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
You can ask for the UTR as the main heading or <h1> of the screen. It may be a question or statement.
<h1 class="govuk-heading-l">What is your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)?</h1>
<p class="govuk-body">Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long. 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">How to find your UTR (opens in new tab)</a></p>
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-visually-hidden" for="utr">
What is your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference?
</label>
<input class="govuk-input govuk-input--width-10" id="utr" name="utr" type="text">
</div>
<button 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'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 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">What is your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)?</h1>
<p class="govuk-body">Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long. 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">How to find your UTR (opens in new tab)</a></p>
{{ govukInput({
label: {
text: "What is your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference?",
isPageHeading: false,
classes: "govuk-visually-hidden"
},
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"
}) }}
<h1 class="govuk-heading-l">What is your Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)?</h1>
<p class="govuk-body">Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long. 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-visually-hidden" for="utr">
What is your Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference?
</label>
<input class="govuk-input govuk-input--width-10" id="utr" name="utr" type="text">
</div>
<button 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 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">What is your Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)?</h1>
<p class="govuk-body">Your UTR can be 10 or 13 digits long. 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 Unique Taxpayer Reference?",
isPageHeading: false,
classes: "govuk-visually-hidden"
},
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"
}) }}
Place the question on its own page. Do not use hint text to explain where to find the UTR.
Use a single text input and allow the user to enter:
- 10 numbers, with or without spaces
- 13 numbers, with or without spaces
- 10 or 13 numbers that start or end with a k, for example k1234567890123 and 1234567890k
Remove spaces, characters and extra numbers 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. You could also provide a lost UTR link ‘find a lost UTR (opens in new tab)’.
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.