Companies House meaning

Procedure for amending the articles of association Matters to review or actions to undertake Refer to the pertinent section of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) and/or relevant Lexis+® UK material Tick box once step is complete or issue considered Getting ready to revise the articles and initial checks Will the proposed change oblige shareholders to take up additional shares, or increase a member’s liability? If so, shareholders’ approval will be necessary for the proposed alteration...

Use this Checklist when filing charges at Companies House where a UK company or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) created the charge on or after 6 April 2013, and also read it alongside Practice Notes: How to register security at Companies House and Registering security at Companies House. For the purposes of Part 25 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) on Company Charges, a 'charge' also covers a mortgage. Accordingly, references to a 'charge' in this Checklist should be understood to include a mortgage. Checklist The fourth column can be used to record observations or comments while progressing through the Checklist, capturing any points as the Checklist is worked through...

This checklist sets out the factors to consider when a company is proposing to grant a floating charge. This checklist proceeds on the basis that an English or Welsh company will grant a floating charge to a lender situated in England or Wales. The company granting the floating charge is the ‘chargor’. The entity receiving the floating charge is the ‘chargee’. The document recording the floating charge is the ‘security document’. For detailed guidance on the nature of floating charges and how they differ from fixed charges, see Practice Note: Fixed and floating charges. For the advantages and disadvantages of taking a floating charge, see Practice Note: Floating charges—advantages and disadvantages. For in-depth considerations when taking a floating charge, see Practice Note: Floating charges. A floating charge may form part of the security package created by a debenture—see Practice Note: Key features of debentures. Debentures typically also include other security interests, such as mortgages, assignments and fixed charges. A floating...

View or print a full size PDF version: This flowchart outlines the key stages a standard company follows to identify persons with significant control (PSCs) or relevant legal entities (RLEs), enabling necessary updates to the company’s PSC register and the submission of particulars to the Registrar of Companies for the central register...

In this issue: Companies House Corporate governance Equity capital markets Accounts and reports Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Companies House Companies House announces fee changes from February 2026 Companies House has confirmed a revised fees schedule from 1 February 2026, following its annual assessment to align charges with the cost of providing services. Notably, the digital incorporation filing fee will rise to £100, and the digital confirmation statement fee will increase to £50. These adjustments are set out in the Registrar of Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1137), which were laid before Parliament on 30 October 2025 and take effect on 1 February 2026. The accompanying explanatory memorandum states that the updated fees are intended to recover increased costs linked to implementing the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023) and the Economic...

In this issue Company, disclosures, records and registers Equity capital markets Share purchase agreement Restructuring and insolvency for corporate lawyers Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Company, disclosures, records and registers Companies House publishes guidance on ACSPs and identity verification standards Companies House has issued three pieces of guidance covering the registration of Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs), what ACSPs do, and the identity verification obligations. The first note explains how to use Companies House’s service to enrol as an ACSP (also referred to as a Companies House authorised agent). Applications open on 25 February 2025. The second clarifies the functions and responsibilities of an ACSP. The third sets out how to meet Companies House identity verification standards when confirming someone’s identity. From 25 March 2025, ACSPs will be able to notify Companies House of identity checks that have been completed. Further, from spring...

In this issue: Company, disclosures, records and registers Takeovers of public companies Equity capital market updates News alerts: daily and weekly Key dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Company, disclosures, records and registers Companies House outlines new registration requirements for ACSPs Companies House has issued a blog post that sets out the new registration requirements for authorised corporate service providers (ACSPs). Established by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, ACSPs form part of a more robust framework designed to verify the identity of those submitting filings to Companies House on a company's behalf. The category will span third-party agents, such as solicitors' practices and company formation agents, and they will need to be registered with Companies House before making any submissions. The underlying purpose of mandating registration is to ensure Companies House can clearly and confidently identify who is acting for companies...

People with significant control (PSC) regime The architecture of the people with significant control (PSC) regime, which first commenced on 6 April 2016, is contained in Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Its purpose is to tackle worries about the lack of transparency in corporate ownership, where historically the register captured only the legal holder of shares, not always the beneficial owner. By requiring a PSC register, more precise and up‑to‑date details are available about who ultimately owns and directs companies and other bodies, and this information is made public via the central register at Companies House and remains accessible to the public. It assists prospective investors in their decision‑making. It likewise aids law enforcement bodies with money laundering enquiries. LLPs formed under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000 must keep a record of persons with significant control over the LLP under the Limited Liability Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/340 (the LLP Regulations), as amended by the Information about People...

Successive UK governments have aimed to cement the UK as one of the world’s most appealing settings for innovation and enterprise. To that end, a wide-ranging suite of tax incentives has been rolled out to encourage innovative companies, supporting both investors and trading entities, and assisting businesses at every phase of a business’s life cycle. These incentives include: R&D tax reliefs patent box business asset disposal relief (previously entrepreneurs’ relief) capital allowances for purchases of: knowhow patents, and plant and machinery venture capital trusts the enterprise investment scheme, and the seed enterprise investment scheme This Practice Note outlines the UK position on key tax considerations when determining how to structure an innovative business with international or global aspirations. The observations are general in nature and work on the basis of a clean slate; revisiting an existing IP ownership arrangement will inevitably demand a bespoke solution (notably...

A well-maintained register of people with significant control (PSC) should make publicly available who ultimately owns and controls companies and other entities. The PSC framework applies to UK-incorporated companies limited by shares or by guarantee (including unlimited companies, unregistered companies, community interest companies and dormant companies), limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and eligible Scottish partnerships, namely Scottish limited partnerships and Scottish qualifying general partnerships (ESPs). For clarity, this guide chiefly refers to companies. For information on the regime’s scope, including how a company might most effectively obtain relevant beneficial ownership details, see Practice Note: PSC register—the people with significant control regime. Corporate transparency reform—changes to the PSC regime The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023) received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023 and is being introduced in phases across multiple commencement dates. Many provisions will only commence once detailed secondary legislation and guidance are in place, while others require the rollout of new technical processes and tools before they can operate. ...

1 Instructions on completing this form If while carrying out Client Due Diligence (CDD) checks, or through your ongoing monitoring duties as part of your obligations once a business relationship is already in place, you identify a material discrepancy between the beneficial ownership details supplied by the client and those appearing on the relevant registers (eg the Companies House register), you must complete this form and forward it to the [ state who the form should be sent to, eg nominated officer, head of risk, compliance officer ]...

Company number : [ insert number ] The companies act 2006 A [ Private OR Public ] company limited by shares Resolution[S] relating to [ insert company name ] [ Limited OR Plc ] (the Company) During an annual general meeting of the Company, duly convened and held on [ insert ...

[ Place on the letterheaded paper of the party lodging form MR01 ] [ enter date ] For the attention of: The Registrar of CompaniesCompanies HouseCrown WayCardiffCF14 3UZ Dear [ enter organisation name ] [ enter name of Chargor ]—Company number [ enter company number ] 1 We refer to the [ enter name of...

Registration at the Charity Commission (CC) Most entities with a charitable character must register with the Charity Commission (CC), though some are exempt in specific cases. For further detailed guidance, see Practice Notes: Charity creation—legal points at Charity creation—legal points—Charity registration and Charity registration—when to register...

Where a foreign company shuts a registered UK establishment (this covers a branch of a foreign company; refer to Practice Note: Overseas companies with an establishment in the UK), it is required to notify Companies House using Form OS DS01 without delay thereafter...