How to register. You must fill in form OS IN01 and send it to Companies House within 1 month of opening for business. The address is on the form along with what documents you need to send. You must send a £20 registration fee with the form.
How do I set up a branch in the UK?
To set up a UK branch, it is first necessary to register your branch with Companies House, the UK registrar of companies. Any overseas company that creates a UK branch is required to give that branch a name, which may be the original company name or an alternative title under which it is planning to trade in the UK.
Do foreign companies have to register in the UK?
If an overseas company is carrying on business in the UK, it does not automatically mean that it must register with Companies House. You only need to register an overseas company when it has some degree of physical presence in the UK, such as a place of business or branch, where it carries on business.
What is a UK branch?
A UK branch is the same legal entity as the overseas parent company so the overseas parent company has full responsibility for the operation, debts and liabilities of the UK branch.
When does a UK company establish a foreign branch?
Broadly, a foreign branch is established by a UK company if it carries on part of its trade in another jurisdiction without establishing a separate trading subsidiary company there. 1.2
What do I need to do to open a branch in the UK?
A UK branch operation must disclose the accounts of the overseas parent company to Companies House in the UK. Along with the balance sheet, the full profit and loss statements must also be published to Companies House. This means any interested party to the UK branch can have access to this data – including potential customers and employees.
Which is better UK branch or overseas branch?
A UK Branch can be easier to establish and closed down if unsuccessful. However, UK and European based customers may prefer to deal with a UK company rather than the branch of an overseas company.
How are foreign branches exempt from UK CT?
2.13 The election will be irrevocable, so that any company may elect for all its branches to be permanently exempt from UK CT. This means that no company will make a transition from branch exemption to worldwide taxation, making special rules to deal with such a transition unnecessary.
