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Guides

UK company guides

Plain-English guides to buying and running a UK limited company: shelf companies, VAT, EORI, business banking, Companies House rules and overseas ownership.

Shelf company basics

What is a UK shelf company? A UK shelf company is a limited company registered at Companies House that has never traded, kept ready to sell. How it works, what… Shelf company vs forming a new company: which is right for you? A side-by-side comparison of buying a UK shelf company and forming a new limited company: cost, speed, VAT, EORI, banking and when each makes… Buying a shelf company: a 12-point checklist What to check before you buy a UK shelf company: Companies House filings, charges, PSC records, VAT and EORI status, documents and the seller’s… Shelf company transfer documents explained Every document in a UK shelf company transfer explained: certificate of incorporation, articles, share certificate, stock transfer form, board minutes and filings. Aged shelf companies: what company age does (and doesn’t) do What an aged UK shelf company is, why buyers want an older incorporation date, what it does not give you, and how to check…

VAT, EORI and tax

UK VAT registration: thresholds, timings and how it works When a UK company must register for VAT (the £90,000 threshold), voluntary registration, how long HMRC takes, VAT rates and what a VAT number… Buying a VAT-registered UK company: what to know How a VAT number stays with a company when you buy it, what to check, your responsibilities after the transfer and when HMRC can… VAT returns and Making Tax Digital for UK companies How UK VAT returns work under Making Tax Digital: digital records, compatible software, quarterly deadlines, payment dates and the late-submission points system. EORI numbers: who needs one and how to get it What a UK EORI number is, who needs one to import or export, the GB and XI formats, how to apply free on GOV.UK… Importing goods into the UK with a limited company Step-by-step guide to importing goods into the UK with a limited company: EORI, commodity codes, customs declarations, customs duty, import VAT and postponed VAT…

Banking and payments

UK business bank accounts for non-resident directors How non-UK resident directors can get a business account for a UK limited company: high-street banks vs e-money providers, documents needed and why applications…

Buying from outside the UK

Can a non-UK resident own a UK company? Rules and practicalities Yes, non-UK residents can own and run a UK limited company. What the law requires (director, registered office, ID verification, PSC), tax residence and… Companies House identity verification: what directors must do Directors and people with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House. Who it applies to, how to do it online or through…

Running your company

Selling on Amazon UK with a UK limited company What a UK limited company needs to sell on Amazon.co.uk: seller verification documents, VAT registration, EORI for importing FBA stock, bank account and marketplace… Annual obligations for a UK limited company Every yearly filing a UK limited company must make: confirmation statement, annual accounts, Corporation Tax return, VAT returns and payroll, with deadlines and dormant-company… Corporation Tax for small UK companies: rates and deadlines UK Corporation Tax rates (19% small profits, 25% main rate, marginal relief), when to register, how to file the CT600 and when tax is…

Glossary

UK company terms explained: plain definitions of shelf company, dormant company, EORI, PSC, confirmation statement and more.