associated with VAT registration. For example, if HMRC asks for your company's UTR, entering the company registration number will not meet the requirement. Both numbers should be recorded separately in your business documents.

For founders using a UK company formation and management platform such as IncorpUK, keeping incorporation records distinct from ongoing tax records can help make administrative tasks easier to manage.

What Should You Do After Finding Your Company UTR?

Once you have the number, take a few practical steps to reduce the risk of future delays.

Set up your Corporation Tax service. If you have not already enrolled, follow HMRC's instructions for adding Corporation Tax to your business tax account.

Keep the UTR secure. Store it with your company's important tax documents, but do not share it unnecessarily or confuse it with login credentials.

Check your company's tax responsibilities. Keep track of when the company started doing business and any deadlines communicated by HMRC. A company may still have filing obligations even if it has made a loss or has no Corporation Tax to pay.

Keep the registered office address current. HMRC sends important correspondence to the registered business address, so make sure it is accurate and that someone can receive official post.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I find my company UTR online for free?

Yes. HMRC provides an official online service to request your company's Corporation Tax UTR. Use the GOV.UK UTR service.

2. Can I view my company UTR instantly online?

Not always. If your Corporation Tax service is already active, you may be able to access company tax information through your HMRC business tax account. Otherwise, requesting the UTR online usually results in HMRC sending it by post to your registered business address.

3. Can I find my company UTR using my company registration number?

Your company registration number identifies the company at Companies House, but it is not the UTR. You can use HMRC's official process to request the Corporation Tax UTR separately.

4. How long does HMRC take to send a company UTR?

HMRC says a UTR usually arrives by post around 15 days after registration. If it has not arrived within 15 working days, you can request it online. Overseas delivery may take longer.

5. Can my accountant find my company UTR?

Your accountant may have a copy in your company's tax records or previous HMRC correspondence. If not, they can help you follow HMRC's official process, provided they are authorised to act for the company where required.

6. Is my company UTR the same as my personal UTR?

No. A personal UTR relates to an individual's tax affairs, commonly Self Assessment. A company UTR identifies the company's Corporation Tax record. Both are normally 10-digit numbers, so check the relevant HMRC document rather than relying on the format.

7. What if my company UTR has not arrived?

Check that your registered office address is correct and that post can be received there. If you have not received the UTR within 15 working days of registering your company, request it through the official GOV.UK service.

8. Can I set up Corporation Tax online without my UTR?

You generally need the company's 10-digit UTR to add Corporation Tax to your HMRC business tax account. If you do not have it, request it first.

Conclusion

You can find your company's UTR online by using HMRC's official GOV.UK service to request it. If your Corporation Tax service is already active, you may also be able to access the relevant information through your HMRC business tax account. If neither option works, check your HMRC letters or follow the official Corporation Tax contact guidance.

Remember that the UTR is different from your company registration number, personal UTR and HMRC account credentials. Keep these details separate, ensure your registered office address is accurate and organise your company's tax records from the start. For new and growing businesses, these simple habits make it easier to manage Corporation Tax administration and respond to HMRC when necessary.