Company formation for non-residents
We register a Private Limited Company (Ltd) for trading, services, IT, e-commerce and entry into the UK and European markets. We prepare the documents, set up your registered office, handle tax registration and support you in opening a business account. The entire process is remote.
A quick overview of the corporate, tax and annual requirements of the UK jurisdiction for non-residents.
A Private Limited Company is a company with limited liability under the Companies Act 2006. It is the standard structure for foreign-owned businesses, regulated by Companies House.
No restrictions on the nationality or residence of shareholders and directors. Full foreign ownership is allowed in any sector. Certain regulated activities (finance, licensed sectors) carry additional requirements.
A minimum of one director and one shareholder, which can be the same person. No resident director is required. Identity verification is mandatory for the director and persons with significant control. A UK registered office is required.
Corporation Tax is 19% on profits up to £50,000 and 25% on profits above £250,000, with marginal relief in between. VAT is 20% and registration is mandatory once turnover reaches £90,000.
There is no formal minimum - technically a single share with a nominal value from £1 is enough. Paid-up capital is not required at registration. In practice a reasonable amount is stated for banking and partner confidence.
Annual financial statements filed with Companies House, a Corporation Tax return (CT600) with HMRC and an annual confirmation statement. An audit is not required for small companies - most new non-resident companies qualify for the exemption.
The final cost depends on the chosen package, sector, capital amount and any additional tasks in the project.
Information current as of July 2026.
From basic registration to a complete launch with corporate support and bank account opening.
Company registration and address
Full registration support
With banking support
For launching a company with a prepared banking route and support through to the completion of the account opening process.
Important: banking support does not guarantee that an account will be opened. The final decision rests with the bank or EMI after reviewing the profile of the company and its beneficial owners.
The UK suits projects that need a prestigious jurisdiction with a global reputation, full foreign ownership with no resident director, and easy access to European and worldwide markets.
A company for import, export and cross-border deals. A British legal entity builds trust with counterparties and opens access to international settlements and logistics worldwide.
A legal entity for consulting, agency and professional services. Full foreign ownership, no resident director requirement and a clear English-language legal environment.
Software development, SaaS and digital services. A British company works well with international payment systems, subscriptions and taking payments from clients worldwide.
Sales through your own stores and marketplaces. A British legal entity makes it easier to set up card acquiring and work with Amazon, Stripe and other platforms focused on European markets.
One of the most recognised jurisdictions in the world. A British company inspires confidence in banks, investors and partners and makes it easier to enter international markets.
Around 130 double taxation treaties - one of the largest networks in the world, reducing withholding tax on cross-border transactions.
Company registration is fully online, with no visit to the country. A simple corporate structure, minimal capital requirements and clear annual obligations.
The legal system is based on English common law, one of the most trusted frameworks for international business. It keeps contracts, banking and partnerships straightforward and predictable.
Для регистрации Private Limited (Ltd) понадобятся документы участников, минимум один акционер и один директор, устав и уникальное наименование, оканчивающееся на Limited или Ltd. Директор и лица со значительным контролем проходят обязательную верификацию личности. Основную часть подготовки ведем дистанционно.
Состав документов зависит от структуры владения. Для верификации личности директора используется биометрический паспорт или проверка через аккредитованного агента - процедуру ведем дистанционно.
No restrictions on the nationality or residence of shareholders and directors - full foreign ownership is allowed in any sector. Certain regulated activities (finance, licensed sectors) carry additional requirements.
A minimum of one shareholder and one director, which can be the same person. No resident director is required. Shareholders can be individuals or corporate entities. The director and persons with significant control complete identity verification.
There is no formal minimum - technically a single share with a nominal value from £1 is enough, and paid-up capital is not required at registration. In practice a reasonable amount is stated for banking and partner confidence.
A UK registered office where official correspondence from government bodies is delivered. The address appears on the public register, so a service provider's address is usually used rather than a home address.
The company keeps records and files annual accounts with Companies House, a Corporation Tax return (CT600) with HMRC and an annual confirmation statement. An audit is not required for small companies, and most new non-resident companies qualify for the exemption.
The UK taxes the profits of resident companies on a worldwide basis. The final burden depends on the level of profit, any available reliefs and timely filing with Companies House and HMRC.
19-25%
A rate of 19% on profits up to £50,000 and 25% on profits above £250,000. Marginal relief applies in between.
Worldwide
A resident company pays tax on its worldwide profits. A non-resident company is taxed only on income from UK sources.
12 months
The CT600 return is filed within 12 months of the accounting period end. Tax is paid earlier - within 9 months and 1 day.
0%
The UK does not withhold tax on dividends - a significant advantage for holding and international structures.
Profits up to £50,000 are taxed at 19% and profits above £250,000 at 25%. Between these thresholds the effective rate rises gradually.
A company managed from the UK is treated as a tax resident and pays tax on its worldwide profits. A non-resident company is taxed only on income from UK sources.
The standard VAT rate is 20%. Registration is mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in 12 months, and voluntary registration is possible earlier.
Dividends are paid to non-residents with no withholding tax. Interest and royalties are subject to 20%, reduced under double taxation treaties - the UK has around 130 of them.
Keep records and prepare annual financial statements under UK standards
File annual accounts with Companies House within 9 months of the accounting period end
File a Corporation Tax return (CT600) with HMRC within 12 months of the accounting period end
Pay Corporation Tax within 9 months and 1 day of the accounting period end
File an annual confirmation statement with up-to-date company details
Register for VAT and file VAT returns once turnover exceeds £90,000
Undergo an audit only if the thresholds are exceeded - most new companies are exempt
An audit is not required if the company qualifies for the small companies exemption on two of the three criteria: turnover, balance sheet and number of employees. Withholding tax obligations apply when interest and royalties are paid to non-residents.
Information current as of July 2026
The banking route depends on the company's activity, payment geography and the profile of its beneficial owners. For non-residents the main path is UK fintech providers and EMIs with local pound account details, along with solutions for taking payments and working with marketplaces.
For day-to-day operations and payments in pounds, with no visit to the country. We select a provider to match the company profile, from options such as Wise Business, Revolut Business, Airwallex and Tide.
For retail sales and working with platforms. Accept card and payment-link payments, and for website and app integration use payment gateways such as Stripe and PayPal.
We prepare the company profile before submission, so the bank's requirements are addressed in advance and you pass the client check to KYC and AML standards.
We will assess the activity, payment geography and bank requirements before submission.
We support the project from the initial review through to receiving the corporate documents and completing any agreed additional tasks. We act as a corporate agent under UK requirements.
We review the ownership structure, participants, SIC codes and source documents, and check the identity verification requirements before starting work.
We check and confirm the company name, prepare the constitutional documents, and handle the filing with Companies House and the issue of the certificate of incorporation.
No resident director is required. We set up the registered office and the director's service address, and help complete identity verification in line with the chosen package.
We obtain the tax number (UTR), register the company for Corporation Tax with HMRC and, where needed, help with VAT registration.
The process covers an initial review, name approval, document preparation, filing with Companies House and identity verification of the director. We complete most of the stages remotely.
The UK does not solve every task. For some projects another European jurisdiction or a classic offshore is a better fit, and we will help you choose the right one.
The UK has Corporation Tax, annual filing and a public register of directors. For passive and holding structures where zero tax and minimal upkeep matter most, classic offshores are simpler.
Worth considering: BVI, Belize, Seychelles
Corporation Tax in the UK can reach 25%. If you need a low rate within the EU with access to the single market, it is worth comparing more favourable European jurisdictions.
Worth considering: Hungary, Ireland, Cyprus
For fintech, e-money and early-stage startups, access to SEPA and a favourable start matter. In these scenarios European jurisdictions with digital registration and small-company regimes are a better fit.
Worth considering: Lithuania, Cyprus, Hungary
Since the UK left the EU, a British company does not provide access to the single market. If you need an EU presence, a local team and residence permit programmes, it is worth looking at European countries.
Worth considering: Portugal, Lithuania, Ireland
Not sure whether the UK is right for your project? In a consultation we will honestly assess the task and suggest the best jurisdiction, even if it turns out not to be the UK.
If the UK is not a full fit in terms of structure, tax burden or running costs, compare the alternatives on the key parameters.
| Jurisdiction | Best for | Taxes | Upkeep | Banks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Lithuania | Best for Fintech, IT, e-money and access to the EU market. | Taxes 15% rate, 0% for the first two years for small companies. | Upkeep Moderate, digital paperwork, EU reporting. | Banks Advanced fintech and EMIs, SEPA access. |
 Cyprus | Best for Holdings, IT, intellectual property and EU structures. | Taxes 12.5% rate, IP Box regime with an effective rate of around 2.5%. | Upkeep Annual audit mandatory for all companies. | Banks EU banks and fintech, strict compliance. |
 Portugal | Best for EU business, IT, services, relocation and residence. | Taxes 21% rate, 17% on the first EUR 50,000 for small companies. | Upkeep Moderate, audit only above thresholds. | Banks EU banks and fintech, SEPA access. |
 Ireland | Best for IT, SaaS, pharma and European headquarters. | Taxes 12.5% on trading income, one of the lowest in the EU. | Upkeep Moderate, audit only above thresholds. | Banks EU banks and fintech, strict compliance. |
We will help you compare jurisdictions on taxes, banking, annual running costs and structural requirements for your specific task.
Every project is unique - we tailor the solution to the client's specific task, jurisdiction and business model.
United Kingdom The founder was building a team for a SaaS product and was in talks with a first investor. The investor wanted to come in through a British entity - without it the deal was stuck. They needed a company with a share structure the investor could understand and an account for the first payments.
Solution We registered a Private Limited Company (Ltd), helped split the shares between the two founders, completed identity verification for the directors and registered with HMRC. The account was opened with Revolut Business. All remote, with no visit to the country.
My biggest worry was my partner's share and how to set it up so there'd be no arguments later. The team laid it all out and helped us agree everything up front. We came to the investor meeting with a company already in place.
United Kingdom The team was launching a subscription app and planned to publish on the App Store and Google Play. Both platforms require a legal entity for payouts and a developer agreement. Payments from a personal account kept getting rejected.
Solution We registered a Private Limited Company (Ltd), helped set up the developer accounts on the App Store and Google Play under the company, connected Stripe for subscriptions and opened an account with Wise Business to receive payouts from the platforms.
I thought sorting out the developer accounts would drag on for a month. In the end they helped both with the company and with the platform setup. The first subscription payouts landed in the company account, not on my personal card.
United Kingdom The client offered design services and ran online courses, taking payment manually across various wallets. They wanted to accept card and subscription payments directly on their website, but the payment providers asked for a legal entity.
Solution We registered a Private Limited Company (Ltd), selected SIC codes for digital services, set up on-site card payments through Stripe and opened an account with Airwallex for settlements with clients in different countries.
I kept putting it off because accepting payments on the site felt complicated and slow. In practice they set up the company and the payments faster than I expected. Now clients pay by card right on the page, with no back-and-forth.
If you can't find the answer to your question, leave a request and we will look into your situation personally.
Get a consultationWith a complete document set and identity verification done, registration with Companies House usually takes from a few hours to 1-2 working days. Including document preparation and checks, the full cycle takes from 5 working days. Account opening is handled separately and is not part of the registration timeline, as it depends on the bank's review.
Yes, the whole process is completed remotely, with no visit to the country. The director's identity verification is done online using a biometric passport or through an authorised agent. You receive the documents in electronic form.
No. The UK has no residence or nationality requirement for directors. You can be the sole director and shareholder and run the company from your own country. Only identity verification of the director and persons with significant control is mandatory.
There is no formal minimum. Technically a single share with a nominal value from £1 is enough, and capital does not need to be paid up at registration. In practice a reasonable amount is stated for banking and partner confidence.
The main tax is Corporation Tax: 19% on profits up to £50,000 and 25% on profits above £250,000, with marginal relief in between. Once turnover exceeds £90,000, VAT at 20% is added. Dividends are paid to non-residents with no withholding tax at source.
No, an account can be opened with UK fintech providers and EMIs such as Wise Business, Revolut Business or Airwallex. They provide local pound account details and work remotely, with no visit required. Traditional banks more often require directors to attend in person.
Each year the company files annual financial statements with Companies House, a Corporation Tax return (CT600) with HMRC and a confirmation statement with up-to-date company details. An audit is not required for small companies - most new non-resident companies qualify for the exemption.
In most sectors full foreign ownership is allowed without restrictions. In certain regulated areas, such as finance, payments and licensed activities, a sector licence and enhanced compliance are required.
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