Where Can I Find My Company’s UTR Number?

If you have a UK limited company and need its Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), the quickest place to start is your company's HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) correspondence. The company UTR is a 10-digit number used to identify the business for Corporation Tax purposes. If you cannot find the original letter, you can check previous Corporation Tax documents or request the number online through GOV.UK. HMRC will send it to the business address registered with Companies House.

Finding the correct UTR matters when setting up your company's HMRC online account, filing a Company Tax Return, paying Corporation Tax or responding to tax correspondence. This guide explains where to look, what to do if your company is new, and how to resolve common problems if the number has not arrived.

What Is a Company UTR Number?

A company UTR is a 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference issued by HMRC for a company's Corporation Tax record. It helps HMRC identify the company when dealing with its tax returns, payments and correspondence. For example, a UTR might look like 1234567890. This is an illustrative number, not a real company's tax reference.

Your company UTR is different from your company registration number, which Companies House issues when the company is incorporated. A company can also have a VAT number, PAYE reference and other identifiers, each serving a different purpose. The distinction is important because entering the wrong reference on a tax form or payment can lead to delays or confusion over which account the transaction relates to.

1. Check Your Company's HMRC Letters

The first place to look is any letter HMRC has sent to your company about Corporation Tax. Search your physical files, scanned documents and business email attachments for correspondence relating to:

• Corporation Tax registration.
• Your company's UTR or tax reference.
• Notices to file a Company Tax Return.
• Corporation Tax payment reminders.
• Corporation Tax bills or other tax correspondence.

The UTR may be labelled “Unique Taxpayer Reference”, “UTR” or “tax reference”. Check that the document relates to your company rather than your personal Self Assessment affairs. Both personal and company UTRs are normally 10 digits, so the number's format alone does not tell you which one it is. If an accountant or tax agent manages your company's tax affairs, ask whether they hold the original HMRC correspondence or have recorded the company's UTR in their client records.

2. Check Previous Company Tax Returns and Tax Documents

If you have filed a Company Tax Return before, the company's UTR may appear on the return or related HMRC documents. Look for:

• Previous Company Tax Returns (CT600).
• HMRC notices asking the company to file a return.
• Corporation Tax calculations and payment correspondence.
• Letters relating to the company's Corporation Tax account.

Make sure you are reviewing documents for the correct legal entity, particularly if you manage more than one company. Each company has its own tax record and UTR; one company's reference must not be used for another company's tax affairs. If your company has never filed a Company Tax Return and you have no Corporation Tax correspondence, move on to the online request process below.

3. Request Your Company UTR Online Through GOV.UK

If you cannot locate the UTR in your records, HMRC provides an official online service for requesting a limited company's Corporation Tax UTR. Use the government service here: Follow the instructions for a limited company. HMRC will send the UTR to the business address registered with Companies House.

Before making the request, check that you have selected the company-specific process rather than guidance for an individual's Self Assessment UTR. You should also confirm that the company's registered office address is correct. If the address has changed, update the relevant Companies House details as required so that official correspondence can reach the right place.

Important: requesting a company UTR is not the same as registering for Corporation Tax, activating an HMRC online service or filing a Company Tax Return. These are related but separate steps.

4. What If Your Company Is Newly Registered?

If you have recently incorporated your limited company, you may not have received its UTR yet. HMRC says you should usually receive the 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. If you are waiting for the number, take these steps:

1. Check the registered office address. Confirm that the address held by Companies House is correct and that post can be received there.
2. Check with your formation agent. If an agent handled the incorporation, ask whether any HMRC correspondence has been received or forwarded.
3. Request the UTR through GOV.UK. Use the official service rather than relying on unofficial websites.
4. Keep your company details ready. You may need your company registration number and other details to complete the relevant HMRC processes.

Overseas founders should allow for additional postal delays. HMRC notes that UTR letters can take longer to arrive if you live abroad. Do not assume that a delay in receiving the UTR means the company has no tax responsibilities. Keep track of when the company begins doing business and check the relevant Corporation Tax requirements.

5. Can You Find Your Company UTR in Your HMRC Online Account?

You may be able to access your company's Corporation Tax information online if you have already set up the relevant HMRC services. To use the Corporation Tax service, sign in to your HMRC business tax account and select the Corporation Tax service if it has been added. HMRC's guidance explains that you can add Corporation Tax services to a business tax account after registering the company with Companies House.

However, there is an important distinction: you generally need the company UTR to enrol for the Corporation Tax service in the first place. If you have never activated the service and do not know the UTR, check your letters or request the number online. Once the service is available, you can use it to manage relevant Corporation Tax matters, including filing returns and viewing information about liabilities and payments.

What about your Government Gateway login?

Your Government Gateway user ID and password allow you to sign in to HMRC online services. They are not your company UTR. Similarly, a Companies House authentication code is used for certain company filings and is not a tax reference. Keep these credentials separate from your UTR and store them securely.

6. What If You Have Lost Your Company UTR and Cannot Access HMRC Online?

If you cannot find the UTR and cannot access the relevant online service, use HMRC's official Corporation Tax contact guidance. You can start here: HMRC's guidance states that a company can request a copy of its Corporation Tax UTR if it does not know the number. The contact options include telephone and post. HMRC may need to communicate confidential information by phone or post rather than provide it immediately through an informal enquiry. Before contacting HMRC, prepare the details that can help identify the company, such as:

• Its full registered name.
• Its Companies House registration number.
• Its registered office address.
• Relevant HMRC correspondence, if available.
• Your role in the company and your authority to deal with its tax affairs.

Do not send sensitive company information to unofficial websites or disclose your tax credentials to someone who claims they can retrieve the UTR for you.

7. What Is the Difference Between a Company UTR and a Company Registration Number?

These two numbers are frequently confused, especially by new business owners.

Your company registration number is assigned during incorporation. Your company UTR relates to the company's tax record. Both are important, but they cannot be used interchangeably. For example, if an HMRC form requests your company's UTR, entering the eight-digit company registration number will not meet that requirement.

If you operate more than one UK company, maintain a separate record for each entity. This reduces the risk of using one company's tax reference on another company's return or payment.

8. What Should You Do After Finding Your Company UTR?

Finding the number is only the first step. Make sure your company's tax administration is properly organised.

Add Corporation Tax services to your business tax account

If you have not already done so, follow HMRC's instructions for adding Corporation Tax to your business tax account. You will need the company UTR and other company details. HMRC will then provide the instructions and activation code required for the service. HMRC says the Corporation Tax activation code is normally sent within 10 days, or within 21 days if you live abroad. This is a separate code from the UTR itself.

Check when your company started doing business

HMRC advises companies to add Corporation Tax services when they start doing business. This can include buying, selling, advertising, renting property or employing someone. A company that is not doing business is usually dormant for Corporation Tax purposes, although its specific circumstances should be considered.

Keep tax references in a secure record

Store the company's UTR alongside its registration number, accounting deadlines, HMRC correspondence and details of any authorised accountant or tax agent. For founders using a UK company formation and management platform such as IncorpUK, keeping incorporation records and ongoing tax administration organised can make it easier to distinguish Companies House requirements from HMRC obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where can I find my company's UTR number?

Check letters from HMRC about Corporation Tax, previous Company Tax Returns and tax payment notices. If you cannot find it, request your company's UTR through the official GOV.UK UTR service.

2. How many digits does a company UTR have?

A company UTR is a 10-digit number. It may be labelled “UTR”, “Unique Taxpayer Reference” or “tax reference” on HMRC correspondence.

3. Can I find my company UTR on Companies House?

Companies House provides your company's registration number and public company information, but the company UTR is an HMRC tax reference. Use HMRC correspondence or the official UTR request service to find it.

4. How long does it take to receive a company UTR?

HMRC says you will usually receive it by post around 15 days after registering your company. If you have not received it after 15 working days, you can request it online. Overseas postal delivery may take longer.

5. Can I use my personal UTR for my company's Corporation Tax?

No. Your personal UTR relates to your individual tax affairs, while the company UTR identifies the company's Corporation Tax record. Use the reference that corresponds to the taxpayer named on the return or correspondence.

6. Can I request my company UTR if I have lost the original letter?

Yes. Use HMRC's official UTR service. If you cannot resolve the issue online, follow HMRC's Corporation Tax contact guidance.

7. Is my company UTR the same as my Government Gateway ID?

No. A UTR identifies the company's tax record. A Government Gateway user ID is a login credential used to access HMRC online services. You may need both to manage Corporation Tax online.

8. What if my company has never traded?

A company that has not started doing business may be dormant for Corporation Tax purposes, depending on its circumstances. Do not assume that this removes every filing obligation. Check HMRC's guidance and any notices issued to the company.

Conclusion

If you need to find your company's UTR number, start by checking HMRC letters, previous Company Tax Returns and Corporation Tax payment notices. If the number is missing, use the official GOV.UK service to request it. HMRC sends the reference to the business address registered with Companies House.

Remember that your company UTR is different from your personal UTR, company registration number, VAT number and online account credentials. Keeping these details separate will help you manage Corporation Tax, complete the correct filings and avoid unnecessary administrative delays.

For a newly incorporated company, check that its registered office details are correct, monitor incoming HMRC correspondence and set up the relevant online services once you have the necessary information. These simple steps help establish a reliable foundation for your company's ongoing tax administration.