If you are doing business in the UK or planning to start your business in the UK, you must have heard about the name “Companies House.” Numerous enterprises run nationwide with unique selling points, cultures, and customers. While there are distinct differences between companies, one thing is common: Companies House keeps them connected to each other.
You must be interested now in what the Companies House is, its functions, and how it helps incorporate a company. This blog will answer your queries regarding the UK Companies House Register. Let’s get started…
What Is the Companies House?
Companies House is the UK government’s official register of companies. The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy oversees this publicly owned, government-funded, and regulated organization. Companies House deals with the incorporation, registration, dissolution, and regulation of limited liability partnerships and limited companies in the UK.
In short, Companies House is the official register of companies in the UK that makes information available to the public.
What Is the Companies House Register?
The Companies House Register is an essential part of the business environment in the UK. This is the public record of all companies incorporated in the United Kingdom and contains information about each company, including:
- Company’s name.
- Company’s Directors and shareholders.
- The Company Registration Number.
- Accounts.
- Loan payment recipients, including promises.
- Registered address.
- Annual returns.
- Financial information.
- Transaction history of shares, etc.
The Companies House Register can be used to track a company’s financial performance, identify its directors and shareholders, and learn more about its activities. It is a valuable resource for businesses, investors, and anyone who needs to know more about a company.
The Companies House Register also contains the following information:
- Mortgages and charges
- Dissolution of the company
- Changes to the company’s name or structure
- Any legal action taken against the company
The Companies House Register is a free resource accessed online at Find & Update Company Information. You can search the register by company name, number, or address.
Where Is the UK Companies House Located?
Now, you may ask where Companies House is located. There are three different legal jurisdictions in the United Kingdom: Northern Ireland, England and Wales, and Scotland. Based on legal jurisdictions, Company House is located in these three locations. Such as:
- Companies registered in England and Wales subject to English Law are controlled by the Companies House Cardiff Office at Crown Way in Cardiff, CF14 3UZ.
- Companies House Edinburgh Office controls companies registered in Scotland subject to Scottish Law at 2 Edinburgh Quay, 139 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9FF.
- Companies House Belfast for businesses incorporated in Northern Ireland governed by Northern Irish law, contact The Linenhall at 32-38 Linenhall St., Belfast, BT2 8BG.
Additionally, another office in London works as an information gateway where limited companies with UK registrations can be searched, and documents can be delivered and filed.
Do I need Companies House for Business Registration in the UK?
Hopefully, you have a better understanding of Companies House now. A question may arise: “Do I need Companies House to do business in the UK?
- If we talk honestly, the necessity of Companies House varies depending on the type of business you have created or want to run. If you want to run your business as a sole trader, you don’t need to register with Companies House. But if you want to form a limited company or limited liability partnership, the company house is legally required for registration.
- Registering your business with Companies House establishes your business as a legal entity and protects your company name from similar names within the same industry.
- You will need Company House’s company name availability checker tool to check the availability of your company name.
- Additionally, you must show proof of registration with Companies House when opening business bank accounts or providing loans.
What Is the UK Company Registration Process at Companies House?
At this point, you may be looking for the answer to how to register your business with Companies House. Let’s follow the following process:
Choose a Company Type
This is the first thing that should be done. To register your business with Companies House, choose the type of company you want to form based on your benefits and goals. Your business incorporation time frame will vary depending on your company type.
As mentioned above, sole traders don’t need to register their business with Companies House in the UK. So, choose the business structure first. You must register by post unless you want to use “limited” in your company name. Public limited companies (PLCs) and private limited companies (LTDs) are the UK’s most common and popular business structures. Once your business structure is decided, you can take the following steps.
Choose a Company Name
After choosing the company structure, you should select a unique name that reflects your business’s products, services, or niche. Your company’s name must be unique and not already registered with another business. Try to choose a brandable company name that can be used to create a memorable logo or for other marketing purposes.
Company Name Availability Check UK
Once your company name is chosen, use the UK Companies House search bar to determine whether your company name is available. Choose a name that is unique and doesn’t violate any laws.
Choose a Registered Address for Your Company
To do business in the UK, your company must have a registered address there. This can be your home address, a rented office address, or the address of the company formation agent.
Decide on Directors and Shareholders
Appoint at least one director for your company. Directors are legally responsible for operating the company and ensuring that company accounts and reports are prepared properly.
If you are a non-resident, you must have a UK-registered office address to be the company’s director. A company secretary is not mandatory for private limited companies since the Companies Act of 2006 removed this requirement. However, a company secretary can handle some of the director’s duties, such as filing documents with Companies House and keeping records.
Decide on the shareholders and the number and value of shares they’ll hold. You’ll need at least one shareholder. You can be both a director and a shareholder.
Fill Out the Company Registration Form Online or by Mail
Most limited company registrations in the UK can be done online through the Companies House Website. To register your business online, you must create an account and complete the necessary forms.
But if you prefer to register your company by post, you can download the given forms from the Companies House website and fill them out.
Provide the Necessary Information and Required Documents
Depending on your business structure, you must provide specific information like your registered address, shareholder or director’s name, etc.
- You must submit the necessary paperwork to Companies House (Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association) to form a limited by shares or limited by guarantee company.
- Depending on your business structure, you may need to provide additional documents, such as statements of capital or PSC (Persons with Significant Control) information.
Submit the Registration Form
After providing the necessary information and documents, submit the form using the Companies House website or paper forms. Online registration is generally faster and more convenient.
Get a Certificate to Incorporate a Company in the UK
Once you have submitted the company registration form, Companies House will process your application and issue you a certificate of incorporation. This certifies that your company exists legally and may be required to show it to obtain products such as business bank accounts, loans, and other funding.
These details will be added to the publicly accessible Companies House register. The certificate of incorporation is often called the company’s “birth certificate.” It is a significant document that marks the official creation of your company. You can choose the format, whether you want digital or paper.
Your Certificate of Incorporation will confirm the following details:
- Name of your company.
- Company registration number.
- Date of incorporation.
- Your personal details (including name, date of birth, and nationality).
- Location of registration.
What Are the Companies House Filing Requirements?
Moving forward with the process of filing UK Company registration at Companies House, you should have a clear idea that there are some compulsory requirements you need to provide to Companies House during registration or each year based on the duration and types of company operations, even if your company is dormant:
- Memorandum and Articles of Association: To register your business with Companies House, you must provide the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the registered company address. All shareholders have signed these legal documents, which contain written operating guidelines for the company.
- Confirmation Statements: Companies must file a confirmation statement with Companies House every 12 months. The confirmation statement confirms that the information on the company’s register is up-to-date. Companies must file this statement within 14 days of the one-year anniversary of company incorporation or the anniversary date of filing the last confirmation Statement. This includes vital information about:
- Company’s name and structure.
- Company’s directors or secretary.
- Shareholders and share capital.
- Registered office address.
- Annual Accounts: Companies must file annual accounts with Companies House, which report their performance and activities during the fiscal year. For instance, if you start a new private company, your company’s first annual account must be filed within 21 months of the day of company incorporation. For existing public companies, it’s every 9 months from the last date of filing the annual accounts. The annual accounts include:
- profit and loss accounts,
- a balance sheet about assets and liabilities,
- and an auditor’s report.
Alongside these, companies must notify the Companies House of any changes in existing information, such as:
- Changing the company’s director or secretary.
- Changes to the company name.
- Changes in company type.
- Changes in any account reference date or annual reporting date.
- Changes in the registered address.
- Changes to PSC (Person with Significant Control) information.
You should keep your registration details safe because you’ll need them to file additional documents, which you must do at least annually.
What Are the Companies House Registration Fees?
The registration fees are payable when you register your company with Companies House. The Companies House registration fees in the UK are as follows:
- Setting up a company with Companies House online costs as little as £12.00 and can be completed in 24 hours.
- Setting up a company with Companies House by post costs £40 and takes 8–10 days in regular times.
- You can choose a third-party service or formation company to register your company. Registering with Companies House through a third-party provider will incur slightly higher costs than registering yourself.
What Happens If My Application Is Rejected?
Registering with Companies House is relatively easy, but it is undoubtedly common for your application to be rejected. While registering with Companies House, accuracy is critical. Tiny mistakes or minor errors: An incorrect digit on the birth date can cause the application to be denied or rejected.
Being rejected for applications because of mistakes can harm your reputation and bottom line.
Don’t rush to choose your company name or provide information or necessary documents. Take your time and provide the information and necessary documents correctly. Be confirmed to keep up-to-date records and fill out annual paperwork.
What Is the Relationship Between HMRC and Companies House?
HMRC and Companies House are separate government agencies in the United Kingdom but collaborate in certain areas.
- Companies House is responsible for registering and dissolving limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) in the UK. It also gathers information about these companies, such as their directors, shareholders, and financial statements. This publicly available information promotes transparency and accountability in the business world.
- HMRC is responsible for collecting taxes in the UK. This includes Corporation Tax, which businesses must pay. HMRC is also responsible for collecting VAT, a tax on goods and services.
Companies House and HMRC exchange information to help each other perform their functions. Companies House, for example, will share information about new companies with HMRC so that HMRC can register them for Corporation Tax. HMRC will also share information about companies with Companies House, such as information about tax avoidance schemes.
This information sharing ensures that businesses pay the correct taxes and are not engaging in illegal activities. It also protects the public against fraud and other financial crimes.
Companies House and HMRC work together to combat economic crime and share data. For example, they have a joint task force investigating suspicious company activity. They also collaborate to raise awareness about economic crime and assist businesses in preventing it.
The relationship between Companies House and HMRC is essential for ensuring the transparency and accountability of the business world in the UK. These two agencies help protect the public from fraud and other financial crimes by collaborating.
FAQs on UK Companies House Register
Q1: Do I have to name a Director and Shareholders?
Answer: Yes, you must name at least one director and shareholder when registering a company in the UK. A director is someone responsible for the management of the company, and a shareholder is someone who owns part of the company. You can be both a director and a shareholder.
Q2: What is the Company Registration Number in the UK?
Answer: A CRN or Company registration number is a unique eight-digit code consisting of two letters followed by six numbers. If you are doing business or planning to do business in the UK, you must learn about the Company Registration Number (CRN).
Q3: What is PSC?
Answer: ” PSC ” means ” Person with Significant Control.” The PSC register aims to increase transparency in UK companies’ ownership and make it easier to track down the beneficial owners of companies.
Bottom Line
Learning about the UK Companies House Register is essential to starting a British business. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just embarking on your full-time business adventure in the UK, understanding the role of Companies House is vital. It’s not just a bureaucratic entity; it’s a guardian of business identity and a protector of corporate integrity
If you are a non-resident or a newbie trying to start entrepreneurship in the UK, we suggest you get help from a business formation agency. Using a reputable online company formation agent, such as Business Globalizer, you can quickly complete the process with Companies House without traveling to the UK. A professional business formation service provides peace of mind and ensures efficient registration and official documentation handling.
