Dec 24, 2015
Companies House
Paul Hughes
Event Team
Who we areUK Registry of Companies
1844 - Established
1988 - Executive agency of BIS
1991 - Trading fund
Funding:
80% registration, 20% search
London, Edinburgh,
Belfast & Cardiff
What we do• incorporate and dissolve
limited companies
• examine and store company information delivered under the Companies Act and related legislation
• make this information available to the public
Why go Limited?
Your company name is protected
You get limited liability
But what is limited liability?
Legal requirements placed on directors
In return the company must send certain information to Companies House for public viewing
Company Names
Unique and non-offensive
Sensitive words: require approval from relevant body Eg: Bank, Insurance, International, University
Must not be too similar to names already listed
Check name availability FREE on CH Website
Incorporation Web Incorporation service
• via Business Link
• Simple company structures only
• £18 fee
• 5,600 in July 2011
• www.businesslink.gov.uk
Memorandum & Articles of Association
Incorporation Via Formation Agents
(using software packages)
• £14 fee
• 29,000 companies in July 2011
• out of 36,100 in total
• Competitive prices – shop around
• list of software suppliers/agents on our website
Director’s responsibilities Accounts and Annual Returns are delivered
• Directors’ and secretaries’ details are kept up to date
• No under 16’s appointed (except for LLP’s)
• No upper age limit
• At least 1 “natural person” appointed (except for LLP’s)
• Registered office and SAIL address is correct and operational
Secretary DutiesEvery PLC needs one
Private companies – it’s optional
Usual duties include:
• Notifying changes
• Maintaining statutory registers
• Notifying members and auditor of meetings
• Providing copies of resolutions and agreements
• Supplying copies of company accounts
Annual Return• Over 94% are now filed online
• Not the financial return
• All companies have to file one each year
• Based on your Legal Return Date
• Snapshot of the Company details at this date
• Must be filed within 28 days of this date
• £14 filing fee online (£40 for paper filing)
Accounts• Some Account types can be filed online
• Companies have to file accounts each year
• Whether trading or not
• Strict filing times laid down by Parliament
• Based on your accounting reference date
• Automatic penalties for being late
• Must be in legible format – black ink please
• No filing fee
Compliance
Late Filing Penalties
Less than 1 month £150
LTD PLC
£750
1 month - 3 months £375 £1500
3 months - 6 months £750 £3000
More Than 6 months £1,500 £7500
Don’t Forget
Penalties are doubled for filing late 2 years running
Contact Number
Local Rate telephone number for all general
enquiries is:
0303 1234 500
For general email enquiries:-