Companies House

Overview

Companies House is the registrar of companies in the UK. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, its role is being transformed from a passive registrar to an active gatekeeper: it now has powers to query and reject suspicious filings, identity-verifies all directors and Persons with Significant Control, and shares intelligence with law enforcement.

What it handles

• Company incorporation and dissolution
• Annual confirmation statements and statutory accounts
• Director identity verification (under ECCTA 2023)
• PSC register maintenance
• Strike-off objections

Process

1. Step 1: Choose company type

   You decide whether your company will be limited by shares or limited by guarantee.

2. Step 2: Appoint directors

   You must appoint at least one director; appointing a company secretary is optional.

3. Step 3: Decide shareholders and PSC

   You decide who the shareholders or guarantors are (at least one, who can be a director) and identify anyone with significant control, such as more than 25% of the shares or voting rights.

4. Step 4: Prepare governing documents

   You prepare documents agreeing how to run the company, including the memorandum of association, articles of association, statement of capital and statement of guarantee.

5. Step 5: Choose a company name

   You choose a company name, checking it follows the naming rules, is available, and doesn't clash with an existing trade mark.

6. Step 6: Register with Companies House

   You register the company with Companies House, providing a registered office address and a SIC code that identifies what the company does.

Official sources