When setting up your vendor account or renewing your contract, you may need to provide business registration or tax identification details to meet our verification and billing requirements.
The information you need to provide depends on your business structure and VAT registration status.
Do I need to provide a UK VAT number?
You must provide a valid UK VAT number if your business is registered for VAT with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
VAT registration is generally required if your taxable turnover exceeds £85,000 over a rolling 12-month period and your business makes taxable supplies. Other registration rules and exceptions may apply.
UK VAT number format: A standard UK VAT number contains 9 digits and may include the GB prefix (for example, GB123456789).
We verify submitted VAT numbers through the official HMRC validation service during account setup.
What if my business is not VAT-registered?
If your business is not VAT-registered, you may be able to provide an alternative business identification number based on your business structure.
| Identification type | Who it applies to | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Company Registration Number (CRN) | Limited companies registered with Companies House. | Usually 8 characters, such as 12345678 or SC123456. |
| Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) | Sole traders and individuals. | 10 digits. |
| Partnership UTR | Partnerships. | 10 digits. |
A UTR is not a legal prerequisite for entering into a business-to-business contract in the UK. If you have one, it may be collected for verification purposes.
If your business is below the VAT registration threshold or is otherwise not required to register, you do not need to provide a VAT number unless your circumstances or applicable requirements specify otherwise.
What is the Small Business Income option?
If you qualify as a small business or sole trader under the applicable income criteria, you may be able to select the Small Business Income option during account setup.
This option allows you to indicate that your business falls within the relevant category. It is a non-blocking field, so completing it will not delay your contract activation, renewal or service upgrade.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, contact your Sales representative for guidance.
Can I provide my National Insurance number?
No. Do not submit your National Insurance (NI) number as a business tax identification number.
We do not request or accept NI numbers for this purpose.
How do I provide or update my tax details?
During account setup
Enter your applicable VAT number, CRN or UTR in the contract agreement form before signing.
After your account has been activated
To update your existing details, contact Vendor Support or your assigned Sales or Account Manager using the email address linked to your account.
If you cannot provide a business identification number
If you do not have an applicable identification number or prefer not to provide one, inform your Sales representative.