Key Company Features
Type of entity
Private Limited
Type of law
Common
Shelf company availability
Yes
Our time to establish a new company
3 days
Minimum government fees (excluding taxation)
Nil
Corporate taxation
19% - 30%
Double taxation treaty access
Yes
Share capital or equivalent
Standard currency
GBP
Permitted currencies
Any
Minimum paid up
GBP1
Usual authorised
GBP1,000
Directors or Managers
Minimum number
One
Local required
Yes
Publicly accessible records
Yes
Location of meetings
Anywhere
Members
One
Publicly accessable records
Yes
Company Secretary
Required
Yes
Accounts
Yes
Local or Qualified
No
Requirement to prepare
Yes
Audit requirements
Yes, but small company exemption
Requirement to file accounts
Yes
Publicly accessible accounts
Yes
Other
Requirement to file annual return
Yes
Change in domicile permitted
Yes, but subject to approval of Inland Revenue
Setup and Maintenance Costs
Incorporation (Setup) Costs - US$300(+ US900 if nominee director required)
The fee is all inclusive, no hidden costs.
Our company kits are always delivered with the same documents but may vary slightly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. All our companies come in a deluxe corporate "attache kit", which is all inclusive and ready for use document kit.
Our corporate kits are delivered with the following documents:-
- Articles of Incorporation in English (Notarized and legalized by Apostille)
- Appointment of First Directors / Nominee Directors (if applicable)
- Nominee shareholders (if applicable)
- Shareholder certificates
- Minute Books
- Share registry books
- 1 Power of Attorney (Notarized and legalized by Apostille)
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Trust agreement (when applicable)
- Minutes and / or board resolutions when requested
- Corporate seal
Annual Maintenance Costs
Annual Maintenance Costs - US$200(+ US900 if nominee director required)
The fee is payable after the first year and covers annual taxes, registered agent and nominees. No hidden costs.
Compliance
Authorised and Issued Share Capital.
Minimum Authorised Share Capital: GBP1.00
Issued Share Capital: The minimum issued capital is one share, but additional capital is usually issued to reflect the stability and strength of the company.
Classes of Shares Permitted.
The normal category of shares are ordinary shares but, subject to the circumstances of the company, they may be preference shares, deferred shares, redeemable shares and shares with or without voting rights.
Taxation
Corporation tax (which includes Capital Gains Tax) is paid by UK companies based upon accounts, which are submitted to the Inland Revenue and the Registrar of Companies at the end of the company's financial year. A company is free to choose its financial year-end. Companies pay corporation tax at the rate of 19% where the net profit before tax does not exceed GBP300,000. The tax payable increases thereafter in stages until the net profit before tax reaches GBP1.5 million where the top rate of corporation tax is charged at the rate of 30%. These limits for the lower and higher rate of corporation tax apply to the total profits (worldwide) of group companies and associated companies. Obtaining the lower rate of tax can be problematic for UK companies owned outside the UK.
Double Taxation Agreements
The United Kingdom is party to more double tax treaties than any other sovereign state.
Licence Fees
None.
Financial Statement Requirements
All UK companies are required to file accounts prepared in statutory form with the Registrar of Companies and the Inland Revenue. Companies whose annual turnover does not exceed L1,000,000 are not required to file independently audited accounts and in such cases the directors must self-certify the accounts.
Note: The audit exemption was increased from GBP1m to GBP5.6m from 30 March 2004
Directors
A private company must have at least one director and a public company must have at least two directors. Directors may be natural persons or bodies corporate who may be of any nationality and need not reside in the UK.
Company Secretary
A company secretary must be appointed. The company secretary may be a natural person or a body corporate who may be of any nationality and need not reside in the UK.
General Information
A 'custom-made' UK company formation has many advantages over an 'off-the-shelf' company. It is usually more economical to incorporate a company with the client's choice of name, directors, shareholders and authorised share capital than to purchase a shelf company and change these particulars after incorporation.
The intended situation of the registered office must be stated from the outset. If they wish, clients may be named as the first director and secretary.
A same day incorporation service is available from Companies House for an additional fee.
Company Information
Type of Company for International Trade and Investment
Private ('Ltd').
Procedure to Incorporate
Submission of Memorandum and Articles of Association, Declaration of Compliance and Statement of the First Directors and Secretary and notification of the situation of the Registered Office with the requisite fee to Companies House.
Restrictions on Trading
Yes, for specified groups, which include banking, insurance, financial services, consumer credit and related services. A PLC cannot commence trading until the minimum share capital of L50,000 has been allotted.
Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents
English or Welsh.
Registered Office Required.
Yes, must be maintained in England or Wales.
Shelf Companies Available
Yes
Language of Name
Whilst the name of company can be in any language, the documentation must be in English. Any name in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation to ensure that the name is not restricted. However, if the company is incorporated in Wales, documentation in Welsh will be accepted.
Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership to Authorities
No, but disclosure may in certain circumstances be required for accounting purposes. (Accounts must be filed and are available for inspection by the public).
We offer Company formations in all major offshore jurisdictions.