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Changes to Companies House requirements

The first set of changes brought in by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, have now taken effect.

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Published 11 March 2024

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The first set of changes brought in by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, have now taken effect. The three main changes that have been rolled out are:

  • New rules for registered office addresses
  • Requirement for all companies to provide a registered email address
  • Requirement for all companies to make a “lawful purpose” statement

Registered office address

All companies are now required to have an ‘appropriate address’. This is an address where any documents sent to it should (a) be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company (usually a director), and (b) be able to be recorded by an acknowledgment of delivery.

A company can therefore no longer use a PO Box as its registered office address. Companies that do not have an appropriate address face the risk of being struck off the register.

Registered email address

On incorporation, or on filing the next annual return in the case of existing companies, all companies must provide an email address. Companies House may use this to correspond with the company, but it will not be made publicly available.

Lawful purpose statements

When incorporating a company, the subscribers will now need to confirm that they are forming the company for a lawful purpose, and that the company’s intended future activities are lawful.

Existing companies will be required to make a lawful purpose statement when filing their next confirmation statement.

Companies (and anyone considering setting up a company) will therefore need to ensure that they are ready to take the necessary action.

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Shorter Reads

Changes to Companies House requirements

The first set of changes brought in by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, have now taken effect.

Published 11 March 2024

Associated sectors / services

Authors

The first set of changes brought in by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, have now taken effect. The three main changes that have been rolled out are:

  • New rules for registered office addresses
  • Requirement for all companies to provide a registered email address
  • Requirement for all companies to make a “lawful purpose” statement

Registered office address

All companies are now required to have an ‘appropriate address’. This is an address where any documents sent to it should (a) be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company (usually a director), and (b) be able to be recorded by an acknowledgment of delivery.

A company can therefore no longer use a PO Box as its registered office address. Companies that do not have an appropriate address face the risk of being struck off the register.

Registered email address

On incorporation, or on filing the next annual return in the case of existing companies, all companies must provide an email address. Companies House may use this to correspond with the company, but it will not be made publicly available.

Lawful purpose statements

When incorporating a company, the subscribers will now need to confirm that they are forming the company for a lawful purpose, and that the company’s intended future activities are lawful.

Existing companies will be required to make a lawful purpose statement when filing their next confirmation statement.

Companies (and anyone considering setting up a company) will therefore need to ensure that they are ready to take the necessary action.

Associated sectors / services

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