Get ready for Changes to UK Company Law

 

We know companies, intermediaries and other stakeholders want to make sure they’re ready for the changes, so that they can take action at the right time. Anyone thinking about incorporating a company should also be keeping a keen eye on developments. 

 

We have summarised 3 of the changes in this post to help you to prepare: 

 

 

 

From 4th March 2024, there’ll be new rules for registered office addresses which mean companies must have an ‘appropriate address’ as their registered office at all times. An appropriate address is one where: 

 

any documents sent to the registered office should be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company 

any documents sent to that address can be recorded by an acknowledgement of delivery 

These changes mean you will not be able to use a PO Box as your registered office address from 4th March 2024. You can still use a third-party agent’s address if they meet the conditions for an appropriate address. 

 

If you’re currently using a PO Box as your registered office address, you’ll need to change it by 4th March 2024. You can change your company’s registered office address online, using your company’s authentication code. 

 

Companies that do not have an appropriate registered office address could be struck off the register. When they identify an inappropriate registered office address, they will change it 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 they do not receive this evidence, they’ll start the process to strike the company off the register. 

 

 

From 4th March 2024, there’ll be a new requirement for all companies to give a registered email address to Companies House. This email address will not be published on the public register. 

 

From 4th March 2024, new companies will need to give a registered email address when they incorporate. Existing companies will need to give a registered email address when they file their next confirmation statement with a statement date from 5th March 2024. Their online services will prompt you to supply a registered email address when you file your next eligible confirmation statement. 

 

They’ll use this email address to communicate with you about your company, so it’s important that you choose an appropriate email address. You can register the same email address for more than one company. 

 

You’ll be able to change your registered email address through our new ‘update a registered email address’ service. You’ll need to be signed in and authenticated to do this. 

 

Companies will have a duty to maintain an appropriate registered email address, in the same way as their registered office address. Any company that does not do this will be committing an offence. 

 

 

When you incorporate a company from 4th March 2024, the subscribers (shareholders) will need to confirm they’re forming the company for a lawful purpose. 

 

You’ll also need to confirm the company’s intended future activities are lawful on the confirmation statement. 

 

The intention of these new statements is to make it clear that all companies on the register, new and existing, have a duty to operate in a lawful way. They may take action against your company if they receive information that confirms you’re not operating lawfully. 

 

They will not accept your documents if these statements have not been confirmed. 

 

Existing companies will need to make a lawful purpose statement when they file their next confirmation statement with a statement date from 5th March 2024. The online services will prompt you to do this when you file your next eligible confirmation statement. 

 

These measures will all contribute towards meeting the new registrars’ objectives, and they’ll make all their decisions based on these objectives. 

 

 

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