{"id":8631,"date":"2026-10-30T17:32:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T14:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/?page_id=8631"},"modified":"2026-10-31T11:21:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T08:21:35","slug":"uk-company-registration","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/uk-company-registration\/","title":{"rendered":"Company registration in the United Kingdom"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lbx lbd\">\n<ul class=\"lbx-kpi\">\n<li><small>Who it is for<\/small><b>Holding, trading, IT, fintech and service companies that want an English company with a UK registered office and a record at Companies House<\/b><\/li>\n<li><small>Formation<\/small><b>An online application to Companies House for \u00a3100, usually registered within 24 hours once every director has verified identity and the filing includes their personal codes<\/b><\/li>\n<li><small>Directors and shareholders<\/small><b>At least one director and one shareholder, who can be the same person. A director does not have to live in the UK<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"lbd-g\">\n<div class=\"lbd-main\">\n<p class=\"lbx-lead\">Most commercial companies are formed as a private company limited by shares under the Companies Act 2006 and recorded at Companies House. Since 18 November 2025 every director and every person with significant control must verify identity with Companies House, and since 4 March 2024 a company must keep an appropriate registered office and a registered email address. Filing fees rose on 1 February 2026. We choose the structure, prepare the articles and the statement of capital, take the people through identity verification, set up the registered office and the tax registration, and plan the yearly filings. For crypto businesses we also cover registration with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the money laundering rules and the new FCA authorisation regime that starts on 25 October 2027.<\/p>\n<section>\n<h2>What clients come to us for<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"lbd-chk\">\n<li>You need a UK company for a holding, trading, IT, fintech or service business, with a registered office and a record at Companies House<\/li>\n<li>You are a founder or director outside the UK and need to know how identity verification works for you<\/li>\n<li>You need a registered office address and a service address that meet the current rules<\/li>\n<li>You run or plan a crypto business and need to plan FCA registration and the new authorisation regime<\/li>\n<li>You need to plan the confirmation statement, the company records and Corporation Tax<\/li>\n<li>You are choosing between a company limited by shares and another UK form<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>How registration works<\/h2>\n<div class=\"lbd-acc\">\n<details open>\n<summary>Choose the company type and the name<\/summary>\n<p>Most commercial companies are limited by shares. A company can also be limited by guarantee, and there is a separate limited liability partnership form. The name must follow the Companies House rules, so it is checked for availability and against existing trade marks before the application is filed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>What you get<\/small><span>Company type and a cleared name<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Verify identity of directors and persons with significant control<\/summary>\n<p>Every director must verify their identity before the company is registered and provide their personal code as part of the incorporation filing. Each person with significant control (PSC) must also verify their identity and provide their personal code, but the PSC deadline follows a separate procedure. A newly appointed PSC may provide the code when first added to the Companies House register or within 14 days afterwards. If the same person is both a director and a PSC, the verification details must be provided separately for each role. Verification can be done directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), which is an anti-money laundering supervised firm such as a formation agent, solicitor or accountant. Each person receives a personal code. If the company has more than one director, the application needs each director\u2019s code.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>What you get<\/small><span>Personal codes for directors and PSCs<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Set up the registered office and the registered email address<\/summary>\n<p>The company needs a physical address in the UK, in the same country where it is registered, and a registered email address that is read. A Royal Mail PO Box no longer qualifies. An accountant, a solicitor or a formation agent can provide the address if it meets the rules. The address must be in place before registration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>What you get<\/small><span>A compliant registered office and a registered email address<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Appoint the officers and prepare the documents<\/summary>\n<p>A company needs at least one director and at least one shareholder, and one person can be both. The company states its shares and shareholders in a statement of capital and files the memorandum and articles of association. PSCs, for example anyone with more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, are confirmed at registration. Directors give a service address, and a company secretary is not required.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>What you get<\/small><span>Articles, statement of capital and the PSC list<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Register the company and set up Corporation Tax<\/summary>\n<p>The application is made online and costs \u00a3100. The company is usually registered within 24 hours and receives a certificate of incorporation with its number and date of formation. It needs its own Government Gateway ID, and it is usually set up for Corporation Tax at the same time. When the 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference arrives, Corporation Tax services are added to the business tax account.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>What you get<\/small><span>Certificate of incorporation, company number and Corporation Tax set up<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>What to check before you register<\/h2>\n<div class=\"lbd-acc\">\n<details open>\n<summary>Directors, shareholders and control<\/summary>\n<p>A director must be 16 or over. Directors do not have to live in the UK, but the company must have a UK registered office. A director who is disqualified or an undischarged bankrupt needs the permission of the court. Names and personal information of directors are public, and so is the service address, which can be an address other than a home address. A company limited by shares needs one shareholder, who can be a director. The price of a share can be any value, and GOV.UK gives \u00a31 as an example. We plan who holds shares and control before the documents are drafted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>Result<\/small><span>Ownership and board structure and a draft of the articles<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Identity verification and the November 2026 date<\/summary>\n<p>Identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025. That date started a 12-month transition period for existing directors and PSCs, so it ends on 18 November 2026. Anyone who does not comply on time commits an offence, may face a financial penalty, and cannot make filings for the company or start a new company. Verification for people who file documents at Companies House will come no earlier than November 2027, with at least six months\u2019 notice. It will come later for corporate directors and officers of corporate PSCs. If you already hold UK companies, we check every role now.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>Result<\/small><span>A verification status check for every director and PSC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Registered office address and email<\/summary>\n<p>The registered office must be an address where you or someone acting for the company will be told about post, and where the sender can get confirmation of delivery. The company can be struck off the register if the address does not meet these rules. The registered office is public. The registered email address is not published, but Companies House may use it to contact the company, and the company must read what it receives.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>Result<\/small><span>A registered office that passes the appropriate address test<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Fees and yearly filings<\/summary>\n<p>The online incorporation fee is \u00a3100 and the same day service through software costs \u00a3156. A paper application costs \u00a3124 and takes 8 to 10 days. The confirmation statement costs \u00a350 online and \u00a3110 on paper. A company must keep company and accounting records, confirm its details every year and pay Corporation Tax. We set up a calendar for each filing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>Result<\/small><span>A yearly compliance calendar<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Corporation Tax and foreign income<\/summary>\n<p>A company incorporated in the UK is UK resident for the Corporation Tax Acts (Corporation Tax Act 2009, section 14), unless a double tax treaty treats it as resident elsewhere (section 18). A UK tax-resident company is generally subject to UK Corporation Tax on its worldwide profits, subject to applicable exemptions, reliefs and special rules. These include the foreign permanent establishment exemption, which may be available following a valid election, and exemptions for certain foreign dividends. The government has announced that the foreign permanent establishment exemption becomes mandatory for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, subject to legislation. For the year starting on 1 April 2026 the small profits rate is 19% on profits under \u00a350,000 and the main rate is 25% on profits over \u00a3250,000. Between those limits the main rate is reduced by marginal relief, with a standard fraction of 3\/200. Because the UK taxes resident companies on a worldwide basis in principle, a UK company should not be treated as a low-tax structure by default. We test each structure against the current rules.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>Result<\/small><span>A short tax note for your structure<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Crypto businesses and the FCA<\/summary>\n<p>A UK company is not a licence. A business that provides cryptoasset services in scope of the money laundering regulations (MLRs) must register with the FCA before it starts trading, and it must appoint a money laundering reporting officer. A new regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 starts on 25 October 2027. Firms that need authorisation, including firms already registered under the MLRs, must apply to the FCA, because there is no automatic conversion. The application period runs from 30 September 2026 to 28 February 2027. A firm that applies in the period can keep trading under the saving provision until its application is decided. A firm that applies later and is not authorised on 25 October 2027 enters a transitional provision and cannot sign new contracts with customers. A firm that does not apply must run off its UK cryptoasset business before the new regime starts. Payment, e-money, banking, insurance and gambling activities need their own analysis. See <a href=\"\/en\/regulatory-and-compliance\/\">licensing and compliance<\/a> and our article on <a href=\"\/en\/how-to-choose-a-jurisdiction-for-your-company-registration\/\">choosing a jurisdiction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>Result<\/small><span>A map of the licences and registrations your model needs<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Bank account<\/summary>\n<p>Opening an account depends on the bank, not on Companies House. A bank will ask for the company documents and for details of the directors and PSCs. We prepare the business description and the documents the bank will ask for.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lbd-got\"><small>Result<\/small><span>Document pack for the bank<\/span><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2>Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"lbx-faq\">\n<details>\n<summary>How many people are needed to form a company?<\/summary>\n<p>One director and one shareholder, and the same person can be both. A company secretary is not required for a private limited company.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Do I need a UK director?<\/summary>\n<p>No. GOV.UK says directors do not have to live in the UK. The company does need a UK registered office address, and each director must verify identity and give a service address.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Is there a minimum share capital?<\/summary>\n<p>GOV.UK says the price of a share can be any value and gives \u00a31 as an example. In a company limited by shares, each shareholder\u2019s liability is generally limited to any amount unpaid on their shares. Once the shares are fully paid, the shareholder has no further liability solely by reason of being a shareholder for the company\u2019s debts.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Is my name public in the UK?<\/summary>\n<p>Names and personal information of directors are public, and so are the service address and the registered office. The registered email address is not published. A home address can be removed from the register on request, and we plan which addresses appear before the company is registered.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How long does it take and what does it cost?<\/summary>\n<p>The application costs \u00a3100 online and the company is usually registered within 24 hours. Every director verifies identity first, and PSCs follow a separate procedure. Each year the confirmation statement costs \u00a350 online. We confirm current fees when we quote. See <a href=\"\/en\/pricing\/\">how we price our work<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Does a UK company pay tax on foreign income?<\/summary>\n<p>A UK tax-resident company is generally subject to UK Corporation Tax on its worldwide profits, subject to applicable exemptions, reliefs and special rules. These include the foreign permanent establishment exemption, which may be available following a valid election, and exemptions for certain foreign dividends. Rates run from 19% to 25% depending on profit. A company incorporated in the UK is UK resident unless a treaty treats it as resident elsewhere. We check your case against the current text.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"lbd-srcs\">\n<details>\n<summary><span>Sources<small>17 documents<\/small><\/span><\/summary>\n<ul class=\"lbd-src\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/limited-company-formation\/appoint-directors-and-company-secretaries\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GOV.UK guide to setting up a private limited company, directors, shareholders and registration<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/limited-company-formation\/company-address\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GOV.UK rules for registered office addresses and registered email addresses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/limited-company-formation\/register-your-company\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GOV.UK guide to registering a company with Companies House<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/companies-house-fees\/companies-house-fees\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Companies House fees, updated 25 September 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/changestoukcompanylaw.campaign.gov.uk\/identity-verification\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GOV.UK Changes to UK company law, identity verification<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2009\/4\/section\/14?view=plain\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Corporation Tax Act 2009, section 14, companies incorporated in the United Kingdom<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2009\/4\/section\/18\/2013-07-17?view=plain\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Corporation Tax Act 2009, section 18, companies treated as non-UK resident under double taxation arrangements<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/corporation-tax\/pay\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GOV.UK Corporation Tax, who pays and on what profits<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/rates-and-allowances-corporation-tax\/rates-and-allowances-corporation-tax\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">HMRC Corporation Tax rates and allowances, updated 1 April 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fca.org.uk\/firms\/new-regime-cryptoasset-regulation\/how-gateway-will-operate\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">FCA, cryptoassets, how the gateway will operate, updated 30 September 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fca.org.uk\/firms\/new-regime-cryptoasset-regulation\/registration-under-mlrs-ahead-new-fsma-regime\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">FCA, registration under the MLRs ahead of the new FSMA regime<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fca.org.uk\/firms\/cryptoassets\/registration\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">FCA, registration of cryptoasset businesses under the MLRs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/uksi\/2026\/102\/contents\/made\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026, SI 2026\/102<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2006\/46\/section\/3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Companies Act 2006, section 3, limited liability of members<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/provide-psc-verification\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GOV.UK, provide identity verification details for a PSC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/hmrc-internal-manuals\/international-manual\/intm281020\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">HMRC International Manual, foreign permanent establishment exemption, INTM281020<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2009\/4\/part\/9A\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Corporation Tax Act 2009, Part 9A, exemption of company distributions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"lbd-cta\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"lbd-cta-t\">Want to register a company in the United Kingdom?<\/p>\n<p class=\"lbd-cta-s\">We are ready to provide this service. Tell us about your project and we will reply within one business day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"lbd-b popmake-4929\">Get a consultation<\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"lbx-back\"><a href=\"\/en\/#services\">All services<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/en\/corporate-law\/\">Company structure<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/en\/\">\u2190 Back to home<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"Service\",\"name\":\"Company registration in the United Kingdom\",\"description\":\"How to register a UK private limited company: directors and shareholders, identity verification, registered office, Companies House fees, Corporation Tax and the new FCA regime for crypto businesses.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/uk-company-registration\/\",\"provider\":{\"@type\":\"LegalService\",\"name\":\"LegalBit\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/\"},\"areaServed\":\"Worldwide\"}<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many people are needed to form a company?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"One director and one shareholder, and the same person can be both. A company secretary is not required for a private limited company.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do I need a UK director?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. GOV.UK says directors do not have to live in the UK. The company does need a UK registered office address, and each director must verify identity and give a service address.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is there a minimum share capital?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"GOV.UK says the price of a share can be any value and gives \u00a31 as an example. In a company limited by shares, each shareholder\u2019s liability is generally limited to any amount unpaid on their shares. Once the shares are fully paid, the shareholder has no further liability solely by reason of being a shareholder for the company\u2019s debts.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is my name public in the UK?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Names and personal information of directors are public, and so are the service address and the registered office. The registered email address is not published. A home address can be removed from the register on request, and we plan which addresses appear before the company is registered.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long does it take and what does it cost?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The application costs \u00a3100 online and the company is usually registered within 24 hours. Every director verifies identity first, and PSCs follow a separate procedure. Each year the confirmation statement costs \u00a350 online. We confirm current fees when we quote. See how we price our work.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does a UK company pay tax on foreign income?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A UK tax-resident company is generally subject to UK Corporation Tax on its worldwide profits, subject to applicable exemptions, reliefs and special rules. These include the foreign permanent establishment exemption, which may be available following a valid election, and exemptions for certain foreign dividends. Rates run from 19% to 25% depending on profit. A company incorporated in the UK is UK resident unless a treaty treats it as resident elsewhere. We check your case against the current text.\"}}]}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to register a UK private limited company: directors and shareholders, identity verification, registered office, Companies House fees, Corporation Tax and the new FCA regime for crypto businesses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":142,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"folder":[],"class_list":["post-8631","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8631","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8631"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8631\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8650,"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8631\/revisions\/8650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalbit.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=8631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}