UK Company Formation
We don't just form your UK company — we get it ready to operate.
From UK Limited Company formation to tax and accounting setup — and, where needed, VAT, EORI and e-commerce operations — we plan the structure your business model actually requires.
More than incorporation
A UK company is business infrastructure, not just a registration.
Registration at Companies House creates the legal company. Operating internationally usually also calls for tax, accounting, banking, marketplace and compliance infrastructure — each planned separately around your business model.
These layers don't come into existence with incorporation; they are set up according to the agreed scope.
Formation
UK Limited Company
The legal company created by Companies House registration
- 01Company recordsDirectors, shareholders, PSCs and registered office.
- 02Tax & accountingUTR, Corporation Tax and annual filings.
- 03Banking / paymentsOnboarding processes separate from formation.
- 04E-commerce / marketplaceAmazon or your own store; separate verification.
- 05Ongoing complianceConfirmation Statement; VAT and EORI where applicable.
01Company structure
Getting the foundations of your UK Limited Company right.
A UK private limited company is a legal person separate from its owners. At formation, who manages the company, who owns it and who controls it are each reported separately.
DirectorManages
Runs the company and is responsible for its legal duties. At least one is required; directors must be 16 or over and needn't live in the UK.
ShareholderOwns
Owns the company's shares. At least one is required, and a shareholder can also be a director.
PSCControls
Person with Significant Control: someone holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or otherwise exercising significant control.
These roles can sit with the same person, but they are not the same thing. Directors and PSCs are legally required to verify their identity with Companies House.
- Company type
- Private company limited by shares; shareholders' liability is limited.
- Company name
- Available and compliant with Companies House naming rules; usually ending in “Limited” or “Ltd”.
- Registered office
- A physical address in the UK country of registration; not a PO Box, and publicly visible.
- Registered email
- A required address for Companies House correspondence; not published on the register.
- SIC code
- The code that classifies the company's business activity.
- Share structure
- Number, value and owners of shares; reported at formation in the statement of capital.
Formation process
A clear roadmap from application to post-incorporation.
The first six steps cover forming the company; the seventh depends on the scope we agree.
- 01
Consultation & model
Sales channels, markets and goals.
- 02
Company structure
Directors, shareholders and shares.
- 03
Name & activity
Name availability and SIC code.
- 04
Director / PSC details
Details and identity verification.
- 05
Companies House filing
Submitting the incorporation application.
- 06
Formation records
Certificate of Incorporation and records.
- 07
Post-incorporation
Tax and operating steps, as scoped.
Records created at formation
Records are created on the Companies House register and most are publicly visible; their format can vary with the filing method.
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Confirms legal existence, company number and date.
- Company number
- The unique number on the register.
- Memorandum of Association
- The founders' statement of formation and shares.
- Articles of Association
- Internal rules; model or bespoke.
- Statement of capital
- Number, value and owners of shares.
- Public register entry
- Director, PSC, address and SIC details.
02Tax & obligations
The company exists. Now the tax setup begins.
Companies House records the company's legal existence; tax is handled by HMRC. After formation, each authority receives its own regular filings.
This is a map, not a universal timetable; the scope and timing of obligations depend on the company's circumstances.
Our Accounting & Tax serviceLegal company register
Companies House
- Annual accounts
- Prepared at the end of each accounting period.
- Confirmation Statement
- Confirms company details; at least every 12 months, even if nothing changed.
- Register changes
- Updates to directors, shareholders, PSCs and addresses.
Tax administration
HMRC
- UTR
- The 10-digit tax reference sent after incorporation; not the same as Corporation Tax registration.
- Corporation Tax
- Tax on company profits; most companies are set up for it at incorporation.
- CT600
- The Corporation Tax return for each period; may be required even when no tax is due.
- VAT returns
- Only if the company is VAT-registered.
- Payroll / PAYE
- Where salaries are paid.
VAT
Not every UK company is automatically VAT-registered.
VAT registration is not part of company formation; it is assessed separately against the business's circumstances and the applicable rules.
Turnover-threshold rules apply to UK-established businesses, while businesses not established in the UK may need to register regardless of turnover. Voluntary registration is also possible.
What can matter in e-commerce
- Sales model
- Stock location
- Customer location
- Marketplace model
- Taxable turnover and registration rules
EORI
If goods move, plan for customs too.
If the business imports or exports goods between Great Britain and other countries, a GB EORI number may be needed. Not every UK company needs one.
What can matter
- Import / export
- Customs declarations
- Logistics set-up
- VAT status
Banking & payments
Forming a company doesn't mean a bank account is open.
Company formation and onboarding with a bank, fintech or payment provider are separate processes. Each provider assesses applications under its own rules and risk appetite.
Within the agreed scope we help you prepare and navigate applications; approval always rests with the provider.
- CompanyLegal entityCreated by Companies House registration.
- Bank / fintechFinancial onboardingA separate application and review.
- Payment providerPayment processingSeparate onboarding for collecting payments.
What providers may review
- KYC
- KYB
- Risk assessment
- Business model
- Director / shareholder details
- Operating location
E-commerce
A UK company is only one part of an Amazon account.
A UK company can be the legal entity behind an Amazon seller account. Amazon, however, evaluates the account independently through its own verification process and may ask for further information or documents.
What Amazon may evaluate
- Business information
- Identity
- Addresses
- Operating information
- Banking / payment details
- Tax information
- Supporting documents
Company incorporation and Amazon account verification are separate processes.
An important distinction
Owning a UK company and being treated as UK-established are different questions.
A company can be incorporated in the UK while tax, VAT, marketplace or operational establishment questions depend on further facts. Different authorities and platforms may apply different tests.
What may matter, depending on the test
- Management
- Business activity
- People
- Premises
- Operational substance
- Stock and logistics
- Commercial circumstances
Company incorporation
Automatic tax or operational establishment for every purpose
This section is general information; your specific situation is assessed separately.
Who it's for
Which business models might a UK company suit?
A UK company can be considered for these models, but it isn't automatically the best option for any of them. Suitability depends on your sales channels, markets and operations.
- 01Amazon sellers
- 02Own e-commerce stores
- 03International service businesses
- 04Private label brands
- 05Wholesale
- 06International entrepreneurs
- 07Entering the UK market
- Compare jurisdictions
Scope of service
From formation to operating infrastructure.
The scope of service is agreed to your needs; not every module is part of every engagement.
Define the Scope TogetherCore formation process
- UK company formation — Companies House application
- Director / shareholder setup
- PSC reporting
- Registered office — If part of the selected service
- SIC / activity code
- Formation records
Scope-dependent infrastructure
- UTR / tax setup — Preparing the Corporation Tax side
- Accounting — Annual accounts, CT600, Confirmation Statement
- VAT — Registration and returns, where applicable
- EORI — Where goods are moved
- Banking support — Application preparation and guidance
- Amazon — Account and launch infrastructure
- Trademark — Where requested
- Payroll — Where salaries are paid
- Compliance — Depending on the business model
Getting started
What information do we need to form the company?
The information and documents requested may vary by company structure, the people involved and the scope of service.
- Proposed company name
- Director details
- Shareholder details
- PSC details
- Residential addresses
- Business activity
- Sales channels
- Target markets
- Share structure
- Contact details
- Registered office preference
- ID / address documents — where required
How we work
From first conversation to ongoing support.
- 01Consultation
- 02Structure & Scope
- 03Information
- 04Formation
- 05Tax & Operations
- 06Ongoing Support
Transparency
We manage the process. We don't guarantee third-party decisions.
We prepare, guide and manage the processes we agree on. Decisions by Companies House, HMRC, banks, fintech and payment providers, Amazon and other platforms or authorities remain subject to their own rules, verification and approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
About UK company formation
Can I form a UK Limited Company while living in Turkey?
Yes. Directors and shareholders don't need to live in the UK. The company does need a UK registered office address, and directors and PSCs must complete Companies House identity verification.
Does forming a UK company automatically open a bank account?
No. Banks, fintechs and payment providers carry out their own KYC, KYB and risk checks. Depending on the scope of service we can help you prepare applications, but opening an account is the provider's decision.
What is a UTR?
A UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) is the 10-digit tax reference HMRC issues to the company after incorporation. It's used for Corporation Tax matters; receiving it doesn't mean every tax obligation has been dealt with.
Does every UK company need a VAT number?
No. Whether VAT registration is required depends on taxable turnover, whether the business is established in the UK and the sales model. Businesses not established in the UK may need to register regardless of turnover; voluntary registration is also possible.
When is an EORI number needed?
An EORI number is generally needed if you move goods between Great Britain and other countries, or between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Companies that don't import or export goods may not need one.
Is a UK company enough to open an Amazon seller account?
Not on its own. A UK company can be the legal entity behind a seller account, but Amazon verifies identity, addresses, business, banking and tax details through its own process and may request further documents. Approval is Amazon's decision.
What is a Registered Office?
It's the company's official address on the Companies House register. It must be a physical address in the UK country where the company is registered, a PO Box can't be used, and it is publicly visible. A registered office does not, on its own, show that the business operates there.
Can the director and the shareholder be the same person?
Yes. One person can be both the sole director and the sole shareholder. Anyone holding more than 25% of the shares or voting rights is also reported as a PSC. The roles are related but distinct.
What is a Confirmation Statement?
It confirms to Companies House that the company's information is up to date. It must be filed at least once every 12 months, even if nothing has changed, and includes a statement that the company's intended activities are lawful.
What are a UK company's annual accounting and tax obligations?
Generally: keeping accounting records, filing annual accounts with Companies House, a Corporation Tax return (CT600) with HMRC and a Confirmation Statement at least once a year. VAT returns apply if VAT-registered, and payroll obligations if salaries are paid. A Company Tax Return may be required even when no tax is due.
UK Company Formation
Let's form your UK company with the right infrastructure.
Tell us about your business model, sales channels and the post-incorporation setup you need, and we'll assess it together.