How do i find my company registration number

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A company registration number (CRN) is a unique number issued by Companies House when a company is incorporated in the UK. It is usually 8 numbers, or 2 letters followed by 6 numbers. It will be displayed on your certificate of incorporation and on your listing at Companies House.

It is designated by Companies House and cannot be changed.

Companies formed in England and Wales: Numbers start with 0 or 1.

Often the 0 is left out; the company number will read like 7845123.

Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs): Start with ‘OC’.
Scottish LTDs: Start with ‘SC’.
Scottish LLPs: Start with ‘SO’.
Northern Ireland LTDs: Start with NI.
Northern Ireland LLPs: Start with NC.

Want to find out yours or any other company's? Go here: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/

There's no mystery to it. A company name can be exotic, but for bureaucratic purposes a legal entity also has to have a number. You have your passport number, your car has a registration number, your company has its CRN.

  Sample Incorporation Certificate

Important: Sole traders do not have a number. They are trading as themselves, as persons. They already exist and the government does not deem it necessary to maintain a separate database of small traders. They do not register with a government department, except HMRC, and HMRC does not offer a publicly searchable database. Your personal tax information is not a public matter.

The number has to be printed on the following, so correspondents know who they are contracting with:

- Letterheads;
- Compliment slips;
- Emails;
- Faxes;
- Invoices;
- Receipts;
- Order forms;
- Websites.

Interesting facts:

- You may change your company name, but the CRN stays the same.
- If 'Superfluous Gondoliers Ltd' is struck off, and then someone re-registers 'Superfluous Gondoliers Ltd', it will have a different CRN, as it is an entirely different company in the eyes of the law.

The CRN is the 'brand' that marks your company as distinct, legally.

You’ll need to quote the number when interacting with Companies House, HMRC and setting up a bank account.

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So, you’ve conceived a business idea. Formed the company blueprint. And subsequently incorporated your business with a registered office to boot. At this stage, you must ensure you use a comprehensive filing system as you’ll be inundated with important company details and numbers!

An important company number you’ll need to know is your company registration number. Before you aimlessly run a Companies House search to retrieve the reference, let’s first outline what exactly is a company registration number.

What Is a Company Registration Number?

When you incorporate a limited company or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Companies House issues your business with a company registration number (often abbreviated as “CRN”). And before you frantically enter your Companies House search, note that the number can sometimes be referred to as a “Companies HouseNumber”. The company registration number is computer generated, therefore cannot be changed or personally selected.

The company registration number will usually look like this:

• Eight numbers(e.g. 12345678) or,
• Two letters followed by six numbers(e.g. AB123456)

However, depending on where you incorporate your company and the typeof company you choose to set up, the company registration number can take the following form:

• 8-digit company registration number (for companies formed in England and Wales)
• “OC” prefix on a company registration number (for Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) formed in England and Wales)
• “LP” prefix on a company registration number (for Limited Partnership companies formed in England and Wales)
• “SC” prefix on a company registration number (for companies formed in Scotland)
• “SO” prefix on a company registration number (for Scottish Limited Liability Companies)
• “SL” prefix on a company registration number (for Limited Partnership companies formed in Scotland)
• “NI” prefix on a company registration number (for limited companies in Northern Ireland)
• “NC” prefix on a company registration number (for Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) formed in Northern Ireland)
• “NL” prefix on a company registration (for Limited Partnership companies formed in Northern Irleand)

Don’t forget, sole traders are not incorporated in this way and therefore they do not have a company registration number. Additionally, general partnerships (also referred to as “ordinary partnerships”) also do not have a company registration number. However, limited partnerships areregistered at Companies House, and therefore will obtain their unique reference.

Should I Run a Companies House Search to Find My Company Registration Number?

Firstly, your company registration number will be displayed on your Certificate of Incorporation and any Companies House statutory mail you receive. The company registration number is usually printed alongside or beneath a heading such as “Company No.” You can also find it on the public register beside your company details.

Ultimately, you can run a Companies House search to find your company registration number, by simply logging into Companies House WebCHeck service, free of charge, and following these steps:

• Go to http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//wcframe?name=accessCompanyInfo
• Enter the name of your company in the “yellow section”
• Click the “SEARCH” button
• Your confirmation registration number will then be located on the left-hand side of your company name.

Where Should I Display My Company Registration Number?

It is a legal requirement to display the company registration number of your limited company on all your business stationary. This includes, but not limited to, the following:

• Letterheads
• Faxes
• Compliment slips
• Emails
• Invoices
• Receipts
• Online content
• Order forms

When Will I Use My Company Registration Number?

There will be a number of occasions when you’ll be required to use your company registration number. For example:

• Communicating with Companies House
• Submitting annual returns
• Filing your accounts
• Changing your company name
• Changing your registered office/SAIL address
• Adding a new company director/secretary
• Removing an existing company director/secretary
• Changing the details of directors and secretaries
• Registering for business taxes
• Paying your Corporation Tax
• Filing Company Tax Returns
• Filing copies of resolutions
• Increasing capital of shares
• Issuing share certificates.
• Issuing dividend vouchers
• Amending your Accounting Reference Rate (ARD)

Don’t Confuse Your Company Registration Number With Other Numbers!

It’s crucial that you familiarise yourself with the following numbers and don’t confuse them with your company registration number:

• Unique taxpayer reference (UTR): issued by HMRC, this is comprised of 10 digits (e.g. 0123456789), and is used to identify a company for tax-related purposes.
• VAT number:issued by HMRC for companies registered for Value Added Tax. This number contains nine digits, with the “GB” prefix (e.g. GB123456789)
• Employer reference number: issued by HMRC when employers register to implement PAYE (Pay As You Earn) for their employees. The first part of the reference consists of three digits, identifying the tax office that deals with the appropriate PAYE. The second part follows a forward slash, and identifies the tax office’s employer reference (e.g. 123/AB456).

How Can a Formations Company Help?

When forming a company using the services of a reputable formations company, many of the oft-demanding administrative tasks are completed swiftly. This includes things like locating your company registration number via the company’s online platform.

If you would rather not run a direct Companies House search, simply log in to the Your Company Formations Online Company Manager. Existing customers can enter their login details to retrieve company information, including their targeted company registration number.

Non-clients can easily create an account, free of charge, in order to import an existing company and manage it online. You can use this platform at any time in order to glance over your company’s details, update relevant information, and electronically file data with Companies House.

Are you a business owner looking to find your company registration number? Contact our dedicated company formations team now for expert assistance.

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