Company formation and company registration service

There are a number of reasons why you may need a limited company:
1. For limited liability. To protect personal assets in the case of a business failure. This is the primary reason to register a limited company.
2. In order to obtain work or secure contracts. In some circumstances contracts are only available to limited companies.
3. For tax planning; to avoid higher rates of personal tax.
4. To separate trading activities.
5. For general business status.
6. Overseas business, without UK premises, employing someone working in UK

Protection of a business name may not be a good reason to register a limited company. See: Use of the company name.
Sometimes it is a case of personal preference. You may decide to start a business as self employed and then register a company later. If you are considering this please see the Related links: Self employed sole trader topics menu.

The company name must be shown outside every place of business and on all business letters, order forms and web sites.
Business letters and order forms, hard copy, electronic or in any other form, must also show:
a. The registered office address.
b. The registration number.
c. The words "Registered in England and Wales".
In addition to statutory requirements, failure to make clear, in advance, that business transactions are undertaken in the name of the company may result in the person conducting any such business becoming personally liable.
Names of directors need not be shown but, if you choose to show them, all directors names must be included showing the nationalities of non UK directors. The amount of share capital need not be shown but if it is shown it should be the paid-up capital.

A company need not have a Company Secretary after 6.4.2008, one director is sufficient and we normally register a company without a Company Secretary. The duties of a Company Secretary are less wide than those of a director and include filing returns with Companies House and H M Revenue & Customs and arranging banking facilities. Directors are also responsible for these.

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023:
28 Registered office: appropriate address:
(1) A company must ensure that its registered office is at all times at an appropriate address.
(2) An address is an “appropriate address” if, in the ordinary course of events—
  (a) a document addressed to the company, and delivered there by hand or by post, would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company, and
  (b) the delivery of documents there is capable of being recorded by the obtaining of an acknowledgement of delivery.

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023:
29 Registered email addresses etc
88A Duty to maintain a registered email address
(1) A company must ensure that its registered email address is at all times an appropriate email address.
(2) An email address is an “appropriate email address” if, in the ordinary course of events, emails sent to it by the registrar would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company.
(3) If a company fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with this section an offence is committed by—
  (a) the company, and
  (b) every officer of the company who is in default.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction—
  (a) in England and Wales, to a fine;
  (b) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 5 on the standard scale.
88B Change of registered email address
(1) A company may change its registered email address by giving notice to the registrar.
(2) The notice must include a statement that the new address is an appropriate email address within the meaning given by section 88A(2).
(3) The change takes effect upon the notice being registered by the registrar.

Your first accounts will be up to the end of the month one year after the company registration date although we can change this for you if you wish. We will co-ordinate your chosen year end date with H M Revenue & Customs for Corporation Tax and VAT. ...
The latest date for filing statutory accounts with Companies House is a year and nine months after the registration date and with H M Revenue & Customs for Corporation Tax payable a year and nine months after registration date and nine months after the first year end. Automatic penalties will be charged for late submission and interest will be charged by H M Revenue & Customs, and in some instances penalties, for tax paid late.
Self assessment tax returns will become due from the following 6th April (latest filing date the subsequent 31st January) for all directors and PAYE procedures and annual returns will usually apply from the tax year ending each 5th April (latest filing date 19th May). If directors, company secretary or employees have expenses or non cash benefits such as cars or medical insurance, forms P11D will be due, latest filing date 5th July. Late submission penalties and interest on late payment of tax also apply to each of these. Personal income tax and corporation tax should be paid even if you do not receive a statement or even if the returns have not been filed. Personal income tax paid late can become subject to penalties of 5% or 10%.
We can prepare your statutory accounts and Efile these with Companies House. There is a preliminary postal setup authorisation procedure.
Part of the service you get is tax planning to take up your annual tax free personal allowances and personal dividend allowances and minimise the amount of tax you pay.
If necessary statutory accounts can be filed by hand to the London office of Companies House; the courier cost from Ealing will be £25.00 approximately.
see also Tax inspections and enquiries
Contact us about your filing dates and how to avoid penalties and interest Read More

Dividends are not earned income. This may affect:
1. Tax relief on pension contributions.
2. State retirement pension and SERPS.
3. Eligibility for unemployment benefit.