Shortly after incorporating your UK company, you’ll see the UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) mentioned everywhere. It’s your company’s tax identification number with HMRC, the British equivalent of the tax authority. Without it, you cannot file Corporation Tax or communicate with HMRC.
What exactly is it
- A 10-digit number that HMRC automatically assigns to each newly incorporated company
- It’s different from the Company Number: the Company Number is issued by Companies House and is public; the UTR is issued by HMRC and is confidential
- You’ll need it for: registering your company for Corporation Tax, filing returns, communicating with HMRC, and often for dealings with accountants and banks
How to obtain it
You don’t need to request it: HMRC sends it automatically by post to your company’s registered address, usually within 2-3 weeks of incorporation. The letter is titled «Corporation Tax — information for new companies» and contains your UTR.
Since your registered address is the one provided by Aiden in London, we receive that letter, digitise it, and upload it to your dashboard. Check the correspondence section of startup.aiden.es during the first few weeks.
What if it doesn’t arrive?
- Wait at least 3-4 weeks from incorporation before worrying — HMRC’s mail isn’t exactly quick
- Request it online: on gov.uk there is a service called «Ask for a copy of your Corporation Tax UTR»; HMRC will resend it to your registered address
- Never request it by phone from third parties: the UTR is confidential. Anyone who has it could attempt to impersonate your company to HMRC
💡 Tip: as soon as the letter appears in your dashboard, save your UTR in your password manager alongside your Company Number and Companies House authentication code. These are the three identifiers you’ll be asked for repeatedly.
Can’t find the letter in your dashboard or more than 4 weeks have passed? Contact support and we’ll review it with you.
⚖️ This guide is informational and does not substitute for professional tax or legal advice. For your specific circumstances, consult with an adviser.