UTR - Warning! Please discuss
In order to verify your account Amazon verification team will ask you to publish your UTR on your website -
Warning!:-
Two separate Government bodies state that ‘UTR Numbers should be kept secure and never made public’
Here is official HMRC document from UK government website - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720460/Agent_Update_issue_66.pdf
And also reinforced by the governments official UTR body - https://www.utr.org.uk/ - Question 6.
It may also be said that making one’s UTR number public would contravene GDPR guidelines.
As such, my Amazon pay account is now stuck at the verification process as the verification team will not verify my account until I publish the UTR number on my website and I do not think it sensible to make my UTR number public by publishing it on my website.
Thoughts and replies much appreciated
53 replies
Seller_y85eShwkJ1SUS
I’m verified by Amazon (have been twice) and my UTR isn’t anywhere other than it the account section which isn’t shown to customers.
Seller_BfFyzLWPkKkte
I have been verified and mu UTR number is no where public
Seller_sigFznBNGNFZX
I was already verified on another Amazon pay account, I did not need to do this then (6 months ago)
This requirement to publish your UTR on your website must be a recent introduction and is only affecting the new account.
Seller_G0v6Buf05sJxH
Thoughts ? well firstly nothing in your post is true.
Amazon do not require to publish your UTR on your webpage, they do not even require you to have a webpage!
The HMRC document says nothing about ‘UTR Numbers should be kept secure and never made public’.
The second site doesn’t either, nor is it a government site or anything to do with HMRC.
There is no ‘Government offical UTR body’, other than possibly HMRC
Seller_qZO3ZCjoBXEeL
Seriously? That website is hosted in San Jose and is a Google shared content hosted site. It is a site created to scam people into paying for services that are free and probably worse.
Seller_qZO3ZCjoBXEeL
I simply don’t believe that. Do you have Amazon correspondence that says this?
Seller_z6B2L9xab6HlP
It sounds like they think the UTR is something like a VAT number or company registration number. It’s actually more like the US Social Security Number, which should not be published freely.
Seller_fMsCVAHNu4txH
The email probably means VAT, not UTR.
The seller support staff are mostly not UK based and often confuse some of the terminology.
Unique Tax Payer Reference (UTR) probably sounds like a VAT number to someone who isn’t familiar with the terms.
Seller_qHzcAWcsPVCfg
When all seasoned sellers are well aware of the magnitude of Amazon cockups it is very surprising that some posters jump to the conclusion that the OP is either dishonest or stupid.
Much more likely the dishonesty and stupidity lies on AMZ side.
So unless there is evidence to support accusations against a poster, perhaps best to leave that possibility alone.
Seller_y7wlA8Npjq1Or
Do you have a VAT number? Maybe that is what they seek that should be displayed on your website if you are VAT registered. Possibly worth getting it clarified by Amazon rather than the forum.
