What Is a Company Registration Number (CRN)?
A company registration number is the 8-character number Companies House gives every UK company. Its format, where to find it, and CRN vs UTR vs VAT number.
A company registration number (CRN) is the unique 8-character number Companies House gives every UK company when it is registered, such as 01234567 for an English company or SC123456 for a Scottish one. It identifies the company on the public register for its whole life and never changes, even if the name or address does. You will be asked for it by banks, suppliers, HMRC and customers. This guide explains the format, where to find it, and how it differs from the UTR, VAT number and other codes a new company receives.
What Does a Company Registration Number Look Like?
Every company number has 8 characters. Numbers for companies in England and Wales are all digits, padded with leading zeros. Other types of entity, and companies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, start with two letters:
| Format | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| 8 digits, for example 01234567 | Company registered in England and Wales |
| SC + 6 digits, for example SC123456 | Company registered in Scotland |
| NI + 6 digits, for example NI123456 | Company registered in Northern Ireland |
| OC + 6 digits | Limited liability partnership (LLP) in England and Wales |
| SO + 6 digits | LLP in Scotland |
| NC + 6 digits | LLP in Northern Ireland |
| FC + 6 digits | Overseas company with a UK establishment |
| LP / SL + 6 digits | Limited partnership in England and Wales / Scotland |
The prefix is useful when choosing a registered office: a company registered in England and Wales must have its registered office in England or Wales, a Scottish company in Scotland, and so on. See registered office address rules.
Where to Find Your Company Registration Number
- Certificate of incorporation. The number is printed on it, under the company name.
- Letters and emails from Companies House, such as reminders for your confirmation statement.
- The Companies House register. Search the company name on Find and update company information for free.
- Your company’s paperwork, such as the website footer, letterheads and bank letters.
You can also look up any company and see which of its directors and PSCs have verified their identity with our verification status checker.
CRN vs UTR vs VAT Number: Which Is Which?
A new company collects several numbers and codes. They come from different places and do different jobs:
| Number | Issued by | Looks like | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company registration number (CRN) | Companies House | 8 characters, e.g. 01234567 or SC123456 | Identifying the company on the register, its website and letters, and bank and supplier forms |
| Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) | HMRC | 10 digits | Corporation Tax and the Company Tax Return |
| VAT registration number | HMRC | GB + 9 digits | VAT invoices and VAT returns, only if VAT registered |
| PAYE employer reference | HMRC | 3-digit office number / reference, e.g. 123/AB45678 | Payroll, only if the company is an employer |
| Authentication code | Companies House | 6 letters and numbers | Filing online for the company. Keep it private |
| Personal code | Companies House | 11 characters | A verified individual’s identity, not the company |
The UTR arrives by post at the registered office a few weeks after incorporation; see what a UTR number is. A VAT number only exists if the company registers for VAT; see the VAT registration guide. The personal code belongs to a person, not a company; see Companies House personal code.
Where You Must Show the Company Number
A limited company must show its registered name, company number, the part of the UK it is registered in and its registered office address on:
- Its website
- Business letters, including emails
- Order forms
Its registered name must also appear on invoices and its other business documents, and at its registered office.
A typical footer line reads: “Example Trading Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 01234567, registered office: [address]”.
When Do You Get a Company Registration Number?
The number is issued the moment Companies House registers the company, usually within 24 hours of a complete online application. Before then the company does not exist and has no number. If you need the number quickly, for a bank application or a contract, make sure the application is right first time. The main reasons it is not are in why company formations are rejected.
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- Company formation from £159.99, including the £100 Companies House fee
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a company registration number?
A company registration number (CRN), also called a company number, is the unique 8-character number Companies House gives a company when it is registered. It never changes, even if the company changes its name or address, and it identifies the company on the public register.
How do I find my company registration number?
It is on the certificate of incorporation, on letters from Companies House, and on the company’s page on the Companies House register, which you can search by name for free. It is also often in the footer of a company’s website or on its invoices.
Is the company registration number the same as the UTR?
No. The company registration number comes from Companies House and identifies the company on the register. The UTR is a 10-digit tax reference from HMRC used for Corporation Tax. They are issued separately and are not related.
How many digits is a UK company registration number?
Eight characters. Companies in England and Wales have 8 digits, often starting with zeros. Scottish companies start with SC and Northern Irish companies with NI, followed by 6 digits.
Does my company number have to be on my website?
Yes. A company’s website, business letters and order forms must show its registered name, company number, the part of the UK where it is registered and its registered office address. Its registered name must also appear on invoices and other business documents.
Can a company registration number change?
No. The number stays the same for the life of the company, including after a change of name, registered office or owners. A new company always gets a new number.
Next steps after you have your number: what to do after registering a company.
Checked against GOV.UK and the Companies House register on 30 October 2026. CorpAssist is an independent commercial service and is not Companies House or GOV.UK.
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