Find My Unique Tax Reference Number: 6 Places to Look (2026)

You’re filling in a CIS form, an accountant has asked for your details, or the tax return deadline is getting close, and one box stops you: your Unique Taxpayer Reference. Most people have been sent it at least once. The trouble is remembering where.

Searching “find my unique tax reference number” usually means you need it today. The good news is that your unique taxpayer reference is printed or shown in several places, and most of them take seconds to check. This guide goes through each one, explains which documents won’t help, and sets out what to do if the number is lost or never arrived.

How to Find My Unique Tax Reference Number: 6 Places to Look

Work down this list in order. The first two are online and usually the fastest.

1. The HMRC app. Sign in and open the Self Assessment section, where your UTR is displayed.
2. Your personal tax account. Sign in on GOV.UK and go to the Self Assessment part of your account.
3. A past Self Assessment return. Your UTR appears on every return you’ve filed, including the copy saved in your account or by your software.
4. HMRC letters. Look at a notice to file, a statement of account or a payment reminder. The number is often labelled simply “tax reference”.
5. The letter sent after you registered. When you first registered for Self Assessment, HMRC posted your UTR to you.
6. Your accountant or tax agent. If someone has filed a return for you, they’ll have your UTR on record.

What is a unique taxpayer reference?

A UTR is a 10-digit number HMRC uses to identify you, or your business, for Self Assessment and other taxes. GOV.UK notes that it may just be called “tax reference” on some documents. You don’t apply for it separately. HMRC issues it when you register for Self Assessment, and it normally stays the same for life.

That’s why you’ll need it every year to file your Self Assessment tax return, to pay HMRC and to work under the Construction Industry Scheme.

Where Your UTR Is Not Printed

A lot of time is lost searching documents that never show a UTR. If you’re employed, the paperwork from your employer uses different references, so skip these.

If you only want to check your employment income, our guide on what a P60 is explains what each box on that form means.

Finding It Online: HMRC App and Personal Tax Account

If you’re thinking “I need to find my unique tax reference number right now” and you’ve signed in to HMRC online before, this is the fastest route. Both options show the same Self Assessment record.

In the HMRC app

1. Download the official HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Sign in with the details you use for HMRC online services. If you don’t have any yet, you can create them in the app.
3. Set up a 6-digit PIN, fingerprint or face recognition for quicker sign-in next time.
4. Open the Self Assessment section to see your Unique Taxpayer Reference.

In your personal tax account

1. Go to GOV.UK’s personal tax account page and choose to sign in.
2. Enter your sign-in details and the access code sent to your phone or app.
3. Select Self Assessment. Your UTR is shown on that page.

One thing has changed in 2026. HMRC has started sending some first-time users to GOV.UK One Login, which uses your email address, rather than a Government Gateway user ID. If you’re asked to create One Login details, follow that route. You’ll still reach the same tax account. Our guide on how to get a Government Gateway ID explains both sign-in options step by step.

What a HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference Number Looks Like

An HMRC unique taxpayer reference number is made up of 10 digits, with no letters. HMRC’s own manual describes it as the ten-digit number shown on HMRC correspondence. Some documents space the digits out, so 12345 67890 (an example only) is the same as 1234567890. When a form asks for your UTR, enter all 10 digits without spaces.

It’s easy to confuse with other references, especially when several appear on one letter. This table shows how to tell them apart.

Personal, Company or Partnership UTR: Which One Do You Need?

HMRC’s Self Assessment Manual is clear on two points: a partnership and each of its partners get their own UTR, and no one should have more than one. The same idea applies to limited companies. The company has its own company unique tax reference, separate from any director’s personal UTR.

If it’s the company’s number you’re missing, GOV.UK lets you request the Corporation Tax UTR online. HMRC then posts it to the company’s registered address at Companies House, so make sure that address is up to date first. For help with the company side, see our guides to the limited company tax return and working with an accountant for your limited company.

Can’t Find My Unique Tax Reference Number? What to Do Next

If you’ve checked the app, your online account and your paperwork and still can’t find your unique tax reference number, GOV.UK’s advice is simple: contact HMRC. Don’t register for Self Assessment again to get a new number. You’d risk creating a second record, and HMRC’s own manual says no one should have more than one UTR.

Before you call, have your National Insurance number and current address to hand. HMRC will need to confirm who you are before discussing your record. HMRC may send the number by post to the address it holds for you, so if you’ve moved, update your address with HMRC first.

Registered but Your UTR Never Arrived

This is a different problem from losing it. GOV.UK says you’ll usually get your UTR by post within 15 working days of registering for Self Assessment, or 21 days if you’re abroad, and it can take longer at busy times. Use this timeline to decide when to act.

New to all this? Our guide to filing your first Self Assessment return covers what happens once your UTR arrives.

Let an Accountant Find It for You

If you’d rather not spend your lunch break on hold, an accountant can take this off your hands. Once you’ve authorised them to act as your tax agent, they can deal with HMRC on your behalf and see your Self Assessment record, including your UTR. They can then file your return using it, so the number stops being something you have to remember.

It’s especially useful in your first year, when registration, the UTR letter and the return itself all land at once. Our first tax return service handles each step, and you can see what’s involved in reviewing your past Self Assessment returns online, which also show your UTR.

Keeping Your UTR Safe

Your UTR isn’t a password, but it is personal tax information, so share it only when there’s a clear reason. People who may legitimately ask for it include HMRC, your accountant or tax adviser, and a contractor who needs to verify you under the Construction Industry Scheme.

• Be wary of unexpected “tax refund” messages. HMRC says it will never send a notification of a tax rebate by text message, and never asks you to disclose personal or payment information by text.
• Report anything suspicious. Forward suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599.
• Store it sensibly. A password manager or a secure note is better than a photo of an HMRC letter sitting in your camera roll.

Common Mistakes

These four slips commonly hold people up when they go looking for their unique tax reference.

FAQs

Where can I find my unique tax reference number quickly?

The fastest places are the HMRC app and your personal tax account, both in the Self Assessment section. Otherwise, check a past tax return or an HMRC letter such as a notice to file.

Is my UTR on my payslip or P60?

No. Payslips and P60s show details such as your tax code, National Insurance number and your employer’s PAYE reference, not your UTR.

Can I find my UTR online?

Yes. Sign in to the HMRC app or your personal tax account on GOV.UK and open the Self Assessment section. You may be asked to use GOV.UK One Login if you’re signing in for the first time.

What does a HMRC unique taxpayer reference number look like?

It’s a 10-digit number with no letters. On some HMRC documents it’s labelled simply “tax reference”.

Does my unique tax reference ever change?

It normally stays the same for life. HMRC’s guidance is that no one should have more than one UTR, so you keep using the same number each year.

Do I need a UTR if I’m employed?

Not usually. If all your income is taxed through PAYE and you don’t need to file a Self Assessment return, you may never be given one.

How do I find my company unique tax reference?

Look on Corporation Tax letters or in the company’s business tax account. If it’s lost, request it online on GOV.UK, and HMRC will post it to the company’s registered address at Companies House.

How long does it take to get a UTR after registering?

GOV.UK says it usually arrives by post within 15 working days, or 21 days if you’re abroad, and can take longer at busy times.

Final Verdict: Find My Unique Tax Reference Number

If you’re searching “find my unique tax reference number” in a hurry, start online: the HMRC app or your personal tax account will usually show it in seconds. If not, any past return or HMRC letter will have it. Skip your payslips and P60, keep personal and company UTRs separate, and if it’s genuinely lost or never arrived, contact HMRC rather than registering again.