Maksym Stepanenko
Managing Partner, Crystal Tax
International client projects since 2012: company structures, tax, immigration, DUNS and NCAGE. 50+ jurisdictions.
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UK company formation for non-residents, turnkey: we register your LTD remotely, complete Companies House identity verification, provide a UK registered office and prepare the company for the bank and for reporting.
Since 2012 · 50+ jurisdictions · fully remote, no trip to London · Ukrainian CFC reporting in the same team
Watch the video with chapters and a summary · 1:16
In brief
- UK company formation for non-residents means registering a private limited company (LTD) with Companies House; the director and the owner can live outside the UK.
- Since 18 November 2025, directors and people with significant control (PSC) must verify their identity with Companies House, either through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
- We handle everything turnkey: structure and articles, identity verification, a UK registered office, HMRC registration, preparation for opening a bank account and ongoing accounting.
- UK Corporation Tax for the 2026 financial year is 19 percent on profits up to 50,000 pounds and 25 percent from 250,000 pounds, with marginal relief between the two thresholds.
- Usually, in our experience, it takes 1–2 weeks from signing the contract to a registered company with an address, and 3–8 weeks including a bank account. The timeline depends on the case, its details, the work of the authorities and force majeure.
Your situation
Pick the situation closest to yours: a short outline of the route and the first step.
I am from Ukraine and want a UK company to work with EU clients
We register the LTD remotely, run identity verification with your passport and provide a registered office. We agree up front where the company will be managed and set up your Ukrainian CFC report from day one.
Example. The owner of an IT studio from Lviv opened an LTD for contracts with clients in Germany and the Netherlands; one team handles the UK filings and the CFC report.
Discuss this case →I need a UK company for a marketplace or Amazon UK
We register the LTD, check whether VAT registration is needed from the first sales and prepare the documents for verification on the marketplace and with the payment provider.
Example. A homeware manufacturer from the Kyiv region opened a company for sales in the UK and registered for VAT straight away.
Discuss this case →I want to buy a ready-made UK company
A shelf company saves a few days and helps when you need an earlier incorporation date. We check its history, filings and debts; the new director and owner still go through identity verification.
Example. A client needed a company with a track record for a tender; after checking two options they chose a new registration, because the shelf company had overdue filings.
Discuss this case →I already have a company in England, and the bank closed the account
We find out why the account was closed, put the documents, the PSC details at Companies House and the filings in order, then apply to banks and payment institutions that accept this profile.
Example. A consulting LTD lost its account after a source of funds request; once the file was prepared, the company opened an account with an electronic money institution.
Discuss this case →A director has not verified their identity and Companies House sent a reminder
We complete verification through One Login or an authorised provider, file the personal code of each director and PSC and update the confirmation statement.
Example. The owner of a company incorporated in 2019 received a warning before the confirmation statement was due; verification was closed within a few days.
Discuss this case →I need a UK holding company above my business in Ukraine
We design the structure: who owns the LTD, where it is managed and how dividends are paid. We take into account the CFC rules and the tax residence of the company.
Example. The owners of a manufacturing business set up a UK holding company to bring in an investor and calculated the taxes in both countries in advance.
Discuss this case →What turnkey UK company formation for non-residents includes
Turnkey UK company formation for non-residents covers everything a working LTD needs, from structure and verification to tax registration and bank preparation. You send documents and make decisions, and we do the rest.
Structure and documents
- Review of the task: where your clients are, who manages the company, how money will be paid out, and whether an LTD or another jurisdiction fits better.
- Company name, checks for identical names and restricted words.
- Articles of association, allocation of shares, details of directors and PSC.
- SIC activity code and the lawful purpose statement.
Identity verification with Companies House
- Verification of directors and PSC through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
- Obtaining the personal code and filing it correctly at incorporation.
- Handling complex cases: a passport from another country, a change of surname, a corporate owner.
Address and contact with the authorities
- A UK registered office that meets the appropriate address requirement, with mail handling and scanning.
- A registered email address for Companies House correspondence.
- A service address for the director, so the home address stays off the public register.
Tax and getting started
- Registering the company for Corporation Tax with HMRC and obtaining the UTR.
- VAT assessment: whether to register straight away or after reaching the threshold.
- A file for the bank or payment institution: business description, source of funds, contracts, website.
- Support with account applications until the bank makes its decision.
A bank account for a non-resident LTD
The bank account is the hardest part when you open a UK company with no UK residents involved. Traditional UK high street banks often require the director or owner to live in the UK, or expect an in-person visit and a trading history. For non-residents, the realistic first step is an electronic money institution (EMI) or a digital bank that opens accounts remotely; moving to a traditional bank comes later, once the company has filed accounts and signed contracts.
- We match a bank or EMI to your profile: owner's country, type of business, currencies, counterparties' countries.
- We prepare the business description, payment flow, proof of source of funds and answers to the compliance questionnaire.
- If a bank declines, we work out the reason and apply to another institution with an improved file.
Buying a ready-made company
You can buy a UK company: a shelf LTD registered earlier without any activity is transferred to the new owner and director. This makes sense when a counterparty or a tender requires a company with an earlier incorporation date. For a normal start, a new registration is simpler: it has a clean history, and new directors and PSC go through identity verification in either case. Before a purchase we check the register, the filed accounts, any debts to HMRC and the history of changes.
After registration
- Annual accounts, the confirmation statement, the CT600 return and the tax calculation are a separate service, described on the page UK company accounting.
- For owners who are Ukrainian tax residents, we prepare the Ukrainian CFC (controlled foreign company) report.
How long UK company formation takes
Usually, in our experience, registering a UK company with verification and an address takes 1–2 weeks from signing the contract, and the full launch including a bank account takes 3–8 weeks. The timeline depends on the case, its details, the work of the authorities and force majeure.
- Review and structure — 1–2 working days after a short description of the task.
- Identity verification — in our experience, One Login verification often completes the same day; if the app does not accept the document, we bring in an ACSP, which adds a few days.
- Registration with Companies House — according to GOV.UK, an online application is usually registered within 24 hours, but the registrar may ask for clarification on the name, the address or the PSC details.
- Registration with HMRC — the letter with the UTR arrives by post at the registered office; if it has not arrived after 15 working days, we request the UTR online.
- Bank account — the least predictable part: the bank or payment institution may ask for additional documents about the business and the source of funds.
The registrar's official turnaround covers only the review of a completed application. Time for preparing documents, verification and bank checks comes on top of that.
Timelines get longer in predictable cases: the owner is a company from another country and documents are needed for the whole chain; the director has a passport the One Login app cannot read; the business involves payments, crypto assets or dual-use goods, and the bank carries out enhanced checks. We point these out at the start so you can plan the launch with a margin.
After registration the company has its own dates: the first confirmation statement, the first annual accounts 21 months after incorporation, and notifying HMRC that the company is active for Corporation Tax within 3 months of starting to trade. We hand over a calendar with these dates together with the company documents.
Cost of UK company formation for non-residents
We price UK company formation individually: the cost depends on the structure, the number of participants and what you need beyond the LTD itself.
- The number of directors and PSC, their countries and their documents for verification.
- Whether the owner is an individual or another company, and whether a multi-tier structure is needed.
- Address: the registered office only, or also directors' service addresses and mail handling.
- VAT registration, PAYE for employees, licensed activities through partners.
- How many bank account applications will be needed and how complex the business profile is.
- Accounting, filings and the Ukrainian CFC report after registration.
Companies House government fees are paid separately at the official rate: as of 27.09.2026, online incorporation costs 100 pounds and the annual confirmation statement filed online costs 50 pounds. Third-party costs, such as ACSP services for verification or document translation, are agreed in advance. Annual maintenance of the company includes the address, accounting and filings; we estimate their scope from the start, so your first-year budget is clear before registration. Describe your task in a few sentences, and we will estimate the work within one working day. If you need a detailed review of the structure, there is a 30-minute consultation for 100 euros.
Why clients trust us with UK company formation
Five reasons business owners open a company in England with us.
In business since 2012
We work in 50+ jurisdictions and know the requirements of Companies House, HMRC and UK banks from our own cases, including the changes of 2024–2026.
We deal with authorities, registrars and banks
Correspondence with Companies House, HMRC and the bank and answers to their requests are our job. From you we need documents and decisions.
We see the case through
If the registrar, the tax office or the bank sends remarks, we rework them at no extra charge.
One team for the whole structure
Company, address, bank account, accounting, UK taxes and Ukrainian CFC reporting, with no need to look for separate contractors.
Contract and confidentiality
We work under a contract, and the confidentiality terms are written into it.
UK company formation for non-residents: how we work
UK company formation runs in six steps, and at each one you know what is needed from you.
- Task and structure. You describe the business, and we propose the LTD structure, share allocation and a tax setup that takes Ukraine into account.
- Contract and documents. We sign the contract and collect passports, proof of address and details of the owners.
- Identity verification. Directors and PSC verify their identity through One Login or an ACSP and receive a personal code.
- LTD registration. We file the application with Companies House with the address, email and lawful purpose statement and receive the certificate of incorporation.
- HMRC and VAT. We register the company for Corporation Tax and, if needed, for VAT and as an employer.
- Bank account and filings. We prepare the file for the bank or payment institution and set up the filing calendar.
Documents for UK company formation as a non-resident
For UK company formation, a non-resident needs a passport, proof of address and a clear description of the business; an apostille and notarised copies are usually not required for registration with Companies House.
From each director and PSC
- An international passport or another identity document for verification.
- Proof of home address for our client checks and for the registered office provider: a recent bank statement or utility bill.
- Date of birth, nationality, country of residence, occupation.
If the owner is a company
- An extract from the register and the owner's articles.
- Details of the ultimate beneficial owners and their documents.
About the business
- A description of the activity, the main clients and countries.
- The source of the starting capital and expected turnover, which the bank will need.
- Website, contracts or preliminary agreements, if you already have them.
Banks and payment institutions may ask for more: the owner's CV, proof of source of funds, tax residence. We confirm the list for the specific bank.
What you receive
- The certificate of incorporation and an extract from the Companies House register.
- The articles of association and the shareholding details.
- The personal code of each director and PSC and confirmation of verification.
- Registered office details and access to scans of incoming mail.
- The company UTR from HMRC and, if needed, the VAT number.
- A calendar of mandatory filings for the first two years.
Reference: LTD requirements after the Companies House reform
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) introduced new mandatory requirements for every UK company, the first of them in force since 4 March 2024.
- Appropriate registered office address — a physical address in the part of the UK where the company is registered, where post reaches and delivery can be acknowledged. PO Boxes are not allowed.
- Registered email address — an address for Companies House correspondence, not published on the public register.
- Lawful purpose statement — confirmation that the company's intended activity is lawful; given at incorporation and in every confirmation statement.
- Identity verification — mandatory for directors and PSC since 18 November 2025. New directors verify before the company is incorporated or before appointment. Directors appointed earlier have a 12-month transition period: the personal code is filed with the next confirmation statement, and the company cannot file it until all directors are verified. PSC file their personal code within their own 14-day period.
- PSC — a person who holds more than 25 percent of the shares or voting rights, can appoint the majority of directors or otherwise controls the company. PSC details are published on the register. Since 18 November 2025, companies no longer have to keep their own registers of directors and PSC: Companies House holds this information, and the company is responsible for keeping it up to date. The company still keeps its register of members itself.
- Director — at least 16 years old, and at least one director must be an individual; living in the UK is not required.
- Company secretary — optional for a private limited company.
- New powers of Companies House — the registrar can query and challenge information, remove incorrect data faster and replace an inappropriate registered office with a Companies House default address. The company then has 28 days to provide an appropriate address with evidence of its right to use it; otherwise the registrar starts striking the company off the register.
For an owner from Ukraine this means a simple rule: the company details must match reality, and the address and email must work. Both the registrar and the bank notice errors on the register.
Reference: UK company taxes and filings
| What | Who files and where | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation statement | Companies House | At least once a year, within 14 days after the end of the 12-month review period |
| First annual accounts | Companies House | 21 months from the date of incorporation |
| Subsequent annual accounts | Companies House | 9 months after the end of the financial year |
| Registration for Corporation Tax | HMRC | Within 3 months of starting business activity |
| Corporation Tax payment | HMRC | Usually 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period |
| CT600 return | HMRC | 12 months after the end of the accounting period |
Corporation Tax rates for the 2025 and 2026 financial years: 19 percent on profits up to 50,000 pounds, 25 percent on profits over 250,000 pounds, and between the thresholds the main rate with marginal relief. If there are associated companies, the thresholds are divided by their number including the company itself, and they are reduced proportionally for a period shorter than 12 months.
VAT: registration is mandatory when taxable turnover over 12 months exceeds 90,000 pounds or is expected to exceed it in the next 30 days. The CT600 return is filed even when the company makes a loss. From 1 April 2028, annual accounts can be filed with Companies House only through commercial software in iXBRL format.
We take over bookkeeping and all filings as part of the company's accounting support.
Reference: LTD tax residence and Ukrainian CFC rules
A company incorporated in the UK is UK tax resident by default and pays Corporation Tax on all its profits. For companies incorporated in other countries, HMRC applies the central management and control test: residence is where key decisions are actually made.
If the LTD owner is a Ukrainian tax resident and controls the company, the owner has obligations under the Ukrainian CFC (controlled foreign company) rules: an annual CFC report to the Ukrainian tax authority and a calculation of adjusted profit. Some companies qualify for exemptions, and whether they apply depends on the structure and the figures. We assess this before registration and prepare the report together with the UK accounts.
| Question | United Kingdom | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays tax on LTD profits | The company itself, Corporation Tax | The owner under the CFC rules, unless an exemption applies |
| What is filed | Annual accounts, confirmation statement, CT600 | CFC report together with the annual tax return |
| What to consider | Where decisions are made, directors' residence | Shareholding and control, dividends, double taxation |
Reference: the UK or another jurisdiction
A UK company suits you when you need a reputation that European and British partners understand, a public register and a standard tax system. If your clients are mostly in the US or you need a different tax model, we compare options as part of our company formation abroad service.
Opening a company in the UK makes sense if you have clients or partners in the UK and Europe, need a company for contracts with large customers, marketplaces or bringing in an investor, and are ready for a public register and regular filings. A UK LTD is a poor fit for hiding the owner or avoiding tax: the names of directors and PSC are visible on the public register, and tax residence depends on where the company is actually managed.
If the company is in fact managed from Ukraine and the director also lives there, there is a risk that Ukraine will treat the company as its own tax resident. That is why before registration we look at who makes decisions, where board meetings take place and how this is reflected in the documents.
| Criterion | UK LTD | US LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Public, directors and PSC are visible | Depends on the state |
| Tax at company level | 19–25 percent Corporation Tax | Depends on the LLC's tax status |
| Owner verification | Mandatory at Companies House | Checks by the bank and the registered agent |
| Best suited for | Work with the UK and Europe | Work with the US market, US marketplaces |
How to start
Describe your task in a few sentences: what the business does, who the owners are and where the clients are. We reply within one working day, and on a free 10-minute call we will tell you right away whether a UK company suits you.
Other services
Sources
GOV.UK — Verifying your identity for Companies House; GOV.UK — Corporation Tax: trading and non-trading (notifying HMRC within 3 months); GOV.UK — Registered office and email address; GOV.UK — Confirmation statement guidance; GOV.UK — Companies House confirms identity verification rollout from 18 November 2025; HMRC — Rates and allowances: Corporation Tax; GOV.UK — Prepare and file annual accounts; GOV.UK — VAT registration: when to register; HMRC International Manual — company residence INTM120060; GOV.UK — Companies House fees. Checked: 27.09.2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident open a company in the UK?
How long does it take to register a company in the UK?
Do I need to travel to the UK?
What is Companies House identity verification?
Can I buy a ready-made UK company?
What tax does a UK LTD pay?
When does a company in England need to register for VAT?
Do you guarantee that a bank account will be opened?
Can I use my home address in Ukraine as the company address?
What filings does a UK company make?
What does an owner from Ukraine need to do after registering an LTD?
How much does UK company formation for non-residents cost?
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