Companies House have announced that the latest tranche of changes introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 will take effect from 4th March 2024.
The most notable changes surround the company’s registered address and the requirement going forwards for a registered email address.
New requirement for a registered email address
All companies and LLP’s will be required to provide a registered email address which Companies House will use to communicate with the company. It must be an “appropriate” address meaning that correspondence will reach an appropriate person as quickly as possible. This address will not be visible on the Companies House Register.
Companies are required to provide this information when they complete their first Confirmation Statement following 4 March 2024 and Companies House online services will prompt a request for a registered email address when your next Confirmation Statement is filed.
A registered email address will need to be provided for all new incorporations from 4 March 2024.
For clients where RPG deal with the filing of the Confirmation Statement, we will liaise with you to make sure that your business is compliant with Companies House requirements.
New rules for registered office address
The new rules stipulate that PO Box addresses can no longer be used as a company or LLP’s registered office address. The requirements state that any documents sent to the address by Companies House must be capable of being recorded by an acknowledgement of delivery; and that they should be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company. This takes effect immediately which means that Companies House need to be advised of the change of any PO Box office addresses as a matter of urgency. The company’s address can be changed online by logging on with your company’s authentication code.
The use of third party registered office addresses is still permitted, such as using RPG Chartered Accountants as your registered office address. Please contact us if you would like details of our registered office service.
Companies House have warned that those companies without an appropriate registered office address could be struck off the register. Any inappropriate registered office addresses identified by Companies House will be changed by them to a default address held at Companies House. The company must then provide an appropriate address, with evidence of a link to that address, within 28 days. If Companies House do not receive this evidence the process to strike the company off the register will be started.
As a consequence, from 4 March, any application to form a company or LLP with a PO Box address as the registered office address will be rejected.
For clients where RPG deal with the filing of the Confirmation Statement we will liaise with you to make sure that your business is compliant with Companies House requirements.
New lawful business statement
The shareholders of any company incorporated from 4 March 2024 will need to confirm that the company is being formed for a lawful purpose.
A statement is also required on Confirmation Statements from 4 March 2024 to confirm that the company’s intended future activities are lawful.
Documents sent to Companies House without this statement will not be accepted.
In addition, company and LLP names will be checked on incorporation and change of name, and will be challenged if they include any indication that:
- the business will be used for criminal purposes
- the business has links to foreign governments or international organisations
- they include computer code.
For clients where RPG deal with the filing of the Confirmation Statement we will liaise with you to make sure that your business is compliant with Companies House requirements.
Increased Companies House fees
Companies House have announced increases to their company incorporation and registration fees. Full details are in the link below. Please note that these increases will be identified and included in our fees going forward.
Changes to Companies House fees – Changes to UK company law
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 was passed in 2022 and received Royal Assent in October 2023. It gives enhanced powers to Companies House in its challenge to fight fraud, corruption and economic crime whilst bolstering legitimate businesses. There is also a need for Companies House to have more reliable and accurate information held on the Register whilst it benefits from the use of digital technology.
We have already seen some of its reforms such as the Register of Overseas Entities. Further changes are anticipated over the next two years as a consequence of the Act such as additional information about individual shareholders and changes to the accounts filing options for small and micro-entity companies. We will keep you posted on the forthcoming changes and please be mindful that all records held by Companies House will potentially be subject to close examination.
Please contact us if you would like further information about RPG Chartered Accountants’ Company Secretarial Service, based in Manchester. Please email info@rpg.co.uk or call 0161 608 0000.
This article is for information only. Please take professional advice relating to your own personal circumstances before making any decisions.
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