Corporation Tax Payment Reference
Corporation Tax Payment Reference
Need to pay your company's Corporation Tax? Learn where to find your Corporation Tax payment reference, what the 17-character code means, and why you should check it before every payment to HMRC.
Quick answer: your Corporation Tax payment reference contains 17 characters and is specific to the relevant accounting period. It is not simply your company's 10-digit Corporation Tax UTR.
Identifies the company and the accounting period being paid.
Your Corporation Tax payment reference is the 17-character reference HMRC uses to allocate your Corporation Tax payment to the correct company and accounting period. It is not simply your 10-digit Corporation Tax UTR.
You can normally find the correct reference on your HMRC Notice to Deliver a Company Tax Return, on relevant HMRC reminders, or in your company's HMRC online account. Importantly, the reference changes for each accounting period, so do not automatically reuse the reference saved in your online banking from the previous year.
What Is a Corporation Tax Payment Reference?
A Corporation Tax payment reference is a 17-character code used by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to identify both the company making a Corporation Tax payment and the accounting period to which the payment relates.
This distinction is important because your company may have the same 10-digit Corporation Tax Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for many years, while its Corporation Tax payment reference changes from one accounting period to another.
Using the correct reference helps HMRC allocate the money to the right Corporation Tax liability. If you use an old or incorrect reference, HMRC may allocate the payment to a different accounting period or another tax liability, potentially leaving the Corporation Tax you intended to pay showing as outstanding.
What Does a Corporation Tax Payment Reference Look Like?
A Corporation Tax payment reference contains 17 characters. An HMRC example of the format is:
How to Find Your Corporation Tax Payment Reference
There are several places to find the reference, but the important point is to check that you are using the reference for the accounting period you are actually paying.
Check Your HMRC Online Account
Sign in to your company's HMRC online account and open the Corporation Tax section. View the Corporation Tax statement or accounting periods and select the relevant period.
The payment information should show the Corporation Tax payment reference associated with that period.
Check Your Notice to Deliver
HMRC's Notice to Deliver a Company Tax Return contains the Corporation Tax payment reference associated with the company and accounting period.
You may also find the reference on relevant Corporation Tax reminders sent by HMRC.
Ask Your Accountant
If your accountant deals with the company's Corporation Tax affairs, they may be able to confirm the appropriate payment reference from the company's tax records.
Make clear which accounting period you are trying to pay.
Contact HMRC
If you cannot locate the reference through your online account or correspondence, contact HMRC Corporation Tax enquiries.
Have your company's details and Corporation Tax UTR available so HMRC can identify the correct record.
Can I Work Out My Corporation Tax Payment Reference?
You may see Corporation Tax references represented in a format such as a 10-digit UTR followed by characters identifying the relevant accounting period. However, we recommend confirming the actual reference issued by HMRC rather than guessing it.
This is particularly important if the company has had a change of accounting date, a shortened or extended financial year, more than one Corporation Tax accounting period, or you are unsure which period HMRC expects the payment against.
What If I Used the Wrong Corporation Tax Payment Reference?
If you have already paid Corporation Tax using the wrong reference, the money is not necessarily lost. However, HMRC may have allocated the payment to a different accounting period or tax liability.
-
Check your HMRC Corporation Tax account.
See whether the payment has appeared and which accounting period it has been allocated against. -
Keep your payment evidence.
Retain the date, amount, bank transaction details and the payment reference you actually used. -
Contact HMRC if the payment has been allocated incorrectly.
HMRC can investigate the payment and, where appropriate, move it to the correct Corporation Tax liability. -
Check the intended liability afterwards.
Make sure your Corporation Tax account ultimately shows the payment against the correct accounting period.
Common Corporation Tax Payment Reference Errors
| Mistake | Why It Matters | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Using last year's reference | The payment reference changes for each accounting period. | Check the reference for the period you are currently paying. |
| Using only the 10-digit UTR | The Corporation Tax payment reference is 17 characters. | Use the complete payment reference shown by HMRC. |
| Using another company's reference | The payment could be credited to the wrong company. | Check the UTR and company before authorising payment. |
| Guessing the accounting-period element | The period may not be the one you expect. | Verify the reference through HMRC before paying. |
| Leaving an old reference saved in online banking | Your bank may reuse the previous payment details. | Update the reference before making each Corporation Tax payment. |
How to Pay Corporation Tax Using Your Payment Reference
HMRC offers several ways to pay Corporation Tax. Whichever method you choose, check that you are using the correct 17-character Corporation Tax payment reference for the accounting period concerned.
| Payment Method | Typical HMRC Timing | Important Point |
|---|---|---|
| Online bank payment | Usually immediate; HMRC states it can take up to 2 hours to show in your bank account. | Start through HMRC's Corporation Tax payment service. |
| Faster Payments / CHAPS | Same or next day, subject to the payment method and bank processing. | Use the correct 17-character reference. |
| Bacs | Allow 3 working days. | Allow sufficient time before the deadline. |
| Direct Debit | Normally 5 working days for a first Direct Debit and 3 working days once previously authorised. | Set it up early if you have not paid HMRC this way before. |
| Debit or corporate credit card | HMRC accepts the payment on the date it is made. | Corporate card charges may apply; personal credit cards cannot be used. |
You can check the latest payment methods directly on GOV.UK – Pay your Corporation Tax bill.
When Do I Need to Pay Corporation Tax?
For a company with taxable profits of up to £1.5 million, Corporation Tax is normally due 9 months and 1 day after the end of the company's accounting period.
For example, if a company's accounting period ends on 31 March 2027, its Corporation Tax would normally be due by 1 January 2028, assuming the standard payment rules apply.
Companies with higher taxable profits can fall within the Corporation Tax quarterly instalment payment regime, meaning Corporation Tax may become payable earlier.
For more detail, read our guide: When Is Corporation Tax Due?
Corporation Tax Payment Checklist
✓ Correct company?
Check that the first 10 digits correspond with the Corporation Tax UTR of the company whose tax you are paying.
✓ Correct accounting period?
Make sure the reference relates to the Corporation Tax accounting period you intend to pay.
✓ All 17 characters?
Use the complete Corporation Tax payment reference supplied by HMRC, rather than just the company's UTR.
✓ Enough payment time?
Check how long your chosen payment method takes and make the payment early enough to meet the Corporation Tax deadline.
Corporation Tax Payment Reference FAQs
How many characters is a Corporation Tax payment reference?
A Corporation Tax payment reference is 17 characters. It identifies your company and the Corporation Tax accounting period to which the payment should be allocated.
Is my Corporation Tax payment reference the same as my UTR?
No. Your Corporation Tax UTR is normally a 10-digit number. Your Corporation Tax payment reference contains 17 characters and is specific to the relevant accounting period.
Does my Corporation Tax payment reference change every year?
The reference changes for each Corporation Tax accounting period. You should therefore check the correct reference each time you make a payment rather than automatically reusing the reference from your previous payment.
Where can I find my Corporation Tax payment reference?
HMRC says you can find it on your Notice to Deliver a Company Tax Return, on relevant HMRC reminders, or in your company's HMRC online account by selecting the appropriate Corporation Tax accounting period.
Can I use last year's Corporation Tax payment reference?
You should not assume that you can. Corporation Tax payment references change with each accounting period. Check the current period's reference before paying.
What happens if I use the wrong Corporation Tax payment reference?
Your payment may be delayed or allocated against a different tax liability or accounting period. If this happens, contact HMRC Corporation Tax enquiries and ask for the payment to be moved to the correct liability.
Can my accountant find my Corporation Tax payment reference?
Your accountant may be able to help identify the appropriate Corporation Tax payment reference from the company's tax records. You should make clear which accounting period you intend to pay.
When is Corporation Tax normally due?
For companies with taxable profits of up to £1.5 million, Corporation Tax is normally payable 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period. Different rules can apply to companies required to make quarterly instalment payments.
Need Help With Your Company's Corporation Tax?
The Online Accountants provides fixed-price online accounts and Corporation Tax services for UK limited companies. We can prepare your statutory accounts, Corporation Tax calculation and CT600 and submit the required filings to HMRC and Companies House.
ACCA qualified accountants providing accounts and tax services to limited companies and owner-managed businesses throughout the UK. Tax rules and HMRC procedures can change, so always check current HMRC guidance before making a payment.