United Kingdom
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United Kingdom Brief

The UK remains one of the world’s most attractive destinations for company formation. With a robust legal system, world-class financial services, and independent trade policies post-Brexit, the United Kingdom offers a pro-business environment across finance, technology, life sciences, and creative industries. London is a global financial hub, while cities like Manchester, Edinburgh, and Cambridge are gaining recognition for innovation and research. If you want to register a company in the UK, you’ll benefit from strong intellectual property protection, a skilled workforce, and access to international markets through new trade agreements.

Quick View: UK Private Limited Company (LTD)

A private limited company (Ltd) is the most common business structure in the UK. It is a legal entity owned by shareholders through collective ownership, limited by shares, meaning personal assets are protected if the company faces financial difficulties. Unlike many other jurisdictions, UK LTD companies do not require a legal representative or local director. A company secretary is optional but recommended. The minimum registered capital starts at just £1, though £1,000 is recommended. No capital verification is required.

Basic Information
Ownership Structure Consolidated Ownership (Limited by Shares)
Limited Liability Yes
Publicly Traded No
Shareholder / Director / Secretary Requirements
Minimum Shareholders At least 1 (natural person or company)
Minimum Directors At least 1
Legal Representative Required No
Local Director Required No
Company Secretary Required Optional
Registered Capital
Minimum Capital £1 (recommended £1,000)
Capital Verification Not required

How to Register a Company in the UK: Step by Step

Here is how to register a company in the UK through TKEG Expat’s incorporation service. The process is straightforward and typically completed within 3–5 business days. Same-day or next-day filing is available when all natural-person directors, shareholders, and PSCs hold a Companies House Personal Code.

  1. Choose your company name — The name must end with “Limited” or “LTD”. It cannot include restricted words such as “Bank”, “Royal”, or “University” without special approval.
  2. Prepare your documents — Gather passport scans, proof of address, and corporate documents for any legal entity director and shareholder.
  3. Register your company with Companies House — TKEG Expat files the memorandum and articles of association, issue shares, and registers directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSC/UBO).
  4. Receive your Certificate of Incorporation — Your certificate of incorporation confirms the company legally exists and shows the company number and date of formation.
  5. Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC — Corporation tax registration with HMRC is included in the service. You must file tax returns within 12 months of your accounting period end.
  6. Open a business bank account — Once registered, you can open a business bank account in the UK or internationally. Limited companies are legally required to maintain a separate business account.

The cost to register a UK company through Companies House is currently GBP 100 (not included in TKEG Expat’s service fee). Once the company starts trading, it must comply with annual filing and tax obligations.

UK LTD Registration Requirements

Key Requirements
Registered Office Address A UK registered office address is mandatory. TKEG Expat’s package includes one year of registered UK address hosting in England or Scotland with government correspondence scanning.
Same-Day / Next-Day Filing All natural-person directors, shareholders, and PSCs must hold a Companies House Personal Code — or use TKEG Expat’s Personal Code obtention service.

Required Documents

Natural Person Shareholders & Directors
Passport Scan Passport cover page scan for each shareholder and director.
Proof of Address Utility bill or bank statement (translated into English), clearly showing name, address, and date within one month. For mainland China addresses, only bank-stamped personal information certificates are accepted due to AML regulations.
Legal Entity Shareholders
Business License Business license of the holding company.
Passport Scan Passport scan for the legal representative and any shareholder holding more than 25% of shares.
Proof of Address Same requirements as natural persons above.

UK Tax Overview

Data sources: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries & OECD Statistics.

The United Kingdom applies a main corporation tax rate of 25% for companies with profits above £250,000 and a small profits rate of 19% for companies with profits up to £50,000, with marginal relief between those thresholds. Capital gains are generally taxed under the corporation tax regime. The standard tax VAT rate is 20%. Withholding tax is generally 0% on dividends and 20% on interest and royalties. OECD 2023 composite effective tax rates are 22.55% (EATR) and 11.51% (EMTR). Note that UK company types such as sole trader, limited liability partnership (LLP), and company limited by guarantee have different tax treatments.

Corporate Income Tax (CIT)
General CIT Rate 25% (profits > £250,000); 19% small profits rate (profits ≤ £50,000); tapered rate between £50,000–£250,000. Effective 1 April 2023.
CIT Return Due Date Within 12 months after the end of the accounting period.
CIT Payment Due Date Varies by company size. See the UK company summary for details.
Withholding Tax (WHT)
Resident WHT (Dividend / Interest / Royalty) 0% / 20% / 20%
Value-Added Tax (VAT)
Standard VAT Rate 20%
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
General CGT Rate Taxed at the regular corporation tax rate.
Effective Tax Rate (ETR)
Composite Effective Average Tax Rate 22.55% (OECD 2023)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About UK Company Registration
How many shareholders are needed to register a UK company? At least one shareholder is required. This can be a natural person or a company. The UK government has no nationality or domicile restrictions on shareholders.
Are there special rules on company names? The name can be in any language but must use Roman characters. It must end with “Limited” or “LTD”. Words like “Bank”, “Association”, “University”, “Charity”, and “Architect” require special approval.
Is capital verification required? No. There is no capital verification requirement to register a business in the UK.
Can foreigners register a UK company? Yes. The UK government imposes no nationality or identity restrictions on foreigners registering UK companies and does not require EU residency for nominee directors.

Contact TKEG Expat

Whether you want to use the United Kingdom as the launchpad for your international expansion, access the vast UK and global consumer markets, plan an IPO, or leverage the UK’s strategic position within your business structure — TKEG Expat provides end-to-end solutions. We handle all necessary documentation, draft your memorandum and articles of association, assist with opening a business bank account, and manage accounting and tax filing for your UK company.

United Kingdom