What is a UTR number?​

Can RIFT help me with UTR number queries?

Absolutely! RIFT can help with all your UTR questions and problems as part of our all-in-one service. That means we can:

• Tell you whether you or your business need a UTR number, and help you apply for one if you do.
• Help you track down your UTR if you’ve lost it.
• Help you use your UTR number to claim tax refunds, deal with HMRC and more.

UTR NumberHow do I get a UTR number?

If the taxman says you need a UTR number, then it's vital that you get one. For example, you'll get a UTR automatically when you  sign up for the Self Assessment tax return system. The process can take a few weeks, but after that your UTR number will start cropping up every time you're deadline with HMRC. 

It's best not to leave it to the last minute to get your UTR number, so you don’t end up missing an important tax deadline. A couple of months before you need to file your first tax return should be long enough to stay on the safe side. The deadline for filing is the 31st of January.

When you're ready, RIFT will send out an SA-1 form for you to sign. You'll also get a UTR number automatically when you set up a Limited Company. Both you and your company will need one, and RIFT can help you get everything set up quickly and easily.

Your UTR number is all about keeping your information secure, so there'll be a few security hoops to jump through to get yours. When you're all set, HMRC will send you a letter called “Welcome to Self Assessment”, which will show your UTR on it. They'll only send your number by post, which can take a couple of weeks. Again, it's best to get your UTR sorted at least several weeks before your first filing date to stay out of trouble. 

After signing up for HMRC's online services, you'll get an email with your login details in it. Logging in will give you a chance to check your UTR number. If you're teaming up with RIFT for your Self Assessment returns or tax rebates, let us know your UTR as soon as possible so we can get to work for you.

Information needed to get a UTR number:

• Your name, date of birth and address.
• Your National Insurance number.
• Your email address and telephone number.
• The name, address and nature of your business.
• Your business telephone number.
• The date your self-employment started.

Follow these simple steps to get your UTR number:

• Register for HMRC online services.
• Wait for HMRC to post out your UTR number.
• Register online for Self-Assessment.
• Wait for HMRC to post out your UTR activation code.
• Activate your account within 28 days.

UTR NumberHow do I get a UTR number by post?

You can get a UTR number by writing to HMRC. They’ll get back to you to ask a few questions, but once you’ve hopped a couple of hurdles they’ll send you a UTR by post.

Do I have to pay for a UTR number?

No, applying for your UTR number and getting it sent out won’t cost you anything.

Tax CodesIs a UTR number the same as a tax code?

No, UTR numbers and tax codes are very different things, and are used for completely different purposes:

• A UTR number is used by HMRC to personally identify you or your business when dealing with things like your Self Assessment paperwork. If you’ve never been self-employed, claimed a tax refund or run your own business, you may never have needed one of these. Once you've got a UTR identifying either yourself or your business for tax purposes, the number stays the same.
• Your tax code is the string of numbers and letters that tells HMRC what kind of tax-free Personal Allowance you qualify for, and also specifies any particular circumstances affecting your tax situation. 

UTR NumberWill I always have the same UTR number?

Once you’ve got a UTR number, it won’t change. In fact, just like your National Insurance number, once you’ve got one it’s yours for life.

Keep in mind that if you have a company UTR for your business, that’s a separate number from your personal UTR. You’ll find your company UTR on your company’s tax returns and other documents your business gets from HMRC.

Working in ConstructionI'm in construction and my employer wants to know my UTR number. Help!

Without a UTR number, you aren't properly signed up as self-employed. In construction, this can be a serious problem. Without a UTR, you can't use Self Assessment or sign up for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). Designed to crack down on dodgy ‘cash-in-hand’ payments in construction, the CIS system basically hands 20% of self-employed construction workers' pay over to HMRC as an advance payment against the tax they'll owe.

The problem is, CIS taxes your pay from the very first penny, so it can lead to people paying way too much tax and being owed a refund. Your UTR number is the key to getting signed up properly to pay your tax—and to claiming back what you're owed.

By the way, don't be fooled into thinking it’s a good idea to ignore the CIS altogether. Not registering when you’re supposed to will cost you a much larger chunk of your pay than doing it right. Talk to RIFT if you're being asked for a UTR number and don't have one, or don't understand why you need it.

UTR NumberDoes being asked for a UTR number mean that I'm owed a tax rebate?

It's pretty likely you should be claiming a yearly tax rebate from HMRC - and if you need a UTR but don't have one, you won't be able to claim it. In construction, those CIS deductions your contractor takes out of your pay can leave you forking over too much tax. This can happen because they don't take your tax-free Personal Allowance into account. 

Do I need a UTR number as a Sole Trader?

A UTR number is essential when you work as a Sole Trader and pay your tax through the Self Assessment system. Getting a UTR number is a core part of setting up for Self Assessment, and without one you can expect major headaches from HMRC.

Here’s what you need to do to get your UTR number if you’re a Sole Trader or self-employed:

• Register for HMRC Online Services and sign up to the Self Assessment system. Once that’s done, you’ll get your UTR number by post.
• If you want to get your UTR number by phone, call HMRC on 0300 200 3310. They’ll still need to post your number out to you, though.
• If you want apply for your UTR number by post, you can write to HMRC directly. Expect this to take longer than the other methods, since there’ll probably be some extra hoops to jump through.
• However you apply for your UTR number as a Sole Trader, you’ll still need to provide the same basic information. That includes your personal and contact details, along with the kind of work you do.

UTR NumberWhat's a company UTR number?

Businesses have UTRs, just like people. A company UTR gets sent out when you first set your company up. Like a personal UTR, it's just a 10-digit code used to identify your firm for tax purposes. You'll find it on some of your HMRC documents, like your CT603 form, ‘Notice to deliver a company tax return’.

A company UTR is different from a company registration number (CRN), so don't get them confused. A CRN is sent out when your company is ‘incorporated’ (becomes its own legal entity). You'll need it whenever you're dealing with Companies House.

P45Will my UTR number appear on my P45?

UTR numbers aren't normally needed for people who work for an employer and pay all their tax through the PAYE system (unless they’re getting tax refunds for their work expenses). When you stop working for an employer, you get a P45 that lists, among other things, your National Insurance number, your employer's PAYE reference number and your tax code. These are all different from your UTR, and used for different things.