Non-resident company services
What a nominee director is, what UK transparency and anti-money-laundering law now requires, and the legitimate alternatives if you want privacy as an overseas owner.
Short answer
A nominee director is someone appointed to appear on the register while another person really controls the company. We do not provide nominee directors. UK law now requires identity verification and accurate reporting of who genuinely controls a company, and privacy can be achieved properly instead.
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QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityA nominee director is someone appointed to appear on the register while another person really controls the company. We do not provide nominee directors. UK law now requires identity verification and accurate reporting of who genuinely controls a company, and privacy can be achieved properly instead.
What a nominee director actually is
Why the arrangement no longer does what it promises
Our position
Legitimate ways to get what people actually want
A nominee director is someone appointed to appear on the register while another person really controls the company. We do not provide nominee directors. UK law now requires identity verification and accurate reporting of who genuinely controls a company, and privacy can be achieved properly instead.
Someone who accepts appointment as a director, usually for a fee, while the decisions are taken by somebody else. The arrangement is often sold as privacy for an overseas owner who does not want to appear on a public register.
Every director and every person with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House. The PSC regime requires the company to identify and report the person who really exercises control, not the person whose name is convenient. A nominee arrangement that hides real control misstates the register.
A nominee director is also a director in law, with the full statutory duties and personal liability that go with it, including for filings and for wrongful trading. Very few people who take the fee understand what they have accepted.
We are a regulated accountancy practice supervised for anti-money-laundering purposes by ACCA and registered with Companies House to carry out identity verification. Providing nominee directors sits badly against both roles, so we do not offer the service and will not introduce you to someone who does.
Privacy of your home address: use a director service address, from £10 a month, so your residential address stays off the public register.
Not being involved day to day: appoint a genuine director who genuinely runs the company, and report that accurately.
Being an overseas owner: you do not need a nominee. There is no residence requirement for UK directors or shareholders, so own and direct the company in your own name.
Administrative help: an accountant can prepare, sign as agent and file almost everything without ever being a director of your company.
Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the current UK position and current HMRC and Companies House guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own business.
Primary references
Frequently asked
Appointing a director is legal, but concealing who really controls the company misstates the PSC register and breaches transparency requirements.
No, and we will not refer you to a provider.
Use a director service address. Ours starts at £10 a month and keeps your residential address off the public register.
No. A UK company can be owned and directed entirely from overseas.
Yes. A nominee is a director in law and carries the same statutory duties and personal exposure.
Yes, that is a large part of what we do: formation, identity verification, registered office, VAT, accounts and filings.
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.
Included approach
Ready when you are
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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.
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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.
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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.
