How to find the UTR number of a UPI payment
When a UPI payment goes wrong — the shop says it never arrived, a recharge is pending, or money left your account but the other side shows nothing — the first thing anyone will ask for is the UTR. This article explains what that number is, where to find it, and how to use it to settle a payment question quickly.
What is a UTR?
UTR stands for Unique Transaction Reference. For a UPI payment it is normally a 12-digit number created by the banking network when the payment is processed. Different apps label it differently: “UTR”, “UPI Ref No”, “UPI transaction ID”, “Bank reference number” or “RRN”. Whatever the label, it is the same reference that both banks can look up. Because it identifies one specific payment, a merchant can match it against their bank statement and know the money is genuinely there.
Do not confuse it with the app’s own order or transaction ID. Many apps show a long ID that begins with letters (for example an ID starting with “T” or containing letters and numbers). That ID belongs to the app; the bank on the other side cannot search for it. When someone asks for the UTR, they want the 12-digit number.
Where to find it in common UPI apps
Menus change from time to time, but the pattern is the same in every app: open your payment history, tap the payment, and look in the details.
- PhonePe: open History, tap the payment and look for the UTR in the transfer details below the amount. The screen also shows a separate PhonePe transaction ID.
- Google Pay: open the person or business you paid (or your transaction history), tap the payment, and look for “UPI transaction ID”. That 12-digit number is the UTR.
- Paytm: open Balance & History, tap the payment and look for “UPI Ref No”. Paytm often shows it with spaces in groups of digits; the spaces are not part of the number.
- BHIM and bank apps: open the transaction history and look for “UPI Ref”, “RRN” or “Transaction reference”.
Finding it in your bank statement or SMS
If you no longer have the app history, your bank statement still shows the reference. In most statements, a UPI entry has a description such as “UPI/123456789012/Name/…”, where the 12-digit block is the UTR. The bank’s debit SMS for the payment usually includes the reference too. Net banking lets you download the statement as a PDF; search it for the amount and date to find the line.
Worked example
Anil paid ₹599 to a mobile accessories shop at 7:40 pm. The shopkeeper’s phone showed no alert, and he asked Anil to wait. Anil opened his UPI app, tapped the payment, and read the 12-digit UPI reference ending in 4471. He sent the number with the time and amount. The shopkeeper opened his bank app, searched today’s credits, and found a ₹599 entry with the same reference — the alert had simply been delayed. Total time: two minutes, no argument.
How to share a UTR correctly
- Copy the number from the app instead of retyping it. One wrong digit makes it unsearchable.
- Send it with the amount, date and time, and the name or UPI ID you paid.
- If you send a screenshot, make sure the reference, amount and status (“Successful”) are visible and not cropped.
- Never share your UPI PIN, OTP or card details along with it. A UTR alone cannot be used to take money from you; a PIN can.
For merchants: how to use the UTR
A screenshot can be edited; a UTR in your bank account cannot. When a customer sends one, search your bank app or statement for that number and confirm the amount matches. Record the UTR next to the sale so the same reference is not used twice for two different orders. If you keep sales in a spreadsheet such as C Sheet, a UTR column makes duplicates easy to spot with a filter. Merchants using C Pay get the UTR with each request; see UTR and Paytm screenshots for the details.
When the money left but did not arrive
- Status “Pending”. Wait. Many pending payments complete or reverse on their own; do not pay again straight away, or you may pay twice.
- Status “Failed” but money debited. Failed UPI debits are normally reversed to your account automatically. Keep the UTR and check your statement over the next few days.
- Status “Successful” but receiver says no. Ask them to search their statement for the UTR. If it is not there, check the UPI ID you paid — a typing mistake can send money to someone else.
- Still unresolved. Raise a complaint in your UPI app’s help section for that transaction, quoting the UTR. If that does not resolve it, contact your bank.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UTR always 12 digits?
For UPI payments it is usually 12 digits. NEFT and RTGS transfers use a different, longer reference format that can include letters.
Is it safe to share my UTR?
Yes, it is a reference, not a password. Just don’t send it with your PIN or OTP — no genuine merchant or bank will ask for those.
Can two payments have the same UTR?
No. If a customer gives you a UTR you have already recorded for another sale, check it carefully before accepting it.
Also read: How to avoid UPI and payment scams · Collecting customer payments safely.