How to Get Your UTR Number: Online in 72 Hours or by Post

A UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) is the 10-digit number HMRC gives you when you register for Self Assessment or set up a limited company. You need it to file a tax return. Since September 2026, if you register online through your Personal Tax Account, HMRC says your UTR appears in your online account within 72 hours, instead of taking around 15 days to arrive by post.

Quick answer: to get a UTR, register for Self Assessment on GOV.UK through your Personal Tax Account. The UTR shows in your online account within 72 hours. To find a UTR you already have, look in the HMRC app, your Personal Tax Account, or any HMRC letter about Self Assessment. First-time filers for 2025/26 must register by 5 October 2026.

If you would rather not deal with the registration yourself, our Self Assessment service and self-employment support can take it on, including the first return.

What is a UTR number?

A UTR is a 10-digit reference, sometimes shown on letters simply as “tax reference”. HMRC uses it to link your Self Assessment returns, payments and letters to the right record.

There are different UTRs for different taxpayers:

Who	UTR	How you get it
Individual or sole trader	Personal Self Assessment UTR	Register for Self Assessment
Partner in a partnership	Your own UTR, plus one for the partnership	Register as a partner and register the partnership
Limited company	Corporation Tax UTR	Sent after the company is set up; can be requested online

Your UTR is not your National Insurance number. You will usually need both.

Do you need a UTR?

You need one if you have to send a Self Assessment tax return. HMRC’s list of who must send a tax return includes people who, in the last tax year:

• were self-employed as a sole trader and earned more than £1,000 before expenses
• were a partner in a business partnership
• had Capital Gains Tax to pay
• had to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge and do not pay it through PAYE

You may also need to file if you had income with no tax taken off, such as rent, tips, savings interest, dividends or foreign income. HMRC’s September 2026 announcement also mentions people with untaxed income over £2,500, and people earning under £1,000 who want to pay Class 2 National Insurance voluntarily to protect their State Pension.

Our Self Assessment registration deadline guide goes through the tests with worked examples.

How to get your UTR online in 72 hours

HMRC launched an improved registration service on 9 September 2026. It pre-fills some of your details, lets you save and come back, and sends a confirmation email or text when you finish.

1. Sign in to your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK, or create one using Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login.
2. Choose to register for Self Assessment and answer the questions about why you need to file, for example self-employment, rental income or a partnership.
3. Give the start date of your self-employment or other income, and your business details if you are a sole trader.
4. Check and submit. HMRC sends a confirmation by email or text.
5. Look for your UTR in your online account. HMRC says it will be there within 72 hours.

Keep the confirmation. If you use an accountant, they will also need your UTR to act for you with HMRC.

Registering by post or phone

If you cannot use the online service, you can still register another way, but the UTR is then posted. GOV.UK says it usually arrives around 15 days after you register, and it takes longer if you live overseas.

How to find a UTR you already have

If you have filed before, you do not need a new UTR. It stays with you. You can find it:

• in your Personal Tax Account
• in the HMRC app
• on previous tax returns
• on HMRC letters about Self Assessment, such as a notice to file a return or a payment reminder

If you cannot find it anywhere, contact HMRC. Do not register again, because a second registration can create a duplicate record.

Getting a UTR for a limited company

A limited company has its own Corporation Tax UTR, separate from the directors’ personal UTRs. GOV.UK says you can request the company’s UTR online, and HMRC sends it to the company’s address registered with Companies House.

Directors do not automatically need a personal UTR. Whether you need one depends on your own income, not on being a director.

What to do once you have your UTR

• Start your records. Keep sales, costs and bank statements for the tax year from the day you started.
• Note the deadlines. For 2025/26: register by 5 October 2026, file online and pay by 31 January 2027, or file on paper by 31 October 2026. See our paper tax return deadline guide if you plan to post it.
• If you work in construction, you need a UTR to register as a CIS subcontractor, so that contractors deduct 20% rather than 30%. Our CIS service can help.
• Keep it safe. HMRC will not send you a text or email with a link asking for your UTR or bank details. Treat those as scams.

If your UTR has not arrived

• Registered online more than 72 hours ago? Check your Personal Tax Account and the HMRC app first, then your email for the confirmation.
• Waiting for a posted UTR? Allow around 15 days, then use HMRC’s reply-time checker before chasing.
• Close to 31 January? Register as early as you can. You cannot file the return without the UTR, and the late filing penalty starts at £100.

FAQ: UTR numbers

How long does it take to get a UTR number?

Within 72 hours in your online account if you register online through your Personal Tax Account. Around 15 days by post, longer if you live overseas.

Where can I find my UTR number?

In your Personal Tax Account, the HMRC app, previous tax returns, or HMRC letters such as a notice to file or a payment reminder.

Is a UTR the same as a National Insurance number?

No. They are separate numbers, and you usually need both.

When do I need to register to get a UTR for 2025/26?

By 5 October 2026 if you are filing for the first time. The online return and payment are due by 31 January 2027.

Does a limited company have a UTR?

Yes, a Corporation Tax UTR. You can request it online, and HMRC sends it to the company’s registered address.

Sources

• Find your UTR number (GOV.UK)
• Improved Self Assessment registration service launched, 9 September 2026 (HMRC)
• Self Assessment: who must send a tax return (GOV.UK)
• Self Assessment deadlines (GOV.UK)