Oliver Stanley

  • Published: 17 September 2026 3:44 pm  Author:

    What Is a SIC Code? A Complete UK Guide

    Every UK company on the register has at least one, most people only ever think about theirs twice: once at incorporation, when a dropdown box asks for it, and once a year later when a confirmation statement asks whether it’s still right. In between, the SIC code sits quietly in the background, doing a job

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  • Published: 16 September 2026 4:11 pm  Author:

    How to File a Confirmation Statement at Companies House

    Every UK limited company and LLP has to file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months, no exceptions for small companies, dormant companies, or companies that haven’t traded. It’s one of the most routine filings a company makes, and also one of the easiest to let slip past its deadline, especially if you’re

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  • Published: 3 September 2026 2:19 pm  Author:

    Umbrella Company vs Limited Company: Which Is Right for You?

    If you’re starting contract work in the UK, one of the first decisions you’ll face has nothing to do with the job itself: how do you actually get paid? Most contractors end up choosing between two routes, working through an umbrella company or setting up your own limited company, and the answer isn’t the same

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  • Published: 12 August 2026 9:26 am  Author:

    Presenter Verification and ACSP Registration: Companies House Confirms No Sooner Than November 2027

    Companies House has confirmed a new timetable for one of the remaining pieces of the identity verification puzzle: the requirement for presenters to be verified/ registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) registration will not be introduced before November 2027, and even then, Companies House will give at least six months’ notice before it

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  • Published: 9:22 am  Author:

    What Is Compliance Monitoring? A Plain-English Guide

    If you work in a law firm, accountancy practice, or corporate services team, you’ve probably heard “compliance monitoring” used in a dozen different ways: sometimes it means checking a client’s PSC register is up to date, sometimes it means an annual review of AML procedures, and sometimes it’s just shorthand for “please make sure nothing’s

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  • Published: 6 August 2026 10:48 am  Author:

    The UK is scrapping Stamp Duty on shares. Here’s what’s replacing it.

    If you’ve ever filled in a stock transfer form, worked out whether a transaction fell under the £1,000 stamping threshold, or waited on HMRC to physically stamp a document before a share transfer could complete, you’ll know that UK stamp taxes on shares have not exactly kept pace with how business gets done in 2026.

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  • Published: 27 July 2026 10:46 am  Author:

    What Is a Company Registration Number and Where Do You Find It?

    If you’ve ever filled in a form, applied for business insurance, or tried to open a bank account for your company, you’ve probably been asked for your company registration number. It’s one of those details everyone assumes you have to hand: until the moment you need it and can’t remember where you put it. A

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  • Published: 10:22 am  Author:

    DS01 Form: How to Apply to Strike Off Your Company

    Closing a company should be one of the simpler jobs on a company secretary’s to-do list. In practice, it’s one of the ones people put off the longest, mostly because nobody wants to get it wrong. A rejected strike-off application, an objection from HMRC, or a director who didn’t sign the form all mean starting

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  • Published: 16 June 2026 1:29 pm  Author:

    Companies House update (filing issues 10-16 June 2026) – updated 19 June 2026

    19 June 2026 update: CH has been processing filings since 17 June, and they are working through the backlog.  They have been prioritising same day filings, but have also been working on other filings (working in date order from the start of the backlog).  We have seen lots of filings go through, but there is

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  • Published: 19 December 2025 6:25 pm  Author:

    ECCTA & IDV implementation update 19 Dec 2025

    Hopefully our final update on the implementation of IDV by Companies House on 18 November 2025. We’re pleased to report that all the initial problems with filings have now been resolved.  The only remaining “issues” are in relation to verification due dates showing at Companies House: Directors with the wrong filing deadlines: whose deadlines should

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