Can I set up a company anonymously?
Due to its advantages, a private company limited by shares is the most popular company structure in the UK. This structure offers benefits like limited liability and flexible profit distribution. However, one downside is the amount of information disclosed on the public register, which includes the names of all individuals connected to the company.
So, is it possible to establish a company anonymously? Let’s take a look.
The people with significant control register
In general, the answer is no, you cannot form a limited company with complete privacy.
In the past, individuals could use nominee directors, secretaries, and shareholders to maintain anonymity in a company. Nominees – whether individuals or other corporate entities – would allow their names and details to appear on the Companies House public register in place of the actual people behind the business. This practice helped shield the true owners’ identities from public records.
Nominees did not actively participate in the company’s operations. Instead, they transferred all roles and responsibilities to the actual directors, secretaries, and shareholders through formal documents, such as a deed of indemnity. This arrangement ensured that the real decision-makers maintained control behind the scenes while nominees acted as placeholders on public records.
While technically still allowed, the introduction of the People with Significant Control (PSC) register in April 2016 has rendered nominee appointments largely obsolete. The PSC register requires companies to disclose individuals who hold significant influence or control, making it much harder to maintain anonymity through nominee roles.
The purpose of the PSC register is to enhance transparency in limited companies by identifying individuals who hold ultimate control, even if they aren’t directors or shareholders. This requirement ensures that those with significant influence are listed on the public register. In rare instances, however, a PSC’s details can be protected from public disclosure. We’ll discuss these exceptions shortly.
This means that, even if a nominee is appointed, the actual individuals with control over the company must still be listed on the public register. Their information includes their correspondence address, nationality, month and year of birth, and the specific type of control they hold, such as owning 75% or more of the company’s shares.
In rare instances, certain information can be withheld from the Companies House register
The question, “Can I set up a company anonymously?” might conjure images of illicit activities; however, there are valid reasons why someone might wish to remain anonymous when establishing a company.
Prospective business owners may want to keep their personal information private from competitors, customers, or current employers (especially if they are setting up the company while still employed full-time).
While there are no mechanisms to fully conceal an individual’s identity from the public register in these situations, Companies House does allow PSCs (People with Significant Control) to protect their information if they meet certain criteria, such as:
- Being targeted by activists
- Holding a license under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
- Being active in the defense industry
- Being an easily traceable supplier to, or partner of, one of these organizations
- Having another appropriate reason for needing their information withheld
Similarly, directors can have their residential address (only) protected from credit reference agencies if they meet any of the above criteria (directors are required to provide a residential address when appointed to a company; this is not made publicly available but is shared with credit reference agencies). For more details, refer to the dedicated gov.uk page titled ‘Applying to protect your personal information on the Companies House register.’
Protecting your residential address from the public register
As mentioned earlier, running a limited company requires disclosing certain company, personal, and financial details. Companies House records and publishes this information on the public register, making it accessible to anyone interested. This transparency is a necessary trade-off for the benefits of operating a limited company.
The information disclosed includes:
- Registered office address
- SIC code(s)
- Full names of directors, secretaries, shareholders, and PSCs
- Month and year of birth for directors and PSCs
- Correspondence address (also known as the service address) for directors, secretaries, shareholders, and PSCs
- Nationality of directors and PSCs
- Any documents filed with Companies House after the company’s formation, such as annual accounts and confirmation statements
As you can see, both the registered office and the correspondence address are publicly listed. Consequently, using a residential address for these, although permitted, directly exposes your personal address.
- The different United Kingdom company addresses explained
- What are a company’s annual accounts?
- What is the Confirmation Statement?
- What is a limited company SIC code?
This can undermine your company by highlighting its home-based nature and exposing you to unwanted visitors and potential fraud.
However, no business activity needs to take place at the registered office or correspondence address you provide.
This means you can use any UK address as your company’s registered office and any address worldwide for the correspondence address, as long as you have permission from the landlord and ensure that any official mail received at the address is forwarded to the appropriate person in the company.
It should be noted that many tenancy agreements in the UK do not allow the use of the premises as a registered office address. Our address services offer a solution by allowing you to use our London address as your registered office, correspondence, and business (mailing) address. This not only protects your home address from appearing on the public register but also enhances your company’s image with a prestigious address in a prime business location.
Do you have any other questions?
So, setting up a company anonymously in the UK isn’t entirely possible due to transparency rules. UK law requires company details like directors, shareholders, and the registered office address to be publicly accessible via Companies House. While you can use nominee directors or shareholders, and a registered office service to increase privacy, true anonymity isn’t achievable.
For more details on privacy measures, visit the Startxpress Help Center and Blog. If you need support, reach out at support@startxpress.io!
Was this helpful?
0 / 0