UK Company Formation: Setting Up a Limited Company, Timeline and Cost

Yes. The director does not need to live in the UK; being at least 16 years old is enough. The registered office and director service address are provided as a service, and the application is filed remotely. Since 18 November 2025, directors must complete identity verification before the application.

Companies House is the United Kingdom’s company registry. “Registration” means entering the company on this register, in other words the incorporation itself; once it is complete, a company number and a Certificate of Incorporation are issued.

A director living abroad verifies their identity with a biometric passport through the GOV.UK One Login app or through an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP) registered with Companies House. The personal code issued at the end is used on the incorporation application and on later filings.

Companies House online applications are usually decided within 24 hours. The corporation tax reference (UTR) usually arrives by post within 14 days of incorporation; VAT registration can take several weeks depending on the application and document process.

Official fees: online incorporation fee 100 GBP, annual Confirmation Statement 50 GBP. Service items: registered office and director service address, mail forwarding, annual accounting and filing follow-up; if the company is VAT registered, periodic returns are added.

No. The registered office must be an "appropriate address" where documents sent to the company can reach someone on its behalf; Companies House does not accept PO box addresses. Since 4 March 2024, a registered email address must also be provided; this address is not made public.

Each year, a Confirmation Statement (within 14 days after the review period) and annual accounts go to Companies House; first accounts are due within 21 months of incorporation, later accounts within 9 months of the financial year end. The corporation tax return (CT600) is due to HMRC within 12 months of the accounting period, and the tax payment within 9 months and 1 day. If the company is VAT registered, periodic VAT returns also apply.

19 percent on profits up to 50,000 GBP and 25 percent above 250,000 GBP; marginal relief applies between the two. For short accounting periods and where associated companies exist, the thresholds are reduced proportionally.

For UK-established businesses, the registration threshold is 90,000 GBP in turnover over 12 months. A company managed from outside the UK is, in most cases, treated as a non-established taxable person (NETP); being incorporated in the UK or using a UK address does not on its own make it established. There is no threshold for an NETP; registration is required once taxable sales in the UK begin.

For sales from UK stock and for imported sales up to 135 GBP, the marketplace (Amazon) calculates and pays VAT on behalf of the overseas seller. VAT and customs duty on importing the goods into the UK remain the seller's responsibility; this is why VAT registration is still needed for most sellers.

VAT registration is done with HMRC, not Companies House, and HMRC may request documents about sales and the supply chain after the application. Our field observation is that applications made before sales and documents are ready tend to take longer or get rejected; this is why VAT described as "included" in a package often cannot actually be delivered.

For companies selling on Amazon, HMRC may send a questionnaire after the application: seller account opening and payment account emails, store link, sales and inventory reports, FBA shipment summary, supplier and logistics invoices and contracts, import documents, trademark registration, bank statements and documents showing the director's address. Having documents in English and consistent with each other determines the timeline.

If goods will move between the UK and another country, a GB EORI is required; companies that sell only services generally do not need one. If goods will also go to the EU, an EU EORI may be needed separately on the EU side.

For companies managed from abroad, digital business accounts are the most common route. Traditional UK banks may ask non-resident directors for additional documents and an in-person meeting; the right route depends on the company structure.

This is done on the free Companies House search service using the company name or number; the company's status, directors, registered address and filed documents can be viewed.

For a company with no activity, a strike off application is made to Companies House, with a fee of 13 GBP. Before that, the final corporation tax return should be filed and debts settled; the application requires the authentication code sent by post to the company address.