What is a UTR Number?

Your UTR is the number that identifies you and HMRC links it with everything that you do and your tax arrangements. You will receive UTR number automatically once you register for your Self-Assessment Tax Return with HMRC, however you need to notify HMRC that you are self-employed for it to issue you one. In case HMRC discover that you are operating as a self-employed without notifying them or rather without registering for a UTR number, they can charge with you with heavy fines and in worst case, with a criminal prosecution as well.

So, if you do not want to run from post to pillar at thirteenth hour of your deadline getting over, register for Self-Assessment Tax Return well in advance.

As per HMRC officials, deadline to file your Self-Assessment Tax Return is 31st January and they can take up to 6 weeks to issue your UTR Number so you must register with HMRC latest by 20th December in order to be on safe side of the deadline. In case, if you miss the deadline, you may end up paying late filing penalty fees as heavy as £1600.

Who Do I Call If I Have Lost My UTR Number?

For any general enquiries, you can reach out to HMRC Helpline numbers during their working days.

Telephone: 0300 200 3310

Outside UK: +44 161 931 9070

Opening times:

8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday

8am to 4pm Saturday

9am to 5pm Sunday

Closed bank holidays, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

Like individuals, Private Limited Company also has Unique Transaction Reference Number which is personal and private to them and comprises of 10 digits and can be found on HMRC official documents for example CT603, Notice to deliver a company tax return form etc.

When you form a company (Private Limited), you have to incorporate it under Companies House ( in charge of all incorporated companies in UK), which will in return inform to HMRC. You don't need to inform to contact HMRC at this point of time.

Once incorporated with the Companies House, HMRC will send its first official letter i.e. Form CT41G at your registered office address with its UTR Number. Till such time you receive UTR number of your company, you cannot register with HMRC for payment of Corporation Tax.

After your UTR number is received, you will need it in future for:

1. Any correspondence with HMRC about Corporation Tax.
2. Using HMRC commercial software for sending Company Tax Return.

Once you have received your company's UTR number, you must contact HMRC to register as "Active For Corporation Tax" with following information:

1. Date when you started trading with your business.
2. Name of the company and its registration number (CRN).
3. Main address where business activities are conducted.
4. Type of business activities which will be carried out.
5. Date when your annual accounts will be made up to.

Based on above information, HMRC will work out your accounting period and deadlines for paying corporation tax and filing tax returns.

Your UTR number is used by HMRC to identify you and your tax records and you would need to have this number to pay your Self-Assessment Tax Returns or Corporation Tax on time and within deadline. While there are certain other factors which can prevent you to do so, losing your UTR number will have a major consequence.

Before you start approaching concerned authorities for retreiving your UTR number, you can try looking for it on various documents/correspondence received from HMRC, including:

1. Tax Return – Form SA100
2. Notice to complete a tax return – Form SA316
3. Statement of Account
4. Welcome to Self-Assessment Letter (SA250)
5. Payment Reminders

Depending on the forms you have used, you can find your UTR number mentioned next to these headings:

1. Tax Reference
2. UTR
3. Official Use

So, you have ransacked your place trying to find one of the above mentioned documents and realize that you have lost your UTR number.In this case, your best option is to contact HMRC directly on their Helpline Number 0300 200 3310 or you can contact your local tax office. Officer at local tax office would require certain information related to your tax history for him to send you the reminder of your UTR number.

After contacting HMRC you have to go through their series of validation checks and once your identity is comfirmed, they will send your UTR number to you by post in 7 working days. So in case you are already running behind deadline of tax filing, you have to pay late filing penalties along with due taxes.

As they say, there is bright side to everything. In this case to save yourself from the hassle of remembering your UTR number, you can appoint an agent/accountant who does this for you and acts on your behalf when it comes to your tax affairs. However, in case, if he looses your UTR number, he would need a formal authorization letter from you to contact HMRC for your lost UTR number and thus he has to go through same validation checks by HMRC for his identity validation. HMRC will take 7 days to send your UTR number in this case as well.

Tags