Limited companies – what are SIC codes used for?

A Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code identifies your company’s business activities. You must provide at least one code when you form a new limited company.

First introduced in 1948, the codes are used by Companies House and other government organisations to separate companies’ economic activities into specific groups for data collection and analysis.

SIC codes are also used to promote uniformity across all sectors of economic activity.

Over the years, the codes have been updated to reflect new types of businesses or economic activity.

As a company director, you are responsible for choosing the code that accurately describes your company’s activities when you register the business at Companies House.

This code applies whether your company will be active from that date forward, whether it is a non-trading company, or whether it is to remain dormant.

If you’ve never heard of SIC codes before, don’t worry – our brief guide will explain everything you need to know.

Does my limited company need a SIC code?

Yes, when incorporating the company at Companies House, you must choose a SIC code that reflects your business’s economic activity.

You won’t be able to proceed with registering your company until you do so, and your application will be rejected.

Where can I find the right SIC code?

To find the right SIC for your limited company, check out the searchable condensed list of codes published online by Companies House. This is based on the Office of National Statistics (ONS) data (UK SIC 2007).

Find the right code that applies to your type of business on this list to use when registering your company and/or completing your confirmation statement.

Most contractors form companies via their accountants or other intermediaries, so they are likely to undertake this on your behalf.

That said, as a director, you are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of information submitted during the incorporation process, so it’s worth spending some time doing some background reading on the formation process and your responsibilities.

SIC codes and what they mean

The following is a snapshot of the condensed SIC code list as it appears on the Companies House website.

Codes are published under sections relative to types of industry. For example, section A is for agriculture, forestry, and fishing; section B is for mining and quarrying; section C is for manufacturing, and so on.

Here are some example SIC codes from Section J (Information and Communications):

When you select a code for your business, it is used by Companies House and other government bodies as described above.

The classification group you choose to reflect your business activity is also open for the general public to view via the Companies House register.

Do you need more than one SIC code?

In most instances, you’ll be able to find a single SIC code that accurately describes your business’s activities, but if the company is involved in clearly distinct economic activities, you may have to select more than one code.

You can choose up to a maximum of four codes from the list published by Companies House to identify your business’s activities.

What if I need to change my company’s SIC code?

If the company’s main business activity changes, you can change your SIC code by completing a new confirmation statement.

You aren’t required to tell Companies House your code has changed before your next confirmation statement is due, although you can do so at any time.

There is no cost for changing codes, and companies often apply the correct codes immediately to keep their record accurate and up to date.

What if I choose the wrong code?

If you choose the wrong code by mistake, you can amend the code by updating your confirmation statement before the due date or wait until the statement is due.

Codes for dormant and non-trading companies

As stated above, dormant and non-trading companies must still provide the appropriate code. A dormant company should select SIC code 99999, and non-trading companies should select SIC code 74990.