Trust & operations

Yes, Eteform.com Ltd operates as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to submit formation applications and verify directors' identities in line with Companies House requirements after ECCTA 2023.

Without an authorised ACSP or an accepted in-person verification, the formation application will not be processed as required since the 2024 rules. Authorisation means compliance with AML/KYC procedures and not a 'guarantee of bank or Stripe approval'.

You can verify the register of authorised agents via the official Companies House channels, and email us at start@eteform.com for any query about the authorisation number/status.

The submission routes have changed with mandatory identity verification. In practice, a non-resident usually needs to go through an authorised ACSP to complete verification and submit the IN01 smoothly. Trying to apply without understanding PSC, the registered office and SIC may delay or reject the application.

An authorised agent such as Eteform reduces errors and provides a London address and Arabic support after formation. If you are a UK resident with completed identity verification, other routes may suit you — for non-resident Arabs, the agent is the practical route.

The Authentication Code is a secret code that links you to your company file on the Companies House portal to file the Confirmation Statement and accounts and change details online. It is usually sent after formation — keep it and do not share it publicly.

If you lose it, you can request a reset via the official procedures after verifying your identity. Eteform shows you where to find it among the post-formation documents and can file the CS01 on your behalf if you authorise us.

A PSC is a person who owns or significantly controls the company — usually someone who owns more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or who has the right to appoint/remove a majority of the directors, or who exercises other actual control.

A PSC must be disclosed to Companies House at formation and updated when it changes. Hiding the real owner is a breach. If you are the sole shareholder at 100% you are a PSC. We help you enter the details correctly in the formation form.

Yes, there is no practical limit preventing a person from being a director or shareholder in several Limited companies, provided identity verification and the obligations are met for each entity (CS01, accounts, taxes). Some entrepreneurs separate one brand from another, or separate a high-risk activity.

Each company has its own CRN, separate obligations and fees. Plan the accounting so that funds do not mix between the entities.

The common voluntary closure for small companies is done via a Strike Off application (form DS01) after confirming that the company is not trading, has settled its debts, and has informed HMRC where needed. There must be no pending legal proceedings. After approval, the company is struck off the register.

If there are complex assets or debts, you may need a formal liquidation instead of a DS01. Do not leave the company neglected until it is struck off compulsorily — a clean closure is better for your reputation as a director. Eteform guides you through the steps and can help with the administrative procedures.

The Companies House government fees are usually non-refundable after the application is submitted to the register.

Eteform's service fees are explained before payment depending on the package; in the rare cases of rejection due to a rejected name or missing documents, we work with you on the correction and resubmission per the terms shown at the order.

To ensure the highest acceptance rate, we review the name, the SIC and the identity verification before submitting. Read the package terms on /terms and ask via WhatsApp before paying if your situation is unusual (nationality, high-risk activity, multiple partners).

Digital (£50/year): electronic formation and a digital certificate — the best fit if you have a UK address or will add one later. Digital + Print (£80): adds printed copies and a seal when needed.

Privacy (£120): a registered London office + a Director Service Address to protect your personal address on the public register — the most requested for non-residents. Fully Inclusive (£200): everything in Privacy with VAT and PAYE registration and broader post-formation guidance.

The Companies House government fees are separate in all packages. Compare the details on /pricing.

We accept Visa/Mastercard cards via Stripe, PayPal, and methods suitable for clients in the Gulf, Egypt and the diaspora depending on availability at payment. All payments are encrypted. The price is in pounds sterling (£).

After payment, the review of details and identity verification begins, then the submission to Companies House. For an inquiry about a bank transfer or a special case, email start@eteform.com or WhatsApp.

No — the government fees (~£50 for standard formation or ~£78 for same-day) are paid to Companies House and are separate from the Eteform service package. We make this clear before payment so no surprise fees appear.

Later annual fees such as the CS01 (approximately £34 online) are also separate whether you file them yourself or through us as a service.

Rapid Formations and large British companies offer professional formation in English for the local market. Eteform focuses on Arab clients: Arabic support, understanding Stripe/Wise from the Gulf and Egypt, country pages, and a base of questions in Arabic.

The official registration with Companies House is similar among authorised agents — the difference is in the after-sale experience, the language, and the local tax context. Compare the total annual price (address + renewal), not just the package price.

Not automatically. National Insurance is usually tied to working and residing in the UK and to paying salaries via PAYE. A non-resident director who does not draw a UK salary and does not reside there may not need an NI number merely for owning the company.

If you employ staff in Britain or pay yourself a salary via PAYE, you enter the insurance system. Consult a British accountant before the first salary. Registering the company for Corporation Tax is separate from NI.

A UK Ltd is a British entity subject to Corporation Tax in the UK on its profits under British rules. Corporate Tax in the UAE is a separate system that applies to business in the UAE under local laws and actual presence.

Owning a UK company while resident in the UAE does not automatically mean that the UK profits are subject to UAE tax in the same way — it depends on tax residency, permanent establishment, and transfers. Many residents combine a local Free Zone and a UK Ltd for external markets with a clear separation.

Consult a tax advisor in the UAE who understands foreign entities before distributing profits.

Many clients transfer from Wise Business or a UK digital bank to Egyptian accounts (including major banks such as Banque Misr) via SWIFT or licensed partners — acceptance depends on the Egyptian bank’s policy at the time, the source of funds, and compliance limits. We do not guarantee any local bank in advance.

Prepare the certificate of incorporation and a clear activity description, and avoid unexplained large lump sums. See also /egypt.

Official prices are in GBP from £50 for the digital package on /pricing. In Egyptian pounds the equivalent moves with the rate on payment day — we do not hard-code an EGP figure in titles. Add Companies House government fees separately. The privacy package (~£120) includes a London registered office if you need it.

Forming a UK Ltd is a separate British commercial activity; it does not grant a UK visa and does not automatically change your Saudi residency status. You may still have local disclosure or tax duties — consult a Saudi accountant.

A British company does not remove the need for a local commercial registration if you operate inside the Kingdom in a way that requires a licence.

We list prices in GBP from £50. In Saudi riyals the equivalent depends on the rate on payment day. See /pricing for current figures and add UK government fees separately. Do not rely on a random converter — the final price appears at checkout.

Often UK formation via Eteform (from £50 + government fees) costs less than many annual Free Zone renewals, but it is not a substitute: Free Zone covers local UAE activity; UK Ltd serves international markets. Many clients keep both with separate contracts. See /uae and /pricing.

Usually 24–48 working hours after documents, payment and ACSP checks are complete. Same Day is available before 3pm UK time for complete files. The process is fully remote from Qatar with no travel to London. Details on /qatar.

A UK Ltd is a separate British entity. If you operate inside Qatar in a way that requires a local licence, that is an independent track. Many clients use the UK Ltd only for international contracts with a clear split from local activity. Consult an adviser in Doha if your activity is local.

They often ask about the source of funds, the nature of the activity, and company documents (certificate of incorporation, UK statements). Keep clear invoices and contracts. Wise then a Kuwaiti bank is common, but each bank has its own compliance policy. See /kuwait.

Common reasons: a weak or non-UK registered office, a vague activity description, name mismatches on documents, or VPN use. We set a London Registered Office and clear SIC wording before you apply. Approval is never guaranteed by any agent.