Company formation · 2026
Quick answer
To set up a limited company in England, choose an available name, provide an appropriate registered office address and registered email address, appoint at least one director, set shareholders and PSCs, complete Companies House identity verification, and file incorporation with articles. Then register for Corporation Tax and, where needed, PAYE and VAT. — LimitedCompany.Accountants, ICAEW-regulated accountants for UK limited companies.
Step-by-step: how to set up a limited company in England in 2026 — name, registered office and email, directors, shareholders, PSCs, identity verification and HMRC.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 21 October 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
Content updated 21 October 2026. Official references are listed below.
Incorporation itself is quick. Preparation is where problems arise: unsuitable addresses, wrong share structures, missing identity verification or incorrect SIC codes.
Name and SIC code
Registered office and email
Directors, shareholders and PSCs
Identity verification
HMRC registrations
Check the name is available and not too similar to an existing one. Choose SIC codes describing activities. The registered office must be an appropriate address in England and Wales where documents can be delivered and acknowledged; PO boxes are not allowed. A registered email address must also be provided. The company must confirm it is being formed for a lawful purpose.
You need at least one director aged 16 or over and at least one shareholder. Record each person with significant control. Decide the share structure: different share classes can help later dividend planning but must be set up properly in the articles.
Since 18 November 2025, new directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House, directly through GOV.UK or via an authorised corporate service provider. Existing directors and PSCs are being brought in as they file their confirmation statements.
Register for Corporation Tax within three months of starting to trade. Register as an employer before the first payday if paying salaries. Register for VAT when required or if beneficial. Open a business bank account, keep statutory registers, and note your first accounts and confirmation statement deadlines.
Primary references
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
Online incorporation is often completed within a day or so once identity verification is done, though Companies House times vary.
Yes, if it is an appropriate address, but it will be public. Many directors use a registered office service.
Yes. Companies must provide a registered email address to Companies House; it is not public.
Yes. One person can be the sole director and shareholder.
Their identity with Companies House, before or at appointment for new directors.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.
We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
Included approach
Check the current rules
Deadlines, thresholds and filing rules change. GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current statutory position; advice should then be applied to your company’s circumstances.
Two ways to work with us
Everything is fixed price and agreed before we start. Prices are the same whether you are in London, Morden, Croydon or anywhere else in the UK.
All-inclusive packages
One fee covering your company’s filing calendar, with the price based on your turnover band.
One-off online filing
No monthly commitment. Add what you need to one basket and pay by card, with government fees shown separately at cost.
Not sure which fits? Book a free consultation or get an instant quote.
Talk to an accountant
Share your next deadline, accounting problem or growth question. We will reply with a clear next step and quote any technical work before it begins.
Chat with ACCOTAX on WhatsAppPick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
Four London offices
Work with us entirely online, or sit down with your accountant at whichever office suits you. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Office visits are by appointment only, so please book before coming in.
Free, no obligation
Pick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run monday to friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
