Unique Taxpayer Reference

This pattern lets the user enter a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). Do not call it a ‘Unique Taxpayer Reference number’.

When to use

Use this pattern when the user must enter a UTR to use a service.

If there is a good reason for asking for a UTR but the user does not have to enter one, make it optional.

When not to use

If there is no good reason for asking for a UTR and the user does not have to enter one to use the service, do not ask for one.

How it works

How it works depends on the UTR type.

Open this example in a new tab Display in English Display in Welsh

HTML
Nunjucks

              <h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">You can find it in your Personal Tax Account, the HMRC app or on tax returns and other documents from HMRC. It might be called ‘reference’, ‘UTR’ or ‘official use’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-utr-number">Get more help to find your UTR (opens in new tab)</a></p>

<div class="govuk-form-group">
  <label class="govuk-label govuk-label--m" for="utr">
    What is your Self Assessment UTR?
  </label>
  <div id="utr-hint" class="govuk-hint">
    Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long.
  </div>
  <input class="govuk-input govuk-input--width-10" id="utr" name="utr" type="text" aria-describedby="utr-hint">
</div>

<button type="submit" class="govuk-button" data-module="govuk-button">
  Continue
</button>

                <h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Beth yw'ch Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr ar gyfer Hunanasesiad (UTR)?</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">Gall eich UTR fod yn 10 neu’n 13 digid o hyd. Gallwch ddod o hyd iddo yn eich Cyfrif Treth Personol, ar ap CThEF, neu ar ddogfennau eraill oddi wrth CThEF. Efallai y cyfeirir ato gan ddefnyddio’r geiriau ‘cyfeirnod’, ‘UTR’ neu ‘defnydd swyddogol’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-utr-number">Sut i ddod o hyd i’ch UTR (yn agor tab newydd)</a></p>

<div class="govuk-form-group">
  <label class="govuk-label govuk-visually-hidden" for="utr">
    Beth yw&#39;ch Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr ar gyfer Hunanasesiad?
  </label>
  <input class="govuk-input govuk-input--width-10" id="utr" name="utr" type="text">
</div>

<button type="submit" class="govuk-button" data-module="govuk-button">
  Yn eich blaen
</button>

                {% from "govuk/components/input/macro.njk" import govukInput %}
{% from "govuk/components/button/macro.njk" import govukButton %}

<h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">You can find it in your Personal Tax Account, the HMRC app or on tax returns and other documents from HMRC. It might be called ‘reference’, ‘UTR’ or ‘official use’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-utr-number">Get more help to find your UTR (opens in new tab)</a></p>

{{ govukInput({
  label: {
    text: "What is your Self Assessment UTR?",
    classes: "govuk-label--m",
    isPageHeading: false
  },
  hint: {
    text: "Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long."
  },
  id: "utr",
  name: "utr",
  classes: "govuk-input--width-10"
}) }}


{{ govukButton({
  text: "Continue"
}) }}

                  {% from "govuk/components/input/macro.njk" import govukInput %}
{% from "govuk/components/button/macro.njk" import govukButton %}

<h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Beth yw'ch Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr ar gyfer Hunanasesiad (UTR)?</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">Gall eich UTR fod yn 10 neu’n 13 digid o hyd. Gallwch ddod o hyd iddo yn eich Cyfrif Treth Personol, ar ap CThEF, neu ar ddogfennau eraill oddi wrth CThEF. Efallai y cyfeirir ato gan ddefnyddio’r geiriau ‘cyfeirnod’, ‘UTR’ neu ‘defnydd swyddogol’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-utr-number">Sut i ddod o hyd i’ch UTR (yn agor tab newydd)</a></p>

{{
  govukInput({
    label: {
      text: "Beth yw'ch Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr ar gyfer Hunanasesiad?",
      isPageHeading: false,
      classes: "govuk-visually-hidden"
    },
    id: "utr",
    name: "utr",
    classes: "govuk-input--width-10"
  })
}}

{{ govukButton({
  text: "Yn eich blaen"
}) }}

Open this example in a new tab Display in English Display in Welsh

HTML
Nunjucks

              <h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Your Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">It will be on tax returns and other letters about Corporation Tax. It might be called ‘reference’, ‘UTR’ or ‘official use’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/ask-for-copy-of-your-corporation-tax-utr">Ask for a copy of your Corporation Tax UTR (opens in new tab)</a></p>

<div class="govuk-form-group">
  <label class="govuk-label govuk-label--m" for="utr">
    What is your Corporation Tax UTR?
  </label>
  <div id="utr-hint" class="govuk-hint">
    Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long.
  </div>
  <input class="govuk-input govuk-input--width-10" id="utr" name="utr" type="text" aria-describedby="utr-hint">
</div>

<button type="submit" class="govuk-button" data-module="govuk-button">
  Continue
</button>

                <h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Beth yw’ch Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr ar gyfer Treth Gorfforaeth (UTR)?</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">Gall eich UTR fod yn 10 neu’n 13 digid o hyd. Bydd i’w weld ar Ffurflenni Treth a llythyrau eraill ynghylch Treth Gorfforaeth. Efallai y cyfeirir ato gan ddefnyddio’r geiriau ‘cyfeirnod’, ‘UTR’ neu ‘defnydd swyddogol’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/ask-for-copy-of-your-corporation-tax-utr">Gofynnwch am gopi o’ch UTR ar gyfer Treth Gorfforaeth (yn agor tab newydd)</a></p>

<div class="govuk-form-group">
  <label class="govuk-label govuk-visually-hidden" for="utr">
    Beth yw’ch Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr ar gyfer Treth Gorfforaeth?
  </label>
  <input class="govuk-input govuk-input--width-10" id="utr" name="utr" type="text">
</div>

<button type="submit" class="govuk-button" data-module="govuk-button">
  Yn eich blaen
</button>

                {% from "govuk/components/input/macro.njk" import govukInput %}
{% from "govuk/components/button/macro.njk" import govukButton %}

<h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Your Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">It will be on tax returns and other letters about Corporation Tax. It might be called ‘reference’, ‘UTR’ or ‘official use’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/ask-for-copy-of-your-corporation-tax-utr">Ask for a copy of your Corporation Tax UTR (opens in new tab)</a></p>

{{
  govukInput({
    label: {
      text: "What is your Corporation Tax UTR?",
      classes: "govuk-label--m",
      isPageHeading: false
    },
    hint: {
      text: "Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long."
    },
    id: "utr",
    name: "utr",
    classes: "govuk-input--width-10"
  })
}}

{{ govukButton({
  text: "Continue"
}) }}

                  {% from "govuk/components/input/macro.njk" import govukInput %}
{% from "govuk/components/button/macro.njk" import govukButton %}

<h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Beth yw’ch Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr ar gyfer Treth Gorfforaeth (UTR)?</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">Gall eich UTR fod yn 10 neu’n 13 digid o hyd. Bydd i’w weld ar Ffurflenni Treth a llythyrau eraill ynghylch Treth Gorfforaeth. Efallai y cyfeirir ato gan ddefnyddio’r geiriau ‘cyfeirnod’, ‘UTR’ neu ‘defnydd swyddogol’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/ask-for-copy-of-your-corporation-tax-utr">Gofynnwch am gopi o’ch UTR ar gyfer Treth Gorfforaeth (yn agor tab newydd)</a></p>

{{
  govukInput({
    label: {
      text: "Beth yw’ch Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr ar gyfer Treth Gorfforaeth?",
      isPageHeading: false,
      classes: "govuk-visually-hidden"
    },
    id: "utr",
    name: "utr",
    classes: "govuk-input--width-10"
  })
}}

{{ govukButton({
  text: "Yn eich blaen"
}) }}

Open this example in a new tab Display in English Display in Welsh

HTML
Nunjucks

              <h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Your Partnership Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">You can find it in your Business Tax Account, the HMRC app or on tax returns and other documents from HMRC. It might be called ‘reference’, ‘UTR’ or ‘official use’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-utr-number">Get more help to find your UTR (opens in new tab)</a></p>

<div class="govuk-form-group">
  <label class="govuk-label govuk-label--m" for="utr">
    What is your Partnership UTR?
  </label>
  <div id="utr-hint" class="govuk-hint">
    Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long.
  </div>
  <input class="govuk-input govuk-input--width-10" id="utr" name="utr" type="text" aria-describedby="utr-hint">
</div>

<button type="submit" class="govuk-button" data-module="govuk-button">
  Continue
</button>

                <h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr (UTR) eich Partneriaeth</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">Bydd i’w weld yn eich Cyfrif Treth Busnes, yn ap CThEF, neu ar Ffurflenni Treth a dogfennau eraill oddi wrth CThEF. Efallai y cyfeirir ato gan ddefnyddio’r geiriau ‘cyfeirnod’, ‘UTR’ neu ‘defnydd swyddogol’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-utr-number">Sut i ddod o hyd i’ch UTR (yn agor tab newydd)</a></p>

<div class="govuk-form-group">
  <label class="govuk-label govuk-label--m" for="utr">
    Beth yw UTR eich Partneriaeth?
  </label>
  <input class="govuk-input govuk-input--width-10" id="utr" name="utr" type="text">
</div>

<button type="submit" class="govuk-button" data-module="govuk-button">
  Yn eich blaen
</button>

                {% from "govuk/components/input/macro.njk" import govukInput %}
{% from "govuk/components/button/macro.njk" import govukButton %}

<h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Your Partnership Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">You can find it in your Business Tax Account, the HMRC app or on tax returns and other documents from HMRC. It might be called ‘reference’, ‘UTR’ or ‘official use’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-utr-number">Get more help to find your UTR (opens in new tab)</a></p>

{{ govukInput({
  label: {
    text: "What is your Partnership UTR?",
    classes: "govuk-label--m",
    isPageHeading: false
  },
  hint: {
    text: "Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long."
  },
  id: "utr",
  name: "utr",
  classes: "govuk-input--width-10"
}) }}

{{ govukButton({
  text: "Continue"
}) }}

                  {% from "govuk/components/input/macro.njk" import govukInput %}
{% from "govuk/components/button/macro.njk" import govukButton %}

<h1 class="govuk-heading-l">Cyfeirnod Unigryw y Trethdalwr (UTR) eich Partneriaeth</h1>

<p class="govuk-body">Bydd i’w weld yn eich Cyfrif Treth Busnes, yn ap CThEF, neu ar Ffurflenni Treth a dogfennau eraill oddi wrth CThEF. Efallai y cyfeirir ato gan ddefnyddio’r geiriau ‘cyfeirnod’, ‘UTR’ neu ‘defnydd swyddogol’.</p>

<p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-utr-number">Sut i ddod o hyd i’ch UTR (yn agor tab newydd)</a></p>

{{ govukInput({
  label: {
    text: "Beth yw UTR eich Partneriaeth?",
    classes: "govuk-label--m",
    isPageHeading: false
  },
  
  id: "utr",
  name: "utr",
  classes: "govuk-input--width-10"
}) }}

{{ govukButton({
  text: "Yn eich blaen"
}) }}

Do not use hint text to explain where to find the UTR.

Use a single text input and allow the user to enter:

10 digits, with or without spaces
13 digits, with or without spaces
10 or 13 digits that start or end with a k, for example k1234567890123 and 1234567890k

Remove spaces, characters and extra digits before validating.

Provide help

Always provide help in the form of a label or normal content that is as clear as possible. This may include:

a short explanation of what a UTR is
where they can find it
what it looks like
an example — if you show an example, always use ‘1234567890’

You can use an image that shows where it is on documents and letters.

Do not use the details component to hide any help. Research shows users may:

not know what a UTR is
need help to know what a UTR looks like

Ask the user about the type of business earlier in the journey and use appropriate content. For example, if the business is a sole trader, tell the user they can find their UTR on letters about Self Assessment. If the business if a limited company, tell the user they can find it on letters about Corporation Tax.

Error messages

Make sure errors follow the guidance about error messages in the GOV.UK Design System and have specific error messages for specific error states.

If the UTR is empty

Say ‘Enter [whatever it is]’.

For example, ‘Enter your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference’.

If the UTR is in the wrong format

Say ‘Enter [whatever it is] in the correct format’.

For example, ‘Enter your partnership’s Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference in the correct format’.

Research

Research has shown that users often expect this kind of information to be pre-populated, especially when they have signed in. Research has also shown users:

may not know what a UTR is
need help to know what their UTR looks like
need a specific error message so they know what went wrong
find their UTR more easily when we provide help appropriate to the type of business

We need more research. If you have used Unique Taxpayer Reference, get in touch to share your research findings.

Discuss Unique Taxpayer Reference on GitHub