Register and update your details with the Rural Payments Agency
How to register and keep your personal and business details up to date in the Rural Payments service.
Applies to England
The Rural Payments service may be unavailable because of planned maintenance and updates. You can check for maintenance and downtime.
If you apply for a rural grant or claim for a rural payment, you need an online account with the Rural Payments Agency. You’ll need to register for an account for yourself and your business to sign in to the Rural Payments service. You must keep your details up to date.
There’s a different process if you need to update digital maps of registered land. Read digital maps in the Rural Payments service: check and change your maps.
Using the Rural Payments service for the first time
Call the Rural Payments helpline to register for an account.
Telephone: 03000 200 301
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, except bank holidays
Find out about call charges
You’ll be given a customer reference number (CRN) and a 6-digit security code to set up a password. This will allow you to sign in to the Rural Payments service.
Register yourself
Sign in to the Rural Payments service to:
- set up a password
- create an online account
Register your business
You’ll also need to register your business. You can do this either:
- on the phone at the same time as you get your CRN and 6-digit security code
- after signing in to the Rural Payments service
You’ll need the following information:
- name of the business
- address of the business
- email address of the business
- type of business (for example, sole trader or partnership)
Once you’ve registered your business, RPA will send you a reference number for your business by post. For example, your Single Business Identifier (SBI) or trader registration number (TRN).
Call the Rural Payments helpline if you need any help.
Register your bank account details
You’ll need to register the bank details of the account you use to claim payments. You can sign in to the Rural Payments service to register, view or update your bank details.
Do not send your bank account details by email or post.
You’ll need to wait 24 hours after you register your business before you can register your bank account details.
What personal details you can update
Use the Rural Payments service to change:
- your name
- your date of birth
- the address where you live
- your email address
- your telephone number
- how we contact you
Only you can update your personal details, not someone else acting on your behalf.
How to update your personal details
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Sign in to the Rural Payments service, then select ‘View personal details’.
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Click on ‘Amend personal details’.
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Check the information RPA holds about you and update any details. You will get an error message if you try to enter an email address that is already registered to another user on the Rural Payments service. Enter a unique email address to continue.
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Click ‘Submit changes’.
What business details you can update
Use the Rural Payments service to change your business:
- name
- address, where RPA will send correspondence
- telephone number
- VAT registration number
- bank details
Business details can be updated by you, or someone acting on your behalf, such as an agent if they have the correct permission level. Read Rural Payments service: give or update permissions for more information.
How to update business details
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Sign in to the Rural Payments service.
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From the ‘Your businesses and messages’ page, select ‘View business’, for the business you want to update.
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Select ‘View and amend your business details’.
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Select ‘Amend business details and reference numbers’.
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Check the information RPA holds about your business and update any details.
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Click ‘Submit changes’.
Other changes in circumstances
If there’s a change in your business, for example, a split, merger, or a change of partner, read the guidance ‘Rural payments: if the structure of your business is changing’.
If a person who is registered with the Rural Payments service has died, read the guidance ‘Rural payments: if a registered customer dies’.
For any other changes in circumstances, call the RPA helpline for advice.
Telephone: 03000 200 301
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, except bank holidays
Find out about call charges
Updates to this page
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The following sections have been added to the page: Using the Rural Payments service for the first time, and Register your bank account details. Title of the page and summary have been updated.
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First published.