GENERAL INFORMATION
Type of Company for International Trade and Investment
Private Limited Company ("Ltd"). A same day incorporation service is available from Companies House for an additional fee.

COMPANY INFORMATION
Name Restrictions
Any name that is identical or too similar to an existing company; any name which would be considered offensive or suggests criminal activity; or any name that suggests the patronage of the Royal Family or which implies an association with Central or Local Government of the United Kingdom. Restricted names which usually require a licence or other Government Authority include the use of the following words:- assurance, bank, benevolent, building society, Chamber of Commerce, fund management, insurance, investment fund, loans, municipal, reinsurance, savings, trust, trustees, university or their foreign language equivalents for which the approval of the Secretary of State is first required.

Language of Documentation
Whilst the name of company can be in any language, the documentation must be in English. Any name in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation to ensure that the name is not restricted.

Classes of Shares Permitted
The normal category of shares are ordinary shares but, subject to the circumstances of the company, they may be preference shares, deferred shares, redeemable shares and shares with or without voting rights.

Taxation
Corporation tax (which includes Capital Gains Tax) is paid by UK companies based upon accounts, which are submitted to the Inland Revenue and the Registrar of Companies at the end of the company's financial year. A company is free to choose its financial year-end. Companies pay corporation tax at the rate of 19% where the net profit before tax does not exceed ￡300,000.

The tax payable increases thereafter in stages until the net profit before tax reaches ￡1.5 million where the top rate of corporation tax is charged at the rate of 30%. These limits for the lower and higher rate of corporation tax apply to the total profits (worldwide) of group companies and associated companies. Obtaining the lower rate of tax can be problematic for UK companies owned outside the UK.

Financial Statement Requirements
All UK companies are required to file accounts prepared in statutory form with the Registrar of Companies and the Inland Revenue. Companies whose annual turnover does not exceed ￡5,600,000 are not required to file independently audited accounts and in such cases the directors must self-certify the accounts. Accounts must be filed and are available for inspection by the public.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the details contained herein are correct and up-to-date, it does not constitute legal or other professional advice. We do not accept any responsibility, legal or otherwise, for any error or omission.