How to Verify a UK Employer: Find VAT Registration Number UK and Companies House Checks (2026)
Need to find VAT registration number UK employers give you and check that the company is real? Fraudsters copy real company names and send fake job offers, so a quick check on Companies House and HMRC can protect you before you share documents or money. This guide shows how to verify a UK employer step by step, with a diagram, comparison tables, a format checker and a free scorecard.
Why verify a UK employer before you accept
A job offer from a UK company can still be fake. Scammers use real company names, copy logos and send letters from free email addresses. They then ask for fees for visas, training or “sponsorship”. A genuine employer does not charge you to apply. If you have already received a suspicious offer, read our guide on how to report a fake job offer or recruitment fraud.
The checks below take about ten minutes and use free official services.
3-check flow before you share documents
UK company registration check on Companies House: step by step
Companies House is the UK register of incorporated companies. According to GOV.UK, you can search it for free using the Find and update company information service, and you can search by company name or company number.
- Open the Find and update company information service.
- Type the exact company name or company number from your offer letter.
- Choose the correct company, comparing the name and number carefully.
- Check the status. It should be active.
- Check the registered office, nature of business, officers and filing history.
- Compare everything with your offer letter, email signature and the official website.
UK company registration lookup: what each field tells you
| Field on Companies House | What it tells you | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Company status | Active, dissolved, in liquidation, or a proposal to strike off | Dissolved, in liquidation or marked for strike-off, but still hiring |
| Incorporation date | How long the company has existed | Incorporated very recently, with a large overseas hiring plan |
| Registered office | The official address for legal notices | Missing, a Companies House default address, or unrelated to the offer |
| Nature of business (SIC code) | What the company says it does | Business type does not match the job offered |
| Officers (people) | Directors and secretaries | Contact person unknown, or details do not match your emails |
| Filing history and accounts | Whether it files accounts and confirmation statements | No filings for a company claiming to be established |
| Company name | The exact registered name | Similar name but a different number from the one in your offer |
| Director identity verification | Companies House is phasing in identity checks for directors and people with significant control | Not a red flag on its own while the rollout continues. Check GOV.UK for current rules |
GOV.UK explains how the service works on its page about searching the Companies House register. A company that appears on the register is only proof that the company exists. It does not prove that the person messaging you works there.
What Companies House cannot tell you
- Whether the company is solvent today. Filed accounts can be months old.
- Whether it is actually trading or hiring.
- Whether the registered office is a real workplace. It is often an agent or mail-forwarding address.
- Whether the job offer is genuine. A copied certificate of incorporation only shows a company was formed on a date, so never accept it as proof of a job.
Patterns that deserve a pause
- A very new company announcing large overseas hiring.
- A registered office shared by a very large number of other companies, with no separate trading address.
- Several company name changes in a short time.
- Overdue accounts or confirmation statements, a strike-off notice, or a dissolved-then-restored history.
One pattern alone does not prove fraud. Two or more together are a signal to verify further.
Find VAT registration number UK: where to look and how to check it
Find VAT registration number UK from the employer’s documents
A VAT-registered business normally shows its VAT number on invoices, letterheads and often on its website footer. For a job offer, you can ask the employer for the number or look at the company’s official website. HMRC does not let you search by company name, so you need the number first.
Check the VAT number on the official service
- Open the GOV.UK check a UK VAT number service.
- Enter the 9-digit number, with or without the GB prefix.
- If it is valid, compare the business name and address shown with your offer.
Find VAT registration number UK vs company number: what each proves
Many people mix up these numbers. They are different identifiers.
| Identifier | Issued by | Format | Where to check | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company registration number | Companies House | Usually 8 characters: digits, or letters plus digits (for example SC for Scotland, NI for Northern Ireland) | Find and update company information | The company exists on the register |
| VAT registration number | HMRC | 9 digits, often written with a GB prefix | GOV.UK VAT number checker | The business is VAT-registered, with its name and address |
| Sponsor licence | Home Office | Licence held by the employer | Register of licensed sponsors | The employer can sponsor workers for visas |
Find VAT registration number UK and other details: which official site checks what
Find VAT registration number UK on your offer: verification worksheet
Write down each detail from your offer, then compare it with the official record. Every row should match.
| Detail | Where to find it in your offer | Where to verify | What should match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company name | Offer letter, email signature, website | Companies House search | Exact registered name, not just a similar one |
| Company number | Offer letter or website footer | Companies House search | The number leads to the same company name |
| Registered address | Letterhead or website footer | Companies House company page | Same address, or a sensible registered office |
| VAT number | Invoices, website footer or ask the employer | GOV.UK VAT number checker | Business name and address match |
| Email domain | Sender address | The company’s official website | Same domain, not Gmail or a look-alike |
| Phone number | Offer letter | Official website or switchboard | Numbers you find yourself reach the same company |
| Sponsor licence | Ask the employer for a visa-sponsored job | Register of licensed sponsors | The employer appears on the register |
| Job and salary | Offer letter or contract | Job advert and salary rules | The role and pay are realistic for the sector |
Business name checker UK: match the name, number and address
- Match the exact registered name, including Limited, Ltd or PLC. Scammers use similar names with a different company number.
- Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not on the Companies House register, so a missing result needs other checks, such as a website, references and an official phone call.
- A trading name can differ from the registered name. Ask the employer for the registered name and number.
- Check that the email domain matches the official website. A Gmail or Yahoo address is a red flag for a company recruiter.
- Use the phone number on the official website, not the one in the offer.
- For visa-sponsored jobs, check the employer on the register of licensed sponsors and compare the salary with our UK Skilled Worker visa salary requirements guide.
Business name checker UK: company types and where to verify them
| Business type | On Companies House? | Number format | How to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private limited company (Ltd) | Yes | Usually 8 characters | Companies House search |
| Public limited company (PLC) | Yes | Usually 8 characters | Companies House search |
| Limited liability partnership (LLP) | Yes | Often starts with OC | Companies House search |
| Sole trader | No | None | Official website, references, a verified phone call, a written contract |
| Ordinary partnership | No | None | The same checks as a sole trader |
| Charity or public body | Different registers | Varies | Check the relevant official register or GOV.UK |
Format checker and employer scorecard
Number format checker
This checks only the format of a number. It does not prove the company is real. Always confirm on the official sites.
Employer scorecard
Tick everything that is true.
Right to work checks: what a genuine UK employer will ask you for
UK employers must check that a person has the right to work before they start. GOV.UK says employers can be fined up to £60,000 for employing illegal workers, so a genuine employer takes these checks seriously. You can see the process in GOV.UK’s guidance on checking a job applicant’s right to work.
| Stage | Genuine UK employer | Scam recruiter |
|---|---|---|
| Right to work | Checks your original documents or online status before you start, for example with a share code from your UKVI account | Says no checks are needed, or offers to “fix” your visa for a fee |
| Identity checks | May ask you to confirm identity through a secure link or in person, sent by a contact you have verified | Sends links from personal accounts, or asks for passport and bank details at first contact |
| Payments | Does not ask you to pay for its own hiring checks or a Certificate of Sponsorship | Asks for a deposit, fee or “clearance” payment |
| Hard cases | If you cannot show documents, for example a pending application, the employer can ask the Home Office to check your status through its Employer Checking Service | Claims it can bypass the Home Office |
FAQs
How do I find VAT registration number UK companies use?
Look at the company’s invoices, letterhead, official website footer or offer documents, or ask the employer. You cannot search HMRC by company name, so you need the number first, then check it on the GOV.UK VAT number checker.
How do I do a UK company registration check?
Use the free Companies House Find and update company information service. Search by the exact company name or number, then check the status, registered office, nature of business, officers and filing history.
Does every UK employer have a VAT number?
No. A business only has a VAT number if it is VAT-registered, so a missing number is not proof of fraud. Check the company on Companies House as well.
What is the difference between a company number and a VAT number?
A company registration number is issued by Companies House and shows the company exists. A VAT registration number is issued by HMRC and shows the business is registered for VAT.
Will a genuine UK employer check my right to work?
Yes. UK employers must check right to work before employment starts. You may be asked for original documents or an online check, such as a share code. Be careful if a recruiter says no checks are needed.
What does proposal to strike off mean on Companies House?
It means Companies House has started the process of removing the company from the register. Do not rely on that company for a job offer until you have verified it further.
Is a company on Companies House always genuine?
It proves the company exists, not that the job offer is real. Fraudsters can copy a real company’s name and details. Confirm contacts through the company’s official website and never pay fees for a job.
Can I use a business name checker UK to verify a sole trader?
Sole traders and partnerships are not listed on Companies House. Use other checks such as the official website, a phone call to a verified number, references and written contracts.
Conclusion: find VAT registration number UK and verify the employer
To verify a UK employer, find VAT registration number UK details where the company publishes them, check the number on GOV.UK, and run a UK company registration check on Companies House. Then confirm the contact person independently and never pay anything to get a job. If you are unsure, ask a regulated adviser or read our guide to choosing a genuine UK visa consultant before you share documents.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Official services and rules can change, so check the official websites for current details.