Company Registration Number (CRN)

No.  A company registration number applies to limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs), meaning it’s assigned when a business is formally incorporated. Not all businesses are issued a CRN. For example, freelancers or sole traders use other registration numbers for identification, such as a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for tax purposes.

Company registration numbers are different (for England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland). They depend on the type of business and where it’s incorporated.

For example:

• Eight numeric digits (for companies in England and Wales)
• Prefix “SC” followed by six digits (for companies in Scotland)
• Prefix “SO” followed by six digits (LLPs in Scotland)

No. A CRN identifies a company as a legal entity, while a Tax Identification Number (TIN)  is used for tax purposes. Both may be required in different business situations.

A CRN proves that a business is legally registered. 

It’s often needed for: 

• Tax filings
• Signing contracts
• Opening a business bank account.

Companies often use CRNs to check whether a business is legitimate before entering into partnerships. This is also part of due diligence and Know Your Business (KYB) verification when a potential business partner or service provider needs to be checked and assessed before moving forward with the partnership. Cross-checking data and using government registries is a standard component of KYB onboarding.

Some examples of cases when you will be required to provide your CRN include:

• When registering for Corporation Tax
• When contacting Companies House
• When updating information about your company
• When filing annual accounts and tax returns

Companies need to comply with legal requirements and display their CRNs in several places, such as company websites, emails, receipts, and invoices. In general, your company registration number should also be added next to standard company information, such as the VAT number, business name, and address. 

You are automatically issued a CRN when your company incorporates and you receive a certificate of incorporation. This document has details like the company name, the date of incorporation, the jurisdiction of registration, and your CRN.