What is a company registration number and where do I find it?

Is CRN the same as Companies House number?

Yes. A company registration number (CRN) is the same as a Companies House number.

What format does a CRN take? (With regional prefix examples)

The CRN will always be 8 characters long, but the format differs between countries in the UK and between companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs).

In England and Wales, the CRN for limited companies is 8 numbers (e.g. 12345678). For Scottish-registered companies, you’ll see the prefix of “SC” followed by 6 numbers (e.g. SC123456). In Northern Ireland, the prefix is “NI” (NI123456). And for limited liability partnerships in England and Wales, the prefix is “OC” (OC123456), whilst in Scotland the prefix is “SO” and in Northern Ireland the prefix is “NC”. There are other prefixes for other entity types, but these are the most common.

Do sole traders have a company registration number?

No. Sole traders do not have company registration numbers. Sole traders are not companies, and they are not registered on Companies House.

Where to find your company registration number

You can locate your CRN on the Companies House register by searching your company name. Your CRN appears in grey under your company name. It also appears on various documents from Companies House, including:

• The Certificate of Incorporation
• The company confirmation statement
• Official correspondence from Companies House

When do I need to use my CRN?

You’ll need your CRN for any filings at Companies House. For example, when you’re filing annual accounts, confirmation statements or copies of resolutions.

You also need it for tax purposes, such as registering for business taxes, paying corporation tax and filing your company tax returns.

You’ll also use it if you need it when dealing with third parties – for example, when entering into contracts or when applying for a company loan or a business bank account. It will be an essential part of the Know Your Client and Anti-Money Laundering checks that the financial institution needs to complete.

Where must I display my CRN?

Your CRN is publicly facing information, so it is displayed in several places. For example, in the UK, it’s a legal requirement for limited companies and LLPs to display their CRN on all official business documents, correspondence, and digital platforms.

Your CRN should be displayed on your:

• Company website (usually in the footer)
• Invoices
• Receipts
• Business letters and official correspondence
• Emails
• Order forms
• Other stationery and promotional material

Do I need to show a CRN on marketplace listings or digital storefronts?

Yes, if you’re selling goods or services on a digital platform, you should display your company registration number. For example, if you’re using a marketplace listing like Amazon or Etsy, you need to include your CRN in your seller profile.

It’s also required on your website as per section 25 of the Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business (Names and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015

CRN vs VRN: What’s the difference?

Companies House issues a CRN upon incorporation, while a VAT Registration Number (VRN) is issued by HMRC when a company registers for VAT. Although both are unique identifiers, they serve different regulatory purposes.

Your VRN is important for tax compliance, reporting, and reclaiming VAT. By way of reminder, companies must register for VAT when their turnover reaches £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period.
All UK limited companies receive a CRN as legal proof of incorporation. But only businesses that are VAT-registered – usually due to turnover – will be issued a separate VAT number by HMRC.

CRN vs UTR: Understanding the differences

A UTR is a Unique Taxpayer Reference issued by HMRC for signing into HMRC online services, filing tax returns and identifying you for tax purposes. Unlike CRNs, UTRs are confidential and not publicly displayed.

Companies, partnerships, and sole traders/self-employed people will have a UTR. As a company, you will receive your UTR automatically when you register your business. You then use this code to register for corporation tax. Keep this number in a safe place so you can find it easily without risking it becoming public information.

CRN, VRN and UTR: A comparison

How the UK CRN compares with formalities in other countries

If your company has entities in other countries, each entity should have a separate company registration number, and it won’t necessarily be referred to as a CRN overseas. For example, in Australia, limited companies have an Australian Company Number. In the US, businesses are identified through an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and individual state registration numbers. The Secretary of State issues the state registration number upon incorporation.

You can look up registries in other countries in the same way you can look up information about a company on Companies House in the UK. However, you may find that registers differ in the detail they give. For example, some registers don’t supply any information at all, and others charge you to view certain information.

How to get your CRN for the first time

When you register your business with Companies House, you'll automatically receive your unique CRN. At 1st Formations, we simplify the entire process for you. Our comprehensive formation service ensures seamless registration, efficient document filing, and hassle-free Companies House administration, all in one place.