How to Find Your Company UTR Number

Your company's Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) is a 10-digit number that HMRC uses to identify your business for corporation tax purposes. You'll need it every time you file a company tax return, pay corporation tax, or contact HMRC about your tax affairs. Without it, you cannot file your company tax return or register for corporation tax online.

This guide explains what a UTR is, where to find it, what to do if you haven't received one, and how to retrieve it if it has been lost or misplaced.

What Is a Company UTR?

A Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) is a 10-digit number automatically assigned to your company by HMRC. It is distinct from other company reference numbers:

Not your Companies House registration number (8 characters, often alphanumeric)
Not your VAT registration number (9 digits, separate HMRC registration)
Not a director's personal UTR (each individual also has their own UTR for Self Assessment)

Every UK limited company is assigned a UTR by HMRC shortly after it is incorporated at Companies House. HMRC generates it automatically and sends it by post to your company's registered office address. You do not need to apply for a UTR — it is issued to you as part of the incorporation process.

Your UTR:

Is always exactly 10 digits long (for example: 1234567890)
Never changes for the lifetime of your company
Is required for every CT600 filing, corporation tax payment, and HMRC correspondence
Is the same number used on all official HMRC corporation tax letters

For a detailed explanation of how UTR numbers work, see our UTR number explained guide.

Where to Find Your Company UTR

There are five main places you can find your company's UTR:

1. The HMRC Welcome Letter

When your company is registered at Companies House, HMRC is automatically notified and sends a letter to your registered office address. This letter — usually titled "Notice to deliver a Company Tax Return" or a similar welcome notice — displays your 10-digit UTR prominently.

This letter normally arrives within 15 working days of your Companies House registration date. If your company has been operating for some time, the original letter may be filed with your company's statutory records or in your accountant's files.

Important: If your registered office address changed after incorporation and you did not update Companies House promptly, HMRC may have sent this letter to a previous address.

2. Your HMRC Business Tax Account

If you have already enrolled your company for corporation tax online, your UTR is visible in your HMRC business tax account:

Sign in at gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services
Navigate to the Corporation Tax section
Your UTR appears under your company's corporation tax details

3. Previous Company Tax Returns

If your company has filed at least one company tax return, your UTR appears on the CT600 form. Check:

CT600 forms filed directly with HMRC
Returns prepared by your accountant
Any correspondence from HMRC acknowledging a submitted return

The UTR will be on the first page of any CT600.

4. Other HMRC Correspondence

Your UTR appears on virtually all HMRC correspondence addressed to your company, including:

Corporation tax payment reminders
HMRC enquiry or compliance letters
Penalty notices for late filing
Interest charge notices

Search your physical and digital records for any letter from "HM Revenue & Customs" sent to your company. The 10-digit UTR will be displayed prominently near the top of the letter.

5. Your Accountant

If you use an accountant, tax adviser, or solicitor for your corporation tax, they will have your UTR on file. It appears on every CT600 and every piece of HMRC correspondence they have handled for you. Contact them directly if you cannot locate it through other means.

What to Do If You Haven't Received a UTR

If you recently incorporated your company but have not yet received an HMRC letter with your UTR, follow these steps:

Step 1: Check your registered office address. Log in to Companies House and confirm the registered office address is correct. HMRC uses this address for all correspondence.

Step 2: Allow 15 working days. HMRC typically sends the UTR letter within 15 working days of Companies House incorporation. If it has not been 15 working days, allow more time.

Step 3: Request a replacement. If more than 15 working days have passed with no letter, sign in to your HMRC business tax account and request a new UTR letter. Alternatively, call the HMRC Corporation Tax helpline on 0300 200 3410 and ask them to resend it to your registered office.

Step 4: Check with your formation agent. If you used a company formation service to incorporate, some agents receive and forward the HMRC welcome letter on your behalf. Check whether they hold it.

What to Do If You've Lost Your UTR

If your company has been trading for some time but you cannot locate the UTR, try these steps:

Sign in to your HMRC business tax account — your UTR is displayed in the Corporation Tax section once enrolled.
Search old correspondence — look through email and paper files for any HMRC letter. The UTR appears on virtually all of them.
Ask your accountant — if they have ever filed a return for your company, they will have the UTR.
Call HMRC on 0300 200 3410 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). You will need to verify your identity as a director and provide your Companies House registration number. HMRC will send a replacement letter to your registered office.

Why You Need Your UTR

Your UTR is required for:

Filing your company tax return: HMRC uses the UTR to match your CT600 submission to your company's tax record.
Paying corporation tax: Corporation tax payments must quote the UTR as the payment reference so HMRC can allocate the payment correctly.
Authorising agents: If you want an accountant to act on your behalf, they need your UTR to set up authorisation.
Registering for corporation tax online: The UTR is needed to enrol for corporation tax in your HMRC business tax account.

If you are preparing to file your first company tax return and need guidance, see our guide on how to file a company tax return.

UTR vs Other Reference Numbers

Company directors often deal with several different reference numbers. Here is a summary:

Reference	Length	Issued by	Purpose
UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference)	10 digits	HMRC	Corporation tax identification
Company Registration Number (CRN)	8 characters	Companies House	Company legal identity
VAT Registration Number	9 digits	HMRC	VAT registration
PAYE Employer Reference	Various	HMRC	Payroll / employer taxes
Personal UTR	10 digits	HMRC	Director's Self Assessment

Note that company directors have their own personal UTR for Self Assessment — this is different from the company UTR, even though both are 10 digits. Never use a director's personal UTR in place of the company UTR when dealing with corporation tax.

Summary

Your company UTR is a 10-digit number assigned automatically by HMRC when your company is incorporated at Companies House. It arrives by post to your registered office within 15 working days. If you cannot find it, check old HMRC letters, your business tax account, previous CT600 returns, or ask your accountant. If it has been lost, HMRC can send a replacement letter to your registered office — call 0300 200 3410. You need your UTR to file your company tax return, pay corporation tax, and handle any HMRC correspondence.

How Do I Find My Company UTR?