Companies House has brought in new filing requirements for certain overseas companies which coincide with the end of the transition period to the UK leaving the European Union on 31 December 2020.
Overseas companies are entities which are based outside of the UK but have registered as an “overseas company” at Companies House having opened an “establishment” in the UK.
The new rules apply to overseas companies which are based in the European Economic Area (EEA) and brings the obligations on those companies into line with overseas companies based outside the EEA.
Starting at the end of 2020, EEA based overseas companies will need to file additional information about the company at Companies House. That includes:
- Confirmation of the law under which the company is registered.
- The address of the company’s registered office or principal place of business.
- The company’s purpose or “objects”.
- Details of the issued share capital.
- Where companies are obliged to prepare audited accountants, the accounting period.
Overseas companies will also need to update their websites and letterheaded paper with certain additional information regarding the company.
Overseas companies have three months from 31 December 2020 to file the relevant information with Companies House although the forms and procedures are available for use now.