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July 30, 2020

April 10, 2024

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Companies House Company Registration Number (CRN) Explained

Limited Companies

Company Guides

Company Formations

🔑 Key Highlights

A company registration number is a unique alphanumeric code provided by Companies House upon registration for used to identify businesses incorporated in the UK.
It is also called the ‘Company Number,’ especially on the certificate of incorporation or ‘Companies House Registration Number.
Sole traders and general partnerships, not registered at Companies House, do not have a CRN. However, limited companies, including LTDs, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and limited partnerships (LPs), have one.
A company registration number remains the same for the entire lifetime of the company.

What Is a Company Registration Number (CRN)

A company registration number comprises 8 numbers or 2 letters followed by 6 digits. It is issued by Companies House to identify limited companies in the UK.

Sometimes, it may also be referred to as a company number, Companies House number, incorporation number, or business registration number.

What Is the Format of a Company Registration Number

A CRN can take several forms depending on the jurisdiction of your company formation or the type of company you incorporate. See the table below for details.

Jurisdiction of incorporation	Company Type	Description	Example
England and Wales	Limited Company	An eight - digits that start with 0 or 1	01234567
	LLP	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “OC” prefix followed by six numbers.	OC121212
	LP	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “LP” prefix followed by six numbers.	LP222222
Northern Ireland	Older (pre-partition) companies	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “NI” prefix followed by six numbers	NI1212121
	Limited company (post-partition)	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “OR” prefix followed by six numbers.	R0333333
	LLP	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “NC” prefix followed by six numbers.	*NC123456
	LP	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “NL” prefix followed by six numbers.	NL444444
Scotland	Limited Company	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “SC” prefix followed by six numbers.	SC555555
	LLP	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “SO” prefix followed by six numbers.	SO888888
	LP	Alphanumeric comprises a two-letter “SL” prefix followed by six numbers.	SL111111

Table notes: *While the Northern Ireland Limited Liability Partnerships prefix is NILLP, when a user signs into webfiling, only the prefix NC, not NILLP, is required and displayed. Some older Northern Irish companies have CRNs with the letter ‘R’ followed by 7 digits, but these numbers are no longer issued.

How to Find Your Company Registration Number?

One of the main places to find the number is on your incorporation certificate from Companies House.

Other places you can locate your CRN number include —

Official correspondence with Companies House or HMRC.
Visit Companies House - GOV.UK register and search for a company by name, the result will show the CRN.
If you’ve changed your company name recently, you can locate the CRN in the change of company name certificate.
Review emails or correspondence from your company formation agent or accountant. They may regularly cite your incorporation number in their communication.

✅ Insight

Your company’s Certificate of Incorporation, along with any statutory mail sent by Companies House, will display your company registration number. The company registration number is usually printed alongside or beneath headings such as “Company number.”

To find your company registration number in the public register run a Companies House search free of charge by following the steps below.

Go to https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/
Enter the name of your company in the search box
Click the “SEARCH” button
You’ll see your company number just below the company name.

Your CRN Is Different From Other Numbers

Your Company Registration Number (CRN) serves as a unique identifier for your company within government records. However, it's crucial to distinguish it from other numbers used by various agencies. Below is a breakdown to clarify.

🛈 Info

Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) Number, a 10-digit identifier (e.g. 0123456789), also known as a 'tax number' or 'tax reference,' is issued by HMRC for tax purposes.
Value Added Tax (VAT) Number, an alphanumeric with the prefix “GB,” followed by nine numbers (e.g., GB123456789), is issued by HMRC for VAT registration.
Employer Registration Number (ERN), an alphanumeric number consists of a three-digit number followed by a forward slash and a mix of letters and numbers (e.g. 123/AB456). It's issued by HMRC when an employer registers for Pay As You Earn (PAYE).
Company Authentication Code, a six-digit alphanumeric code issued by Companies House to limited companies. It serves as an electronic signature during digital filings.
Companies House Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, assigned by Companies House, categorizes a company's primary business activity.

How Companies House Uses Your CRN for Webfiling

Companies House requires that you provide your CRN WebFiling to enable them to identify and distinguish your company from the other registered entities.

The unique number ensures that any filings or submissions you make through WebFiling are associated with the correct company record in the database.

At What Point Will You Need a Company Registration Number?

CRNs are required for any activity that requires signing in to the online filing system and make changes to your company records through either WebFiling or the Companies House account.

Such filings and amendments include —

Making your Companies House filings including –
- Submitting annual returns
- Filing your accounts
- Filing copies of resolutions
Amending company information with the registrar such as –
- Company name change applications
- Changing your registered office address and Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL) address
- Your Accounting Reference Rate (ARD)
Adjusting your company structure, or company officer details which may include —
- Adding a new company secretary or secretary
- Removing an existing company director or secretary
- Changing the details of directors and secretaries
- Increasing capital of shares
- Issuing share certificates.
In your tax-related dealings with HMRC in the following cases for example —
- Registering for VAT
- Paying your Corporation Tax, VAT, or income tax.
- Filing Company Tax Returns
- Issuing dividend vouchers
- Making national insurance contributions through PAYE

You’ll also need your CRN for official purposes such as opening a business bank account, signing contracts on behalf of your company, and applying for funding or tenders.

Where do I need to display my Company Registration Number?

You are legally expected to display your limited company’s registration number on all your company stationery, including but not limited to —

Letterheads
Emails
Invoices
Receipts
Online content
Order forms

How to Register for a Company Registration Number

Your CRN will be provided by Companies House upon registration. There is no separate registration process to get a company number. As soon as your new limited company or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is registered, the number will be referenced in your digital certificate if you registered online or a paper certificate by post if you set up a limited company using a paper application.

Will I get a new CRN number if I change my business name?

No. Your CRN will not change when you change your business name.

It remains the same for the life of your company since it's the main way Companies House uses to identify your business regardless of any changes in name, address, directors, shareholders, or business activities.

Instead, you’ll simply receive a ‘certificate of incorporation on change of name’ from Companies House, which will contain the new name, date of change, and the same CRN number.

Please note that the change of name certificate does not replace the original certificate of incorporation.

Is a company registration number the same as a tax number?

No. CRNs are issued by Companies House as unique identifiers for individual companies on the register, whereas company tax numbers are unique 10-digit codes that HMRC assigns to companies to track tax records.

Just like with CRN, you do not have to apply for your UTR number, HMRC will automatically give you one as soon as your company is registered with Companies House.

Do sole traders and ordinary partnerships get company registration numbers?

No. CRNs are only issued to limited companies and LLPs, including companies limited by guarantee because they are incorporated or registered at Companies House and are required to file statutory records.

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