Partnership Returns and UTRs
HMRC have issued guidance for the completion of partnership returns where the Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for some or all of the individual partners is not known. The deadline for submitting the partnership return online is 31 January 2009.
Any individual who does not hold a UTR should apply for a reference number as soon as possible. However, due to security checks there is a possibility that a late application for a UTR will mean the reference number will not be issued by 31 January. To assist in handling late applications, HMRC have introduced a new fast-track system which aims to issue a UTR within 5 working days. This fast-track system is available from 8 December 2008 – 31 January 2009.
HMRC will not normally accept the absence of a UTR as a ‘reasonable excuse’ for submitting a late partnership return.
For this year only, if a UK resident partner’s UTR is unknown a dummy entry can be made on the system using‘99999 99999’. The return may be rejected but will not incur an automatic late-filing penalty.
Where one or more of the partners is a limited company, the UTR that should be entered is the Corporation Tax UTR.