Incorporating a UK Private Limited Company
Benefits
TBA provides a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the requirements of businesses, whether they are in the process of incorporating or expanding. Our services encompass expert guidance, expedited UK Private Limited Company formation, virtual office solutions, accountancy services, financial assistance, trademark registration, marketing support, e-commerce solutions, and various other essential services.
We are equipped to establish your private limited company in UK, offering the flexibility of using either your own directors, company secretary, and shareholders or ours. Your choice depends on your business’s specific needs, particularly with regard to privacy and confidentiality.
Key Corporate Features
General
- Type of Company: Private Limited
- Type of Law: Common
- Shelf Company Availability: Yes
- Time to Establish a New Company: 1 day
- Corporate Taxation: 20% – 23%
- Double Taxation Treaty Access: Yes
Share Capital or Equivalent
- Standard Currency: GBP
- Permitted Currencies: Any
- Minimum Paid Up: £1
- Usual Authorized: £1,000
Directors
- Minimum Number: One
- Local Required: No
- Publicly Accessible Records: Yes
- Location of Meetings: Anywhere
Shareholders
- Minimum Number: One
- Publicly Accessible Records: Yes
- Location of Meetings: Anywhere
Company Secretary
- Required: No
- Local or Qualified: No
Accounts
- Requirement to Prepare: Yes
- Audit Requirements: Yes, but small company exceptions
- Requirement to File Accounts: Yes
- Publicly Accessible Accounts: Yes
Recurring Government Costs
- Annual Return Filing Fee: £40 manually or £13 electronically
Other
- Requirement to File Annual Return: Yes
- Change in Domicile Permitted: Yes, subject to approval of Inland Revenue (IR)
Shelf Companies
A tailor-made UK company formation offers several advantages over an off-the-shelf company. Incorporating a company with your preferred name, directors, shareholders, and authorized share capital is often more cost-effective than acquiring a shelf company and restructuring it. Clients must specify the intended location of the registered office from the outset. If desired, clients may be appointed as the first director and secretary (if required). For an additional fee, Companies House provides a same-day incorporation service.
Company Information
Type of Company for International Trade and Investment
Private (“Ltd”) or Public Limited Company (“PLC”).
Procedure to Incorporate
Submission of Memorandum and Articles of Association, Declaration of Compliance, Statement of the First Directors and Secretary, and notification of the Registered Office location with the requisite fee to Companies House.
Restrictions on Trading
Yes, for specified groups, including banking, insurance, financial services, consumer credit, and related services.
Powers of Company
A company incorporated in the United Kingdom possesses the same powers as a natural person.
Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents
English or Welsh.
Registered Office Required
Yes, it must be maintained in the United Kingdom.
Name Restrictions
- Any name identical or too similar to an existing company.
- Any name considered offensive or implying criminal activity.
- Any name suggesting patronage of the Royal Family or association with Central or Local Government of the United Kingdom.
Names Requiring Consent or License
Restricted names, which typically necessitate a license or approval from other Government Authorities, include words such as assurance, bank, benevolent, building society, Chamber of Commerce, fund management, insurance, investment fund, loans, municipal, reinsurance, savings, trust, trustees, university, or their foreign language equivalents.
Language of Documentation
While a company name can be in any language, documentation must be in English. A certified translation must accompany any name in a language other than English to ensure it is unrestricted. Documentation in Welsh is accepted if the company is incorporated in Wales.
Disclosure of Beneficial Owner to Authorities
No, but disclosure may be required for accounting purposes in certain circumstances, as accounts are filed and accessible for public inspection.
Complicance
Authorised and Issued Share Capital
Private Limited Companies require a minimum authorised share capital of £1 or its currency equivalent. The minimum issued capital is one share, though additional capital is commonly issued to reflect the company’s stability and strength.
Classes of Shares Permitted
Ordinary shares are the standard category, but depending on the company’s circumstances, preference shares, deferred shares, redeemable shares, and shares with or without voting rights may also be issued.
License Fee
None.
Directors
A private company must appoint at least one natural person as a director, who may be of any nationality and need not reside in the UK.
Company Secretary
Since April 6, 2008, a company secretary is optional.
UK Corporation Tax rates for 2023/24
UK companies pay corporation tax based on their annual accounts, submitted to the Inland Revenue and the Registrar of Companies at the end of the company’s financial year. Companies can select their financial year-end. The corporation tax rate is 19% when the net profit before tax does not exceed £50,000. For profits exceeding £250,000, the rate is 25%.
Double Taxation Agreements
The United Kingdom has more double tax treaties than any other sovereign state.
Financial Statement Requirements
All UK companies are obligated to file accounts prepared in statutory form with the Registrar of Companies and the Inland Revenue, regardless of whether they are trading. These accounts must include a directors’ report, balance sheet, profit and loss account, notes to the accounts, and group accounts (if applicable). Small companies that meet specific criteria may qualify for an Audit Exemption, and directors must self-certify their accounts in such cases. Small companies must meet at least two of the following conditions to qualify:
- Annual turnover £6.5 million or less
- Balance sheet total £3.26 million or less
- Average number of employees 50 or fewer
For a total audit exemption, a company must meet the small company criteria listed above and have a turnover not exceeding £5.6 million and a balance sheet total not exceeding £2.8 million.
Persons with Significant Control
Major changes in UK law necessitate the disclosure of all true or ultimate owners. Under the new UK PSC (Persons with Significant Control) regime, all true and ultimate owners must be disclosed when forming a company, changing a nominee/signer, or renewing a company. A PSC refers to anyone who ultimately controls or benefits from a UK company. PSC information is publicly available and searchable.
Important Note:
The UK taxation system, subject to specific conditions, offers commercial opportunities to reduce tax liabilities for international businesses. Further information is available upon request.
Our company licensing services
— What we do and do not do
Our company is EXCLUSIVELY engaged in assisting worldwide clients, either individuals or corporate entities, to get duly and properly licensed with local Regulators and Financial Authorities to get respective official licenses to legally carry out their cryptocurrency or financial related business activities.
TBA & Associates Tax Business Advisors does not provide or carry out any sort of Cryptocurrency or Financial services!
Disclaimer: While TBA & Associates strives to make the information on this website as timely and accurate as possible, the information itself is for reference purposes only. You should not substitute the information provided in this article for competent legal advice. Feel free to contact TBA Customer Services for advice on your specific cases.