Abstract: A novel tannic acid (TA) based fluorescent waterborne polyurethane (TA-WPU) emulsion was synthesized by prepolymer method using TA as a crosslinking agent, and its chemical structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The effects of TA content on the particle size and distribution of TA-WPU emulsions, the heat resistance, mechanical properties and water resistance of the corresponding films were investigated. Further, the fluorescence of TA-WPU was characterized by fluorescence spectrum. The results showed that the particle size of TA-WPU emulsions increased gradually, and the heat resistance, mechanical properties and water resistance of the corresponding films were improved with the increase in TA content. Compared with pure WPU, TA-WPU exhibited obvious fluorescence under UV light (365 nm), which can be used as fluorescent anti-counterfeiting coating for leather.