Corporate Governance & Regulation

16 years old – the minimum age for a company director

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,

Corporate Governance & Regulation

Company director disqualification

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

Corporate Governance & Regulation

When dividends cannot be paid

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

Corporate Governance & Regulation

HMRC to increase anti-money laundering fees

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

Corporate Governance & Regulation

Verifying your ID at Companies House

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

Corporate Governance & Regulation

New requirements for Overseas Entities

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

Corporate Governance & Regulation

New requirement – verifying ID at Companies House

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

Corporate Governance & Regulation

Company changes you must report

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

Corporate Governance & Regulation

Verifying identity at Companies House – From April 2025

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

Corporate Governance & Regulation

Dealing with company unpaid debts

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