Business News

Companies House Changes

These changes come in to force from 1 October 2009, there will be a few changes to the Registrar’s rules in terms of filing accounts and Companies House forms, which are stated as follows:

1. Accounts must be in black ink (including signatures).
2. Company name and registered number must be included on one of the balance sheet, directors report, DRR or audit report. Any current practice of including this elsewhere (e.g. on the cover sheet) will need to be updated.
3. The concession permitting 14 days to re-file rejected documents will no longer be available for documents due to be filed on or after 1 October.
4. All Companies House forms will change from 1 October 2009 – old forms will be rejected. Forms in respect of company events which take place before October, must still be submitted on 1985 Act forms (even if filed after that date).
5. A statement of capital (a snapshot of a limited company’s share capital at a given time) must be filed by companies incorporating with share capital on or after 1 October 2009, as part of the annual return filing made up to a date on or after 1 October 2009, and as part of any online filing in respect of allotment of shares, reduction of capital, etc. carried out on or after that date.
   
   The statement of capital must show:
   • The total number of shares of the company
   • The aggregate nominal value of these shares
   • For each class of shares:
     1. prescribes particulars of the rights attached to the shares
     2. the total number of shares of that class, and
     3. the aggregate nominal value of shares of that class
• The amount paid up and the amount (if any) unpaid on each share (whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of a premium)
6. Directors’ residential addresses also protected from disclosure as every director will have a service address and a usual residential address.