OffshoreGuy

What's included

  • Companies House filing fee (£12): we file and pay it on your behalf via direct Companies House API integration
  • Memorandum of Association
  • Articles of Association (model articles, governance document)
  • First Director appointment and Subscriber resolutions
  • Share Certificate and Register of Members
  • Person with Significant Control (PSC) register entry, filed to Companies House (note: PSC details are published publicly)
  • ECCTA identity-verification step (one-time, required for UK formations since Apr 2026)
  • First-year ICO-registered UK formation-agent service
  • Sanctions screen on the order (OFAC, EU, UN) + Tier 0 KYC

What's NOT included

  • Apostille (sold separately at $189; UK documents are apostille-supported)
  • Year-2+ confirmation-statement filing renewal ($99/yr, the recurring confirmation-statement compliance only)
  • Bank account opening (separate post-formation flow; some UK banks require a UK-resident director)
  • VAT registration with HMRC (separate; straightforward but not part of formation)
  • UK corporation-tax registration or any tax filing (UK corporation tax is 25% standard rate as of 2026; your responsibility, we are not your accountant)
  • Mail forwarding (we don't sell this)

We list what's not included on every product page so there are no checkout surprises.

When to choose this product

Operator-grade use case

The cheapest reputable formation on the platform, and the default when you want a recognizable onshore name fast. GB is a REPUTABLE jurisdiction: a UK Ltd banks well almost everywhere, clears card-processor and counterparty checks without explanation, and files in about 3 hours through our direct Companies House integration. Total Year-1 cost is $149 all-in, including the £12 Companies House fee. Operators reach for it when they need a clean invoicing entity now and do not care about public disclosure of ownership.

Most appropriate for non-EU and non-UK founders selling into the UK or EU who want a UK-domiciled invoicing entity, operators who need a UK Ltd specifically for HMRC purposes (UK employer-of-record, UK government contracts, UK tax-credit access), and anyone who values speed and price over privacy. VAT registration is straightforward once the company exists.

Less ideal for founders who need anonymity: Companies House runs a fully public, searchable UBO register, so every Person with Significant Control with 25%+ control and every director is published. If privacy is the priority, a New Mexico LLC (anonymous, $119 all-in) or a Wyoming LLC is the better fit. It is also not a tax-minimization structure (UK corporation tax is 25% standard rate as of 2026), and digital-nomad founders who want a remote e-residency framework are better served by Estonia OÜ.

KYC document checklist

What you'll need to hand us

Tier 0
Required
  • Email address
  • Country of residence
  • Intended use statement (free-text)
Tier 1
Not required
  • Government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID)
  • Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, or government letter, dated within 90 days)
  • Source-of-funds attestation (drop-down + free text)
  • Optional: PEP and adverse-media screening consent
Tier 2
Not required
  • Everything in Tier 1
  • Beneficial owner declaration for every party with 25%+ ownership
  • Source-of-wealth documentation (tax return, employment letter, salary, asset proof)
  • Manual enhanced-due-diligence reviewer notes from our KYC partner
FAQ

Common questions

Will my name appear on Companies House?
Yes, if you hold 25%+ control under the Person with Significant Control (PSC) rules, or if you are a director. Companies House operates a fully public, searchable UBO register. This is the trade-off for cheap, fast formation; if you need anonymity, pick a New Mexico or Wyoming LLC instead.
What is the total Year-1 cost, and how do I pay?
$149 all-in covers the £12 Companies House fee, the licensed formation-agent service, and our service fee, settled in BTC, Lightning, or USDT via BitSettle. Year-2 onward is $99/yr for the confirmation-statement filing. Companies House itself requires fiat; we pay the £12 from our operating account.
Do I need a UK-resident director?
Not for formation. Some UK banks require a UK-resident director for account opening, which is a separate question handled in the post-formation banking flow. Expect more friction at the bank if all of your directors are non-UK.
Does a UK Ltd reduce my taxes?
No. UK corporation tax is 25% at the standard rate as of 2026, and a UK Ltd is not a tax-minimization structure. We form the entity and do not file your taxes; use a qualified tax professional for UK corporation-tax and VAT obligations.