Corporation tax payment reference format

[Lumiere]

Need to process my CT payment ASAP but haven't got the letter with the corresponding reference on it yet (accounts were filed a couple of weeks ago and the letter is probably being redirected from my virtual office address).

So called the CT people in HMRC and asked them to create this reference for me.

UUUTTTTTRRRRR = UTR number

1st attempt: 456UUUTTTTTRRRRRA00109A - 23 characters (must be 17 max according to CT reference checker)

Called my accountant, he told me to remove first 6 numbers: TTTTTRRRRRA00109A - accepted by the checker

2nd call to HMRC to comfirm, they gave me a new code instead: 456TTTTTRRRRRA00105A - 20 characters again, not valid and they changed the period code from 09 to 05.

How do I get it right now !?

[SallyPlanIT]

Need to process my CT payment ASAP but haven't got the letter with the corresponding reference on it yet (accounts were filed a couple of weeks ago and the letter is probably being redirected from my virtual office address).

So called the CT people in HMRC and asked them to create this reference for me.

UUUTTTTTRRRRR = UTR number

1st attempt: 456UUUTTTTTRRRRRA00109A - 23 characters (must be 17 max according to CT reference checker)

Called my accountant, he told me to remove first 6 numbers: TTTTTRRRRRA00109A - accepted by the checker

2nd call to HMRC to comfirm, they gave me a new code instead: 456TTTTTRRRRRA00105A - 20 characters again, not valid and they changed the period code from 09 to 05.

How do I get it right now !?

Surely your accountant should have your CT reference on their files. It's common practice.

Its usually 3 numbers for tax office followed by 10 numbers then 1 letter. Are you registered on the Government Gateway for CT? If so, your reference should be there. Also on the CT41G form when you incorporated your company if you kept a copy of it.

On your reference above, I think the A00105 bit is wrong, if you took them out that would leave you with 14 characters.

[Lumiere]

Surely your accountant should have your CT reference on their files. It's common practice.

Its usually 3 numbers for tax office followed by 10 numbers then 1 letter. Are you registered on the Government Gateway for CT? If so, your reference should be there. Also on the CT41G form when you incorporated your company if you kept a copy of it.

On your reference above, I think the A00105 bit is wrong, if you took them out that would leave you with 14 characters.

"3 numbers for tax office followed by 10 numbers" - I think you may confuse it with the regular CT reference (which is UTR in my example). I need CT payment reference which should follow a specific format ( see below)

It looks like "A001XX" should be there according to the HMRC website: HM Revenue & Customs: Corporation Tax reference checker ?

Also "reference number is specific to the accounting period for which you are paying" so it is unlikely to be a fixed one in the files ?

[SallyPlanIT]

"3 numbers for tax office followed by 10 numbers" - I think you may confuse it with the regular CT reference (which is UTR in my example). I need CT payment reference which should follow a specific format ( see below)

It looks like "A001XX" should be there according to the HMRC website: HM Revenue & Customs: Corporation Tax reference checker ?

Also "reference number is specific to the accounting period for which you are paying" so it is unlikely to be a fixed one in the files ?

Sorry, think I'd better buy some reading glasses.

On the payment slip, there are 3 characters in the first reference box followed by 17 in the next. So the 20 digit one they gave you is possibly correct.

[Scrag Meister]

Need to process my CT payment ASAP but haven't got the letter with the corresponding reference on it yet (accounts were filed a couple of weeks ago and the letter is probably being redirected from my virtual office address).

So called the CT people in HMRC and asked them to create this reference for me.

UUUTTTTTRRRRR = UTR number

1st attempt: 456UUUTTTTTRRRRRA00109A - 23 characters (must be 17 max according to CT reference checker)

Called my accountant, he told me to remove first 6 numbers: TTTTTRRRRRA00109A - accepted by the checker

2nd call to HMRC to comfirm, they gave me a new code instead: 456TTTTTRRRRRA00105A - 20 characters again, not valid and they changed the period code from 09 to 05.

How do I get it right now !?

I paid mine a week or so ago and my reference was 17 chars

9999999999A00106A

The end bit denotes the period and type of tax, so changes each year, according to the lady on the hot line, who was very helpful.

The numeric bit at the left of the ref stays the same each year for your Ltd.

Try putting your code into the ref checker.

[Lumiere]

Sorry, think I'd better buy some reading glasses.

On the payment slip, there are 3 characters in the first reference box followed by 17 in the next. So the 20 digit one they gave you is possibly correct.

Thanks Sally, the checker would not accept 20 digits

Just called the CT hotline again, and they finally confirmed what my accountant has said - UTR(10char)A00105A

[Lumiere]

I paid mine a week or so ago and my reference was 17 chars

9999999999A00106A

The end bit denotes the period and type of tax, so changes each year, according to the lady on the hot line, who was very helpful.

The numeric bit at the left of the ref stays the same each year for your Ltd.

Try putting your code into the ref checker.

Cheers, another confirmation of the above format.

Still wonder why different advisers give different period codes (09) and (05), is your year end 31 Dec by any chance? I assume they just increment it for every month ..

[Clare@InTouch]

Cheers, another confirmation of the above format.

Still wonder why different advisers give different period codes (09) and (05), is your year end 31 Dec by any chance? I assume they just increment it for every month ..

It's incremented for each accounting period - so in theory, as long your first trading period was a year or less and you've not extended your year end at any point, the 05 should relate to the fact that you're in your 5th trading year.

[SallyPlanIT]

It's incremented for each accounting period - so in theory, as long your first trading period was a year or less and you've not extended your year end at any point, the 05 should relate to the fact that you're in your 5th trading year.

hmmm

I have a client with a reference 02 and it is their first year of trading

Maybe HMRC just put what they fancy when it suits

[Clare@InTouch]

hmmm

I have a client with a reference 02 and it is their first year of trading

Maybe HMRC just put what they fancy when it suits

Is it 02 because their first year is a long period? Unless the company was incorporated on the 1st of the month then they would need 2 CT returns to cover that first 'year'.

For example a company set up on 29 July 2010 would have:

29 July 2010 - 28 July 2011 - period 01
29 July 2011 - 31 July 2011 - period 02

Or perhaps a dormant period for those first days if it didn't start to trade until 01 August.