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:-

enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk

Thank you for listening

Any feedback?

phughes@companieshouse.gov.uk