Forming a limited company in the UK offers a plethora of benefits.
From financial protection for the company owners to tax efficiency and an elevated professional status, the advantages are numerous. However, one aspect that often raises eyebrows is the specific information that is placed on the public register.
In this article, we’ll explore what becomes publicly accessible when you complete a company formation and how you can protect some of this information from the public eye.
Understanding the Role of Companies House
Companies House plays a pivotal role in the UK’s business landscape. One of its key responsibilities is to maintain the register of companies. Every time a company is formed or a company document is filed, it is documented on the register. The primary purpose of this register is to ensure transparency, making it easier for anyone to access key information about a company.
What Information is Publicly Accessible?
When you form a company, certain information about your business becomes publicly accessible. This information is readily available to anyone who searches the register. All they need is a company name, company number, or the name of an officer.
So, what exactly can they find? Here’s a breakdown:
- Company name: The official name of your company as registered with Companies House.
- Company number: A unique identifier assigned to your company upon incorporation.
- Registered office address: The official address of your company. This is where all official correspondence from Companies House and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will be sent.
- Company status: This indicates whether your company is active, dormant, or has been dissolved.
- Company type: This refers to the legal structure of your company, such as whether it’s a private limited company, public limited company, or a limited liability partnership.
- Incorporation date: The date your company was officially registered.
- Next accounts made up to date: The date by which your next set of accounts is due.
- Last accounts made up to date: The date when your last set of accounts was filed.
- Next statement date: The date by which your next confirmation statement is due.
- Last statement date: The date when your last confirmation statement was filed.
- SIC codes: These are Standard Industrial Classification codes that indicate the nature of your company’s business.
The Issue of Privacy: Registered Office Address
One of the main areas of concern when it comes to privacy is the registered office address. If you’re using your home address as the registered office, it becomes publicly accessible. This can open you up to a barrage of junk mail and, in some cases, unwanted visitors.
While it’s perfectly legal to use your home address as the registered office, it’s generally not recommended for these reasons. The good news is that the registered office can be any UK address that you have permission to use. It doesn’t have to be a place where you conduct your business activities. As long as any official documents that are delivered to the address are seen by the company directors, it’s acceptable.
To protect your home address from the public register, consider using a service like a registered office address service. This allows you to use a different address (like a business centre or your accountant’s office) as your company’s registered office, keeping your home address private.
Take a look at how a registered office address service could work for you.
Filing History and Its Public Accessibility
Another area where your information becomes publicly accessible is the ‘Filing History’ section of the public register. This section allows anyone to view PDFs of documents that your company has filed with Companies House. The older your company, the more documents you’ll find here.
These documents include:
- Incorporation documents
- Confirmation statements (previously known as the annual return)
- Accounts- Director updates (appointments, resignations, and changes)
- Registered office updates
The incorporation documents contain basic company information, such as the name, number, registered office, incorporation date, and SIC codes. They also include details about directors, shareholders, and people with significant control (PSCs).
The main privacy concern here, again, revolves around addresses. If a director, shareholder, or PSC used their home address when forming the company, this will be visible in the public register.
During the company formation process, you’ll need to provide a residential address and a service address for your director and PSC. The residential address is not placed on the public register, but the service address is. If you use a residential address as the service address, it then becomes publicly accessible.
When selecting your shareholder, you’re only asked for one generic address. This address, regardless of what it is, is shown in the company documents and placed on the public register.
To protect your privacy, consider using a service address service. This allows you to use a different address (like a business centre or your accountant’s office) as the service address for your director, PSC, and shareholder. This way, your home address remains private.
Public Information about Company Officers
When you form a company, certain information about the company officers and people with significant control (PSCs) also becomes publicly accessible. For every director and PSC in the company, the following information is made available:
- Full name
- Correspondence address (service address)
- Role in the company
- Month and year of birth
- Date appointed
- Nationality
- Country of residence
- Occupation
- Nature of control in the company (for PSCs only)
If you’re concerned about privacy, you can use a service address instead of a residential address for the correspondence address. This is another area where a service address service can be beneficial. By using such a service, you can keep your home address off the public register.
Financial Transparency: The Unavoidable Aspect
One aspect of company formation that you can’t avoid is the necessity of making certain financial information public. If your business is trading, you’ll have to make certain financial information available. As a limited company, this is unavoidable.
The most revealing financial information is contained within the accounts. These documents provide a snapshot of your company’s financial health, including assets, liabilities, equity, income, and expenses. While this might seem intrusive, it’s a key part of ensuring transparency and trust in the business world.
Officer Search: What Information is Revealed?
The public register also allows for officer searches. This means that anyone can search for a person and find out information about their involvement with companies. However, finding the right person can be a bit tricky due to the potential for duplicate names on the register.
When you do locate the right person, you’ll find their month and year of birth, plus the following information for all the companies they’re involved with:
- Company name
- Company number
- Company status
- Correspondence address used by the officer
- Officer’s role
- Date the officer was appointed
Forming a company comes with many benefits, but it also means that certain information about your company and its officers becomes public. While some details becoming publicly accessible is unavoidable, there are ways to protect your residential address from the register.
Remember, transparency is a cornerstone of the business world. It helps build trust and confidence among customers, suppliers, and investors. However, it’s also important to protect your personal information where possible. By understanding what information becomes public and taking steps to protect your privacy, you can enjoy the benefits of forming a company while maintaining your peace of mind.
Introducing 1st Formations Ltd.
1st Formations is the UK’s leading company formation agent.
Founded in 2014, they have formed over 1 million companies and assisted many thousands of clients to grow their business with expert advice on limited companies, reporting requirements, and corporate governance.
They can help you with registering a new company, registered office services, full Company Secretary services, and much more.
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