Before you register
Identity verification
Once the company is registered
What Companies House needs
GOV.UK's company formation guide lists the essentials: a name, an address, at least one director, at least one shareholder or guarantor, people with significant control, and the governing documents (memorandum, articles and a statement of capital). You also choose a SIC code. You must register the company before it starts trading.
Identity verification now applies to directors and people with significant control. New directors give their personal code as part of the appointment or incorporation filing, and Companies House says not to post or email identity documents.
Records the company must keep
A limited company keeps company records (shareholders, resolutions, loans secured on its assets) and accounting records: all money received and spent, assets and debts, year-end stock, and the receipts, invoices and bank statements behind them. Keep them for 6 years from the end of the financial year they relate to, or longer in some cases.
Related
What else will you need?
- IN01IN01 company registrationForm IN01 is the paper application to register (incorporate) a private or public company with Companies House.
- Where to find itFind your authentication codeThe company authentication code is a six-character code of letters and numbers that authorises online filings at Companies House, the equivalent of a company officer's signature.
- Where to find itFind your company UTRA company's Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) is a 10-digit number HMRC gives a limited company for Corporation Tax once it's set up.
- PSC01PSC01 person with significant controlPSC01 tells Companies House about an individual with significant control of a company: usually someone with more than a quarter of the shares or voting rights, who can appoint or remove most directors, or who otherwise controls the company.
- SH01SH01 allotment of sharesSH01 is the return of allotment of shares: the filing a company sends Companies House when it issues new shares after incorporation.
- Where to find itFind your employer PAYE referenceEmployers have two HMRC references.
Rather we did it?
Countify can handle this for you, for a fixed fee agreed upfront.
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Can I be the only director and shareholder?
When does the company need to register for Corporation Tax?
Add Corporation Tax services to your business tax account when the company starts to do business, for example buying, selling, advertising, renting a property or employing someone.
Do I need to run payroll if I only pay myself?
If you pay yourself a salary, yes: HMRC says you must register as an employer even if you're the company's only director and employee.
What is the authentication code for?
It authorises information filed online with Companies House, like a company officer's signature. Treat it like a PIN and only share it with people you trust to file for you.
Checked against GOV.UK on · Reviewed by Kamran Ishaq FCCA, Founder & CEO, on .
Sources: Set up a private limited company (opens in a new tab) (GOV.UK); Verifying your identity for Companies House (opens in a new tab) (Companies House); People with significant control (PSCs) (opens in a new tab) (Companies House); Add Corporation Tax services to your business tax account (opens in a new tab) (HM Revenue & Customs); Register as an employer (opens in a new tab) (HM Revenue & Customs); Running a limited company: company and accounting records (opens in a new tab) (HM Revenue & Customs); Running a limited company: signs, stationery and promotional material (opens in a new tab) (GOV.UK); Company authentication codes for online filing (opens in a new tab) (Companies House).