UTR Number – Explained

Published: 1 March 2021

Young tattooed man sitting on a chair with a laptop on his lap. He is looking at the screen. There is a guitar and some headphones on the chair opposite him.

January means one thing for plenty of people, including construction workers and builders, and that’s the annual Self-Assessment tax return. If you want to know more about the UTR number, how to apply for one, and when you’ll need it – carry on reading.

What is a UTR number?

A Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number is a unique ten-digit reference that helps HMRC identify you. You get your UTR number as soon as you register for Self-Assessment.

How do I apply for a UTR number?

Registering for a UTR number is pretty easy, actually. Before you go ahead and get started, make sure you have all the right information to hand. This includes:

Name, DOB and your personal address
Your National Insurance Number (NIN)
Your email address and main phone number
The date you first became self-employed
Your business name, address and the industry you work in
Your business phone number

Once you’ve got all this information, the next steps are to:

Register online for Self-Assessment with HMRC
You’ll receive your UTR within 10 days of registering, or 21 days if you’re out of the country. You’ll need this UTR number to file a tax return
Next, you’ll then receive a second letter with an activation code for your Self-Assessment account

Where do I find my UTR number?

So you have a UTR, but you don’t know where to find it. There’s actually quite a few places you can find your HMRC UTR number:

Self-Assessment tax return paperwork
Payment reminders documents
In your statement of account
In your notice to file a tax return
By logging into your HMRC account and going to the Self-Assessment section
As a last resort, you can call HMRC on 0300 200 3310 to retrieve this

What do I need a UTR number for?

For most people, the UTR number is needed when applying for a Self-Assessment tax return, applying for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), or (what Brian does best!) applying for a tax rebate.

Be aware – If you have your own limited company, you’ll also have a company UTR. This should be kept separate from your personal one, as whilst you’ll need it to file your company accounts, it wouldn’t be relevant for your personal tax return.