A Company Voluntary Arrangement (also known as a CVA) is a special arrangement that allows a company with debt problems or that is insolvent to reach a voluntary agreement to pay its business
Category: Corporate Governance & Regulation
Latest UK legislation on corporate governance and regulations for companies and individuals.
Why ID verification is supposedly good for business
Last week, we covered the new requirement for directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identities from 18 November 2025. This process will be rolled out over 12 months,
Have you verified your ID at Companies House?
From 18 November 2025, all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) will be legally required to verify their identity at Companies House. This verification is being phased in over
16 years old - the minimum age for a company director
Thinking of starting a company at 16? Know the rules, risks and responsibilities before you take the leap. The Companies Act 2006 does not set a minimum age for shareholders, meaning even minors can
Company director disqualification
Company directors have a legal duty to act responsibly and in the best interests of their business. If a director fails to meet these responsibilities, they can face disqualification from acting as a
When dividends cannot be paid
Under the Companies Act 2006, dividends can only be paid from realised profits, never from capital, no matter what a company-s Articles of Association say. Dividends can only be paid by a company out
HMRC to increase anti-money laundering fees
Fit and proper test fee to jump from -150 to -700 under HMRC-s proposed AML supervision changes Many businesses are monitored by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or certain professional bodies
Verifying your ID at Companies House
You now need to set up a verified GOV.UK One Login to confirm your identity with Companies House. To verify your identity at Companies House, you can use the GOV.UK online verification service if you
New requirements for Overseas Entities
Overseas property owners must now report earlier ownership changes or risk penalties from 31 July 2025. Under new rules introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, entities
New requirement - verifying ID at Companies House
Identity verification is now rolling out for directors, PSCs, and agents, with more filing roles to be included soon under new anti-fraud rules. Companies House is beginning to roll out mandatory
Company changes you must report
Certain company changes—like a new registered address, email, or director—must be reported to Companies House promptly. Failure to update records risks penalties and non-compliance with UK
Verifying identity at Companies House - From April 2025
New rules under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act mean identity checks will soon be required at Companies House. From directors to agents, all those running UK companies will need to
Dealing with company unpaid debts
Unpaid debts can put a limited company at risk of a winding-up petition, potentially leading to liquidation. Creditors may act via court judgments or statutory demands, forcing companies to settle
Online information about a company
A significant amount of online information about companies is available to the public on the Companies House website. The information available through Companies House can be an important resource for
Changing a company-s year end date
There are specific rules that restrict changing a company-s year-end date, also known as the "accounting reference date". Initially, this is based on the date of incorporation. Under certain
Is there a partnership in place?
A partnership is a reasonably straightforward way for two or more legal persons to establish and operate a business with the intent to make a profit. Partnerships can take various forms, and legal
What is a PSC?
PSC stands for Person with Significant Control. It is a legal term used primarily in the United Kingdom under company law. A PSC is someone who holds significant influence or control over a company.
Penalties for late filing of company accounts
There are late filing penalties which are designed to encourage companies to file their accounts and reports on time. All companies, private and public, large or small, trading or non-trading must
Optimising Corporate Structure for Tax Efficiency: Strategies to Reduce Business Tax Liabilities
Optimising Corporate Structure for Tax Efficiency: Strategies to Reduce Business Tax Liabilities When running a business, understanding the right corporate structure can play a vital role in tax efficiency. Choosing the best structure for your company can lead to significant savings on your tax bill. Options like sole traders, partnerships, or limited companies each come … Continue reading Optimising Corporate Structure for Tax Efficiency: Strategies to Reduce Business Tax Liabilities
What is an appropriate address for a company?
One of the key changes introduced as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) was the introduction of new rules for registered office addresses. The ECCTA introduced new
Ordering documents from Companies House
Companies House offers interested parties the ability to order certified copies of certificates and documents held on the Companies House register.
You can order:
a company certificate with
Restarting a dormant company
HMRC must be informed when a non-trading or dormant company restarts trading and becomes active for Corporation Tax purposes. Companies can use HMRC Online Services to supply the relevant information.
Do not respond if you receive this letter
Companies House published guidance titled -Reporting scams pretending to be from Companies House- has been updated. The list is intended to help people check if contacts purporting to be from
Changes to Companies House Fees
There have been a number of significant changes in Companies House fees. These changes took effect on 1 May 2024. The last significant change in fees occurred in April 2016.
The new fees have been
Register an overseas company
An overseas company must register with Companies House if they want to set up a place of business in the UK. This would mean that the overseas company has a physical presence in the UK through which
Closing a limited company
There are a number of reasons why you may need to close your limited company. This could be because the company structure no longer suits your needs, your business is no longer active, or the company
Company names - new regulations
A recent post by Companies House confirmed that they are now using new powers to challenge the registration of certain company names.
Extracts from their recent blog post is reproduced
Company confirmation statement changes
As well as filing accounts with Companies House, there is an important requirement to check that the information Companies House has about your company is correct every year. This is facilitated by
Register of Overseas Entities
The Register of Overseas Entities came into force in the UK on 1 August 2022. The register is held by Companies House and requires overseas entities that own land or property in the UK to declare
Changing a company-s accounting year end
There are special rules which limit the ability to change your company-s accounting year end date. A company-s year end date is also known as its -accounting reference date- and is historically set by
