🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Quick answer
Companies in the UK register with Companies House, usually as a private limited company (Ltd). Registration is quick and online; you then register for Corporation Tax with HMRC and, where applicable, VAT and PAYE.
Companies are registered with Companies House. The private company limited by shares (Ltd) is the most common form, and registration also sets up the company for Corporation Tax with HMRC.
- Registration is completed online with Companies House, usually within a day.
- A company must have at least one director and a registered office address.
- People-with-significant-control (PSC) information must be filed and kept up to date.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose your company type and name
Most founders register a private company limited by shares (Ltd). Check the name with the Companies House name checker — it must not be the same as, or too similar to, an existing name, and cannot use "sensitive" words without approval.
- 2
Set a registered office and appoint people
Provide a UK registered office address (shown on the public register), and appoint at least one director and at least one shareholder — they can be the same person. Identify the people with significant control (PSC).
- 3
Prepare the governing documents
Adopt a memorandum of association and articles of association — the standard "model articles" are accepted for most companies.
- 4
Register with Companies House
Register online (usually approved within 24 hours) for a modest fee, or by post on form IN01. You receive a certificate of incorporation and a company registration number.
- 5
Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC
Register for Corporation Tax within 3 months of starting to trade; register for PAYE if you employ staff, and for VAT if turnover exceeds the registration threshold.
- 6
Meet identity and ongoing duties
Complete Companies House identity verification (being phased in under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act), then file annual accounts and a confirmation statement each year.
Checklist
- Company type chosen (usually private limited by shares, Ltd)
- Unique name cleared on the Companies House checker
- UK registered office address
- At least one director and one shareholder
- People with significant control (PSC) identified
- Memorandum and articles of association
- Companies House registration + fee
- Corporation Tax registration with HMRC (+ PAYE/VAT if applicable)
Official authorities
- Companies House
UK company registration.
- GOV.UK — Set up a business
Official guide to starting a business.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to register a company?
Online registration with Companies House is often completed within 24 hours.
Do I need a UK-resident director?
There is no residency requirement for directors, but you need a UK registered office address.
When must I register for VAT?
VAT registration is required once taxable turnover exceeds the threshold, and is optional below it.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- UK Government (GOV.UK) — UK's unified government services portal — visas, taxes, driving licences, benefits and more
- UK Visas and Immigration — UK visa applications, Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), and work authorization
- HM Revenue & Customs — Self Assessment tax returns, National Insurance, VAT registration and payment