Structure
of a Limited Company - Registered Office
The following offers a brief guide to the
structuring of a UK Limited Company. This does not set out to
explain the complexities of company law, nor do we intend to
set out a full list of the responsibilities of the company director.
We do, however, aim to give the uninitiated some basic information
to assist in the important decisions concerning the appointment
of company officers and other matters when setting up a company
for the first time.
Registered Office
A UK company must have a registered office,
which must be an address within the borders of England, Wales
or Scotland. Northern Ireland companies are dealt with through
a separate office in Belfast, and must have their registered
office in that locale.
Companies can be registered in either England
& Wales or in Scotland. Whilst both locations are subject
to the same Companies Act and the same rules and regulations
in respect of general matters, a peculiarity of Company Law
prevents a company moving its place of registration from one
to the other. There is no restriction in moving from England
to Wales or vice versa. We understand, however, that there is
a possibility that this restriction may be relaxed under new
legislation within the next couple of years.
The registered office, recorded at Companies
House, provides a point of contact for correspondence from sources
such as Companies House itself, the Inland Revenue and other
parties wishing to make formal contact with the company.
A general post office box cannot be used,
and it should be noted that Companies House are likely to reject
any address which does not appear on the official Post Office
lists of addresses.
Whilst there is no reason to prevent companies
being registered at the home address of one of its directors,
this is often not satisfactory for companies that do not operate
out of business premises. Company Registrations Online can provide
a choice of registered office addresses and forward routine
mail as requested.
Click here for
more information on our Registered Office Service.
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