Corporate Governance & Regulation

Thinking of starting a company at 16? Know the rules, risks and responsibilities before you take the leap.

The Companies Act 2006 does not set a minimum age for shareholders, meaning even minors can hold shares unless a company’s articles of

Company directors have a legal duty to act responsibly and in the best interests of their business. If a director fails to meet these responsibilities, they can face disqualification from acting as a company director for up to 15

Under the Companies Act 2006, dividends can only be paid from realised profits, never from capital, no matter what a company’s Articles of Association say.

Dividends can only be paid by a company out of profits available for distribution, not from

Fit and proper test fee to jump from £150 to £700 under HMRC’s proposed AML supervision changes

Many businesses are monitored by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or certain professional bodies for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) purposes. However,

You now need to set up a verified GOV.UK One Login to confirm your identity with Companies House.

To verify your identity at Companies House, you can use the GOV.UK online verification service if you have one of several accepted photo identification

Overseas property owners must now report earlier ownership changes or risk penalties from 31 July 2025. Under new rules introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, entities that registered on the UK’s Register of Overseas

Identity verification is now rolling out for directors, PSCs, and agents, with more filing roles to be included soon under new anti-fraud rules.

Companies House is beginning to roll out mandatory identity verification. This is part of wider reforms

Certain company changes—like a new registered address, email, or director—must be reported to Companies House promptly. Failure to update records risks penalties and non-compliance with UK company law.

These include the

New rules under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act mean identity checks will soon be required at Companies House. From directors to agents, all those running UK companies will need to verify who they are as part of tougher anti-fraud

Unpaid debts can put a limited company at risk of a winding-up petition, potentially leading to liquidation. Creditors may act via court judgments or statutory demands, forcing companies to settle debts. Learn how this process works and the