Everyone who completes a Self Assessment tax return has a Unique Taxpayers Reference (UTR) number.  This is a ten digit number that is completely unique to you and is used by HMRC to identify you and your specific tax affairs.

One of the most common reasons you will need a UTR number is if you are self employed.  Our guide explains how you get a UTR number if you are newly self employed.

Registering as self employed

When you become self employed, you are obliged to let HMRC know in a timely fashion.  If you don’t register as self employed, you may pay a financial penalty and so it is worth letting HMRC know as soon as you can.

If you have completed a Self Assessment tax return in the past (for example as you had property or investment income) you may already have a UTR number that you can use.  If you haven’t, you will be allocated a UTR number as part of the registration process.

Three ways to register as self employed

There are three ways that you can register as self-employed with HMRC.

1. Telephone

You can register as self-employed by calling the Newly Self-employed Helpline on 0845 915 4515. Lines are open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday.

You will need a lot of information to hand including your National Insurance number, the nature of your business, your business address and you personal details.

Bear in mind that you can’t register by telephone if you are a partner in Limited Liability Partnership.

2. Online

The quickest and most convenient way to register is on the web at the HMRC website.

Submitting your information (as above) to HMRC is secure, but their reply is not.  This means that confidential information such as your UTR number will be sent to you through the post within a few days.

Again, bear in mind that you can’t register by telephone if you are a partner in Limited Liability Partnership.

3. By post

You can also register as self employed and request a UTR number by post.  To do this, you need to download and complete the form CWF1 ‘Becoming self-employed and being registered for National Insurance contributions and/or tax’ from the HMRC website.

If you’re a partner in Limited Liability Partnership you must register by post.

Assuming you do not have a UTR number already, you will be sent details of your ten digit UTR number once you have registered as self employed.

If you compete a self assessment tax return, the answer will be ‘yes’.  But, what is a UTR number?  Where can you find it?  And what is it used for?

Our guide reveals seven things you never knew about your UTR number.

1. Your UTR number is unique to you

Your UTR is a unique number provided to you by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).  It is used to complete your tax return and is often used for correspondence with HMRC.  As it is unique to you, it makes it easy for HMRC to access your details when you submit your self assessment tax return or if you have any queries about your tax.

2. A UTR number has ten digits

All UTRs have ten digits.  Your UTR number will look something like: 59712 36548.

3. A UTR number can be found on your tax documents

If you need to locate your UTR number there are several places where you will find it.  These include:

• Your self assessment tax return
• Your ‘Welcome to Self Assessment’ letter (SA250)
• Your ‘Notice to File a Tax Return’ – the reminder that your self assessment tax return is due
• Your ‘Statement of Account’

4. You should automatically receive a UTR number when you register as self employed

When you set up as self employed you should let HMRC know as soon as possible. Even if you already file a self assessment tax return each year, you should let HMRC know that your employment status is changing.  If you do not tell HMRC as soon as you begin self-employment you may have to pay a penalty.

You can register as self employed by completing the form CWF1 (“Becoming self-employed and registering for National Insurance contributions and/or tax”), online or by telephone.

When you register as self employed you will be allocated a UTR number (if you don’t have one already).

5. You can request a UTR number if you don’t have one

If you do not have a UTR number, it is easy to obtain one.  If you are going to be self-employed, you can apply for a UTR number as part of the process for registering as self-employed (see above).

If you do need a UTR number, you should contact your local Tax Office in person or by telephone to obtain one.  As your UTR number is considered sensitive information, it will be sent to you in the post.

6. You can have a UTR number even if you aren’t self employed

UTR numbers are most commonly needed if you are self-employed as self-employed people make up the majority of those who have to complete a tax return.  However, you may also need a UTR number if you self assess for another reason (for example if you have investment or property income).

7. You can get details of your UTR number from your Tax Office if you lose it

If you cannot find your UTR number on any of the documents you have received from HMRC, you should get in touch with your local Tax Office.  Your Tax Office will undertake various security checks in order to locate your UTR number for you.

As your UTR number is confidential, it will be sent to you via the post.

However, it is easy to lose or mislay your UTR number.  Our guide gives you advice on where to find your UTR number and who to contact if you lose it.

Your UTR number

A UTR number is a unique number provided by HMRC so that you can complete your tax return.  It has ten digits (for example, 64892 13567) and it is used by HMRC to identify you.  As it is unique, it makes it easy for HMRC to access your tax affairs when you submit your self assessment tax return or if you have any queries about your tax.

Finding your UTR number

If you can’t remember what your UTR Number is, there are various places where you may be able to find it.  These include:

• Your ‘Welcome to Self Assessment’ letter (SA250). This letter explains the importance of the UTR, your need to retain it, store it securely and how it is used by HMRC for reference purposes
• Your tax return – if you have a copy of your tax return, your UTR number should be on this
• Your ‘Notice to File a Tax Return’ – if you submit your tax return online, you will generally receive a reminder that your self assessment tax return is due.  This is your ‘Notice to File’.  Your UTR number will be found on your Notice to File document
• Your ‘Statement of Account’ – your UTR will also appear on your HMRC statement

You will often also find your UTR number on other HMRC correspondence; for example any payment reminders or other formal letters.

What to do if you have lost your UTR number

If you cannot find your UTR number on any of your HMRC correspondence, you should get in touch with your local Tax Office.  Your Tax Office will be able to locate your UTR number for you after you have passed a number of security checks.

For confidentiality and security reasons, your UTR number will be sent to you via the post.  You won’t be given your UTR number over the telephone or via fax.

If an agent (an accountant, for example) is dealing with your tax affairs, the same security rules apply.  Agents are normally expected to obtain a UTR number from you directly, although there is a dedicated number at HMRC they can call if you do not have lost your UTR number.  Agents will have to have formal authorisation from you and pass security checks.  Again, the UTR number will be confirmed in writing by post.

Arguably one of the best mathematicians of all time, Erdos’ life story is made even more interesting due to his younger years, growing up in poverty with no job or home as well as the difficulty he had to endure, as a Jew in Europe during the war. Paul Erdos is to mathematics what Mozart is to music.

Born in Hungary in 1913, Erdös published over 1,500 papers and developed several branches of mathematics which every mathematician owes him credit for. Erdös accomplished all of this whilst enduring the hardship of going through two major world wars.

The film takes place initially in South East England at a ceremony in one of Cambridge University’s Colleges. The year is 1991 and Erdös is being given an honorary doctorate from the university. As he receives his award Erdös declares (with his typical dry humour) that he would gladly swap the honour for a ‘new [mathematical] proof’.

The film then proceeds to document Erdös’s life which consists of 50 years of travelling, from one university to another, bringing with him news, theories, and proofs, constantly focusing on mathematical problems. He died in September 1996, doing what he loved, on the road while attending a meeting in Poland.

Anyone who enjoys mathematics or statistics will find this movie interesting and the movie will help to put a face and personality to one of the world’s most gifted individuals.

3 Stars

Do you need to complete a self assessment tax return?

If so, you will typically also need a Unique Taxpayers Reference (UTR) number.  Your UTR number is provided to you by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and is totally unique to you.  It is the reference number you use for your tax affairs and makes it easy for HMRC to identify you.

UTR numbers are most commonly needed if you are self-employed.  This is because the self-employed make up by far the majority of the people who have to complete a self assessment tax return.  However, you may also need a UTR number if you self assess for another reason (for example if you have property or investment income).

What is a UTR Number?

A UTR is a, unique number provided by the Inland Revenue so that you can complete your tax return.  It is used to complete your tax return and is often used for correspondence with the Inland Revenue.

It has ten digits (for example, 34512 37891) and you will find it on your Tax Return, your Notice to File a Tax Return or on your Statement of Account.  It may also be on other documents.

How to apply for a UTR Number

If you do not have a UTR number, it is easy to obtain one.

If you are going to be self-employed, you can apply for a UTR number as part of the process for registering as self-employed (see the section below).

If you do need a UTR number, you should contact your local Tax Office to obtain one.  Bear in mind that you can only do this by telephone or in person; you cannot apply for a UTR number online.

As your UTR number is considered sensitive information, it will be sent to you in the post.






Registering as self-employed

It is important to let HMRC know that you are setting up as a self-employed person as soon as possible.  Even if you already fill in a tax return each year, you should let them know that your employment status is changing.  If you do not tell HMRC as soon as you begin self-employment you may have to pay an initial penalty.

You can register as self employed:

• online (through the HMRC website)
• by completing the form CWF1 – “Becoming self-employed and registering for National Insurance contributions and/or tax”
• by calling the Newly Self-Employed Helpline on 0845 9154 515

When you register to become self employed, you will automatically be allocated a Unique Taxpayers Reference number (assuming you do not have a UTR number already).

If you have any suggestions on questions to add to the list, please do so:

1. How to Apply for a UTR Number.

2. Where do I find my UTR number?

3. What happens if I lose my UTR number?

4. Can a student get a UTR number?

5. What does UTR stand for?

6. Who do I call to get a UTR number?