What is an EIN and why is it used?

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a unique identifier assigned by the US Internal Revenue Service for tax purposes to businesses operating in the United States.

What is the UK equivalent of an EIN?

In the UK, businesses use a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for tax purposes and a Company Registration Number (CRN) for official company identification.

What is a Company Registration Number (CRN)?

A CRN is a unique number assigned to companies upon registration with Companies House in the UK, used to identify companies legally.

Do UK companies need an EIN to trade internationally?

UK companies do not need an EIN; however, they should be aware of international tax identification requirements and use their UK UTR or CRN when appropriate.

Do UK Companies Have an EIN? Understanding UK Business Identification Numbers

Learn whether UK companies use EINs and discover their UK equivalents like UTR and CRN for tax and registration purposes.

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Sep 17, 2026

UK companies do not have an EIN as that is specific to the United States. In the UK, businesses have a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) or a Company Registration Number (CRN). The UTR is used for tax purposes while the CRN is used for identification with Companies House. It's important for UK businesses engaging in international trade or financial operations to understand the equivalent requirements in other countries.

FAQs & Answers

What is an EIN and why is it used? An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a unique identifier assigned by the US Internal Revenue Service for tax purposes to businesses operating in the United States.
What is the UK equivalent of an EIN? In the UK, businesses use a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for tax purposes and a Company Registration Number (CRN) for official company identification.
What is a Company Registration Number (CRN)? A CRN is a unique number assigned to companies upon registration with Companies House in the UK, used to identify companies legally.
Do UK companies need an EIN to trade internationally? UK companies do not need an EIN; however, they should be aware of international tax identification requirements and use their UK UTR or CRN when appropriate.

Watch More

If you're interested in understanding more about UK business compliance and international tax requirements, check out our guides on how to register a company in the UK and the differences between UK and US tax systems.

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