When you register a company in the UK, once your application has been processed and approved, Companies House will send you a formal certificate of incorporation.
Business Structures - Limited Company
Most professional contractors work via their own limited companies. It remains the most tax-efficient business structure, despite the April 2016 dividend tax hike.
Company directors have more paperwork and legal obligations than umbrella company contractors, but in reality, a specialist accountant can take care of these administrative duties for you.
- If you only have 5 minutes, make sure you read 10 things you should know before setting up a limited company
- How much does it cost to set up a limited company?
- Limited company basics - how to set up a company, and the responsibilities you have as a director
- Limited vs. Umbrella - find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of each business structure
- For in-depth guides to setting up a company, try Limited Company Help
Register a limited company - from £12.99
For a wide section of incorporation pacakges, visit 1st Formations
What are statutory records, and why should you maintain them?
If you’re running your own limited company, there are a number of records the directors are obliged to keep. Here we explain what these registers are used for, and what types of information they contain.
Managed Service Company legislation – how does it affect contractors?
A recent case has highlighted the impact of the MSC legislation on the contracting industry. How can you ensure that you are not involved with an MSC provider – who is effectively controlling your limited company?
Why it is hard to secure contract work as a sole trader
Why recruitment agencies and end-clients are unlikely to hire contractors who do not work via either a limited or umbrella company structure.
Running a company – what is a confirmation statement?
All private limited companies and limited liability partnerships registered in the UK are required to submit a confirmation statement to Companies House each year. So what does this statement contain, and how often must it be submitted?
How to close down / dissolve a limited company
As a limited company contractor, you can choose to voluntarily shut down your company and remove it from the Companies House register. This means the company will cease to exist and you won’t face any more administrative duties or running costs for the business.
Letting out property via your own limited company
As the number of tax planning opportunities available to contractors continues to dwindle, we look at the pros and cons of running buy-to-let investments via a corporate structure.
The benefits of going limited after April 2016
Several significant tax changes are set to take effect from April 2016. Here, a leading accountant explains what the likely impact will be, and why the limited company model remains a smart choice for contractors.
Annual Return filing for limited company contractors
One of your duties as a limited company director is to update Companies House with information about your company every 12 months. This is achieved via submission of an Annual Return form (AR01). Here we look at what the form contains, how to submit it, and how much the service costs.
What to do with your limited company if you go on a career break
It is not unusual for contractors to take time out, either for an extended holiday, to carry out a period of research and training, or if new work is hard to find. You may even have decided to take a permanent job. So, what should you do with your limited company if you do decide […]