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.

You’ll be given a customer reference number (CRN) and a 6-digit security code to set up a password. You can then access Rural Payments and finish creating your account online.

Register your business

You’ll also need to register your business. You can do this after signing in to the Rural Payments service for the first time.

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)

If you have 2 or more farming businesses, we may need to treat them as one business. This may apply even if you treat them as 2 separate businesses for other purposes, such as tax.

We may ask you to complete a ‘Separate Business Questionnaire (IACS26)’. This helps us understand the structure of your business.

Find out more information in the Rural payments: if the structure of your business is changing guidance.

Call the Rural Payments helpline on 03000 200 301 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. To do this sign in to the Rural Payments service to register, view or update your bank details.

Only those with Full Business or Make Legal Changes Permissions can register, view or update account 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

Only you can update your personal details, not someone else acting on your behalf.

How to update your personal details

1. Sign in to the Rural Payments service, then select ‘View personal details’.

2. Click on ‘Amend personal details’.

3. 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.

4. 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
• email
• 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

1. Sign in to the Rural Payments service.

2. From the ‘Your businesses and messages’ page, select ‘View business’, for the business you want to update.

3. Select ‘View and amend your business details’.

4. Select ‘Amend business details and reference numbers’.

5. Check the information RPA holds about your business and update any details.

6. 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.

If a Power of Attorney (PoA) has been granted, or is being applied for, on behalf of a customer registered with the Rural Payments service, read the guidance: Report a Power of Attorney for a Rural Payments service customer

For any other changes in circumstances, call the RPA helpline for advice.