ytunnuksen

Y-tunnus, short for yritys- ja yhteisötunnus, is the Finnish business identity number. It uniquely identifies a company or other organization that conducts business in Finland. The Y-tunnus is issued when a business or organization is registered in the Finnish Trade Register, coordinated by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) and the Finnish Tax Administration, and it is stored in the national business information system (the YTJ register). The standard format consists of seven digits, a hyphen, and a final check digit, for example 1234567-8.

Uses and scope: The Y-tunnus is used in invoicing, VAT registration, tax reporting, payroll, and other interactions with authorities and business partners. It is publicly available and widely used to identify entities in official documents, contracts, and electronic invoicing. The Y-tunnus distinguishes organizations from individuals, whose identifier is the personal identity number (henkilötunnus).

Who it covers: The Y-tunnus applies to corporations, associations, and several types of sole proprietors that engage in business activities. It is a central element of Finland’s corporate information system and is important for compliance, procurement, and cross-border trade within the European Union. The number remains tied to the entity as long as it has business activity in the register, and it is the primary identifier used in Finnish business transactions.