Company services in the UK: formation and accounting, online
A UK company run from abroad: LTD formation, LLP registration and accounting, the first year in order and every Companies House fee of the year.
Services for a UK limited company, with the fee or date of each
Each row opens the page of the service. Companies in other countries: international company formation.
| Service | When you need it | Companies House fee or yearly date |
|---|---|---|
| LTD company formation in the UK | At the start, with the registered office address we give | £100 online, usually registered within 24 hours |
| LLP registration in the UK | When two or more partners share the profit and pay tax on their own shares | £100 by software, £124 on paper |
| Accounting in the UK | From the first transaction | Accounts 9 months after the year end, the CT600 12 months after the period |
First year of a UK company, in order
- before filing1
Identity and personal codes
Each director and each person with significant control verifies their identity online with GOV.UK One Login and receives a personal code. Registration asks for every director's code.
- within 24 hours2
Registration at Companies House
We file the company online with your directors, shareholders, business activity code and the registered office address we give. A company is usually registered within 24 hours, and Corporation Tax is set up with it.
- after registration3
Payment account
We help open a payment account for the company with an electronic money institution, so invoices are paid and the books start from its statements.
- when they apply4
Payroll and VAT when they apply
The company registers as an employer before its first payday. VAT registration follows when taxable turnover for 12 months passes £90,000, or earlier by choice.
- months 12 to 215
First filings
The confirmation statement comes within 14 days after the first 12 months, the first accounts within 21 months of incorporation and the CT600 after them: accounting in the UK.
Companies House fees and what a UK company costs to run for a year
Companies House fees in force on 10 November 2026. Our fees for formation, the registered office address and accounting come in your quote, with the year's total. See how our prices work.
| Line | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation of a company, online or by software | £100 | once |
| Incorporation on paper, form IN01 | £124 | instead of online |
| Same day incorporation, by software | £156 | instead of online |
| Incorporation of an LLP, by software | £100 | once |
| Confirmation statement, online or by software | £50 | each year |
| Confirmation statement on paper | £110 | each year, instead |
| Annual accounts to Companies House | no fee | each year |
| Change of company name, online | £20 | when you rename |
| Voluntary strike off, online | £13 | when you close |
A UK company for non-residents: who it suits and what you sign
19%Suits a small trading or service company
Taxable profit up to £50,000 pays Corporation Tax at 19%. One director who is also the only shareholder is enough, from age 16, and directors do not have to live in the UK. A small company files its accounts without an audit.
25%Less suited to profit above £250,000
Profit above £250,000 pays the main rate of 25%, and marginal relief sets the rate between the two limits. Associated companies share the limits, so a group of companies reaches the main rate sooner.
18 NovemberWhat Companies House expects from abroad
Since 18 November 2025 directors and people with significant control verify their identity. The registered office is a physical address in the part of the UK where the company is registered, with no PO box, and the company gives an email address for Companies House.
14 daysWhat you sign and what we file
You verify your identity and approve the registration and each return on the Legarithm platform. A person who becomes a significant controller later gives a personal code within 14 days. We file the accounts, the CT600 and the confirmation statement.
What clients write about Legarithm
4.8 on Google from 26 reviews.
Questions about a company in the UK
Does a UK company need a company secretary?
No. A private limited company needs no company secretary, and the directors carry the legal duties. A company can still appoint one, and the secretary cannot be its auditor.
Which comes first for a UK company, the payment account or VAT registration?
The payment account. We help open one with an electronic money institution once the company is registered; VAT registration follows when turnover for 12 months passes £90,000, or earlier by choice.
What does a UK company pay Companies House each year?
£50 for the confirmation statement filed online, or £110 on paper. The annual accounts are filed without a fee, and filing them late costs £150 to £1,500 by how late they are.
Does a small UK company need an audit?
No, when it meets 2 of 3 tests for accounting periods from 6 April 2025: turnover up to £15 million, a balance sheet up to £7.5 million, 50 employees or fewer. Members holding 10% of the shares can still ask for one.
Who counts as a person with significant control?
Anyone who holds more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, can appoint or remove most of the directors, or has other significant influence or control. Each one verifies identity and gives Companies House a personal code.
When does a new UK company file for the first time?
The confirmation statement comes first, up to 14 days after the end of the 12 months from incorporation. The first accounts follow within 21 months of incorporation, and the CT600 12 months after the first accounting period ends.
Get a quote for your company in the UK
Book a 30-minute call about your company
Your consultant Vladyslav Babaiev Opens in a new tab Business Setup Specialist
- We email you the Google Meet link.
- 30 minutes, free, no obligation to order.
- After the call we email you the checklist of documents for your country.
We reply by the end of the next working day with the cost and the dates for your case. The first call is free and confidential.
Updated 10 November 2026. Reviewed by Vladyslav Drapii, Founder.
