Companies House have reviewed the fees they charge and have released details of the new charges that will apply from 1 May 2024.
Companies House work on a cost recovery basis, so the fees are set to cover their costs rather than to make a profit. Due to the measures introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Bill, costs for Companies House are increasing and so the fees are being adjusted in part to cover this.
The increases are quite significant. For instance, the fee for an annual confirmation statement, if submitted digitally, will rise to £34. The cost is currently £13. Depending on your current filing date, it may be worth filing early to pay the lower fee one last time.
For a full list of the prices from 1 May 2024, see: https://changestoukcompanylaw.campaign.gov.uk/changes-to-companies-house-fees/
For the first time, government departments have set individual targets for how much they will spend with small and medium-sized businesses (SME). In total, the government plans to spend £7.4 billion a year with SMEs by 2028.
For shareholders of owner-managed companies, dividends are still one of the most tax-efficient ways to take money out of the company. But with these increases coming in, it will be worth taking a fresh look at your extraction strategy.
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