How to Keep Your Company Compliant UK

Keeping a UK company compliant requires more than filing annual accounts. Directors need to monitor Companies House deadlines, keep company information accurate, complete identity verification requirements and make sure statutory records are properly maintained. Good compliance helps reduce the risk of penalties, filing restrictions, enforcement action and company strike-off.

File Your Confirmation Statement on Time

Every UK company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, even if nothing has changed.

Before filing, check that the company's directors, PSCs, registered office, registered email address, shareholders and other relevant information are accurate.

Missing the confirmation statement deadline can result in a financial penalty and may eventually lead to the company being struck off.

File Annual Accounts on Time

Companies must file annual accounts with Companies House even when they are dormant or not trading.

Keep your accounting records organised and give your accountant enough time to prepare and submit the accounts before the statutory deadline.

Late accounts can result in automatic financial penalties.

Complete Director Identity Verification

Mandatory Companies House identity verification is now part of UK company compliance.

Directors must verify their identity by the applicable deadline and provide their Companies House personal code when required. A company's confirmation statement will not be accepted until all relevant directors have completed the required verification.

If a director has difficulty completing verification, the issue should be resolved promptly through the appropriate verification route.

Keep Companies House Information Accurate

Do not wait until your annual confirmation statement to correct important changes.

Companies should promptly update relevant information such as:

• Directors and company secretaries

• People with significant control

• Registered office address

• Shareholder information

• Company activities and SIC codes

• Other information required by Companies House

Keeping the public register accurate is an important part of maintaining company compliance.

Monitor Your Company Deadlines

Create a compliance calendar covering:

• Confirmation statement deadline

• Annual accounts deadline

• Corporation Tax and other HMRC deadlines

• Director and PSC changes

• Identity verification deadlines

• Registered office changes

• Other statutory filing requirements

Companies House email reminders can also help directors keep track of important filing dates.

Respond to Companies House Notices

Never ignore correspondence from Companies House.

A warning, penalty notice, filing rejection or verification notice should be reviewed immediately. Where there is an opportunity to correct the underlying problem, take action within the specified timeframe.

Ignoring a relatively small compliance issue can allow it to develop into penalties, enforcement action or strike-off proceedings.

Keep Proper Company Records

Directors should maintain appropriate company and financial records and make sure important decisions are properly documented.

Using an accountant, company secretary or professional company administration service can make compliance easier, but directors remain responsible for ensuring that their company meets its legal obligations.

What If Your Company Is Already Behind?

If filings are overdue or a director has not completed identity verification, do not simply wait for Companies House to contact you.

Identify the outstanding requirements, resolve verification problems, submit overdue documents where possible and respond to any Companies House notices.

Professional support can be useful where several compliance issues have accumulated or a filing has already been rejected.

Fraser Bond Can Help

Fraser Bond provides practical support for UK companies, directors and overseas business owners dealing with Companies House compliance and company administration.

Support can include filing assistance, identity verification support, registered office services, company secretarial administration and help resolving Companies House compliance issues.

Keeping your company compliant is much easier when deadlines and statutory obligations are monitored throughout the year rather than addressed only when a filing becomes overdue.