Ltd Company UK Registration FAQ.

Ltd company UK registration is the official process of incorporating a private limited company at Companies House. You submit a Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, and an IN01 application form. Companies House then issues a Certificate of Incorporation, which confirms your company number and registered name. The entire process is now done electronically. Our ACSP-verified agents transmit directly to the government gateway on your behalf, achieving same-day approval in most cases.

A new ltd company registration submitted via our same-day service before 3 PM UK time is typically approved by Companies House within 3–6 working hours. Standard registrations are processed within 24–48 working hours. We submit electronically directly to the government gateway — there are no postal delays and no paper forms required.

Yes — absolutely. There is no requirement to be a UK resident to complete a new ltd company registration. We specialise in helping international founders and digital nomads form companies from anywhere in the world. You will need a UK registered office address (which we provide) and valid ID for all directors.

For ltd company UK registration you will typically need: (1) A unique company name — use our free company names search tool to verify availability first. (2) Proof of identity for all directors and shareholders — a valid passport or national ID. (3) Proof of residential address — a recent utility bill or bank statement dated within 3 months. (4) Your chosen SIC code(s) for your business activities. We guide you through every step.

A director manages the day-to-day running of the company and has legal responsibilities to Companies House and HMRC. A shareholder owns a portion of the company and receives dividends from profits. The same person can (and often does) serve as both director and sole shareholder in a small company.

Yes. You can change your company name at any time after ltd company UK registration by passing a special resolution and notifying Companies House. The fee is typically £8–£20. We can handle this on your behalf as part of our company secretarial service.

Use our free company names search tool to check company name availability UK instantly. It queries the live Companies House register (over 5 million companies) and applies the same "too-like" matching rules used by Companies House internally. You get an accurate result in seconds — before you invest in branding, domains, or trademarks.

Ltd company names must follow strict rules set by Companies House: (1) Must end in "Limited" or "Ltd" (or Welsh equivalents). (2) Cannot be identical or "too similar" to an existing registered name. (3) Cannot contain sensitive or restricted words without approval (e.g. Bank, Royal, Chartered). (4) Cannot imply a connection to government. (5) Cannot be offensive or illegal. Run a check for company name availability before you proceed with any branding.

The ltd company names register is the official Companies House index of all incorporated UK companies — both active and dissolved. It contains over 5 million entries. When you apply for a new ltd company registration, Companies House checks your proposed name against this register using its "same as" algorithm. Our free search tool replicates this check instantly so you know before you apply.

No. Companies House does not allow name reservations. The only way to secure and protect a ltd company name is to actively incorporate it — either as an active trading company or as a dormant company for future use. Our same-day ltd company UK registration service locks your name within hours of completing our online application.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act introduced significant reforms. Key 2026 changes include: mandatory identity verification for all directors and PSCs (People with Significant Control), new registered office requirements (your address must be capable of receiving and acknowledging correspondence), and enhanced Companies House enforcement powers. We ensure every formation is fully compliant.

A PSC is anyone who owns more than 25% of the company's shares or voting rights, or otherwise has significant influence or control. All UK companies must maintain a PSC register and file this information with Companies House. From 2026, PSC identity verification is mandatory. We collect and file all required PSC data as part of your formation.

Yes. Every UK company must file a Confirmation Statement (previously Annual Return) with Companies House at least once every 12 months. The current filing fee is £13 (online). Failure to file can result in the company being struck off the register. Our Basic Secretarial package includes this filing for you annually.

From April 2023, the UK Corporation Tax rate is 25% for profits over £250,000 and 19% (small profits rate) for profits under £50,000. A marginal rate applies between £50,000–£250,000. As a foreign director or non-resident, your personal UK tax liability depends on your tax residency — we recommend speaking to one of our accountants for a personalised assessment.

VAT registration is mandatory when your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period (as of 2024). You can also register voluntarily below this threshold, which can be beneficial if you sell primarily to VAT-registered businesses. We handle the full VAT registration process from £99.

Your first accounts are due 21 months after the date of incorporation. After that, accounts must be filed within 9 months of your financial year end (for private companies). Corporation Tax returns must be filed within 12 months of the accounting period end, and any tax owed paid within 9 months and 1 day. We provide full reminders and handling through our accounting packages.

Yes, though traditional high-street banks can be challenging for non-residents. We work with Wise Business, Revolut Business, and Payoneer — all of which have strong non-resident approval rates and multi-currency support. Our Banking Assistance service includes document preparation, pre-application review, and direct introductions to maximise approval likelihood.