The Companies House will increase the fees associated with its services from 1 May 2024. Remarkably, some of these costs have more than doubled, surpassing inflation rates significantly. The Companies House maintains its fee structure and operates on a 'cost recovery basis.’ Operating on a cost recovery basis means that the fees charged for a service aim to cover the costs incurred in providing that service without seeking to generate profit. The fee hikes are thus attributed to the heightened costs associated with processing the data they receive.
Comparison of Fees
The fees are summarised under different headings:
Company Incorporation and Registration Fees
The table below illustrates the changes in the Companies House fees effective from 1 May 2024, focusing specifically on company incorporation and registration fees. It highlights the highest increase of £368 for Administrative Restoration (Paper) and no change for the Registration of a Charge (Digital).
Transaction | Channel | New fee(From 1 May 2024) | Old fee(Till 30 Apr 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
Incorporation | Digital | £50 | £12 |
Incorporation (Same day) | Software | £78 | £30 |
Incorporation | Software | £50 | £10 |
Confirmation statement | Digital | £34 | £13 |
Change of name | Paper | £30 | £10 |
Change of name (Same day) | Digital | £83 | £30 |
Change of name | Digital | £20 | £8 |
Registration of a charge | Digital | £15 | £15 |
Voluntary strike off | Digital | £33 | £8 |
Reduction of the share capital of a company under s644 CA06 (Same day) | Digital (Upload service) | £136 | £50 |
Reduction of the share capital of a company under S644 CA06 | Digital (Upload service) | £33 | |
Administrative restoration | Paper | £468 | £10 |
UK Economic Interest Groupings and UK Societas
The table below outlines changes in the Companies House fees specifically for transactions related to the UK Economic Interest Groupings (EEIG) and UK Societas conducted through paper channels.
Transaction | Channel | New fee(From 1 May 2024) | Old fee(Till 30 Apr 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
Registration of an EEIG establishment | Paper | £71 | £20 |
Registration of change of name of a UKEIG | Paper | £30 | £10 |
Registration of a charge for a UKEIG | Paper | £24 | £23 |
Registration of public company by conversion of a UK Societas | Paper | £71 | £20 |
Overseas Entities
The following table presents changes in the Companies House fees, with the Application for Removal seeing the highest increase of £306 and the Annual Update Statement showing a notable increase of £114.
Transaction | Channel | New fee(From 1 May 2024) | Old fee(Till 30 Apr 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
Digital | £234 | £100 | |
Digital | £706 | £400 | |
Digital | £234 | £120 |
Limited Liability Partnerships
The following table reflects significant increases, particularly for the Administrative Restoration of an LLP, while the registration of a charge by an LLP (Digital) remains unchanged.
Transaction | Channel | New fee(From 1 May 2024) | Old fee(Till 30 Apr 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
Registration of LLP (Same day) | Digital | £78 | £30 |
Registration of LLP | Digital | £50 | £10 |
Registration of LLP | Paper | £71 | £40 |
LLP confirmation statement | Paper | £62 | £40 |
LLP confirmation statement | Digital | £34 | £13 |
LLP change of name | Paper | £30 | £10 |
LLP change of name (Same day) | Digital | £83 | £30 |
LLP change of name | Digital | £20 | £8 |
Registration of a charge by an LLP | Paper | £24 | £23 |
Registration of a charge by an LLP | Digital | £15 | £15 |
LLP voluntary strike-off | Paper | £44 | £10 |
LLP voluntary strike-off | Digital | £33 | £8 |
Administrative restoration of an LLP | Paper | £468 | £100 |
Application to make an address unavailable for public inspection | Paper | £30 | £32 |
Delve into our complete guide to learn "Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) for Property Development" Read Now!
Limited Partnerships
The table illustrates a notable fee increase for the Registration of a Limited Partnership when conducted through paper channels.
Transaction | Channel | New fee(From 1 May 2024) | Old fee(Till 30 Apr 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
Registration of a limited partnership | Paper | £71 | £20 |
“Annual fee” for Scottish limited partnership (registration of all relevant documents delivered during a relevant period payable on the registration of a confirmation statement) | Paper | £62 | £17 |
“Annual fee” for Scottish limited partnership | Digital (Upload service) | £62 |
Overseas Companies
The table below reveals a significant increase of £51 for the registration of a UK establishment of an overseas company via paper.
Transaction | Channel | New fee(From 1 May 2024) | Old fee(Till 30 Apr 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
Registration of a UK establishment of an overseas company | Paper | £71 | £20 |
Change of corporate name or alternative name of an overseas company | Paper | £30 | £10 |
Registration of annual accounts | Paper | £62 | |
Registration of annual accounts | Digital | £34 |
Scottish Qualifying Partnerships
The table below highlights a substantial increase in the Registration of a Limited Partnership conducted via paper.
Transaction | Channel | New fee(From 1 May 2024) | Old fee(Till 30 Apr 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
Registration of Scottish Qualifying Partnership | Paper | £71 | £20 |
“Annual fee” (registration of all relevant documents delivered during a relevant period payable on the registration of a confirmation statement) | Paper | £62 | £17 |
“Annual fee” | Digital (Upload service) | £62 |
Potential Impact on Businesses
Higher fees for services like incorporation and filing confirmation statements will now make it more expensive for companies to operate. This could be tough for small businesses and start-ups with tight budgets. The higher fees may act as barriers to entry for small businesses, which could harm economic growth and limit consumer choice.
Conclusion
The upcoming changes in the Companies House fees, taking effect from 1 May 2024, will have big effects on businesses. The higher fees, shown in the detailed comparison, reflect a changing business environment. The Companies House says these changes are needed to cover their costs, but these hikes are likely to put pressure on smaller businesses.
Simplify your Companies House works with us.
Contact us today for efficient and hassle-free assistance.
- Could the Autumn Budget 2026 Bring Down the UK Mansion Tax Threshold to £1.5m? - 25 September 2026
- The Bank of England Interest Rate Stays at 3.75%. But Here’s the Catch - 18 September 2026
- The North Is Now the Fastest UK Rent Growth Region. Here’s What That Does to Rental Yields - 17 September 2026
