Company Incorporation

​An application to form a company can be made online or by post .

 

This has to be accompanied by a Memorandum of Association, the Articles of Association, Statement of Capital for Companies Limited by Shares and the correct registration fee.

 

Most popular type of company is Private company limited by shares

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Directors​

A company must have at least one director who is a natural person aged 16 years or over.

The company also needs to have a company secretary. It is possible for the same person to be a director and company secretary.

 

Directors (and company secretaries where applicable) of both existing and new companies now have the right to set out a service address rather than their usual residential address. The service address is usually the company’s registered office, although it can be a different address. The service address cannot be a P. O. box.

 

​Post Incorporation Compliance

The company must submit the following documents each year:

• Annual return

• Annual company accounts, prepared under new UK GAAP

 

Both documents are submitted 9 months after the accounting reference date for private limited companies, and must be signed by at least one director.

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The payment of dividends must be documented and approved, even if the company has only one director, who is also the sole shareholder. The following documents are necessary:

 

• Resolution to pay interim dividend

• Resolution to propose final dividend

• Shareholders approval

• Dividend voucher