If you want to set up a company in the UK from India or elsewhere in Asia, the rules are clear, but there are a lot of them. Ken Accounting has helped entrepreneurs from India and Asia set up and run UK businesses, from choosing the right structure to filing the accounts year after year. We are qualified, IFA-regulated accountants based in Uxbridge, West London, and we can work with you face to face or entirely remotely.
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Why the UK
The UK is a common first step for businesses expanding beyond India and Asia. Setting up a company can be done online, and the rules are published openly by Companies House and HMRC.
Our office in Uxbridge is in West London, close to Heathrow and next to Uxbridge Underground station.
We cover more of the reasons in our blog post “Why International Businesses Choose London”, on our Insights page.
Subsidiary, branch or new company?
One of the first decisions is how your UK business will be structured. The right answer depends on your plans, where the business will be run from, and how you want profits and risks to be held.
- UK subsidiary. A new UK limited company owned by your existing overseas company. It is a separate legal entity, so it has its own accounts, tax returns and responsibilities in the UK.
- UK branch (UK establishment). Your overseas company trades in the UK directly, without a separate UK company. If an overseas company sets up a place of business in the UK, or usually carries out business from somewhere in the UK, it must register with Companies House within one month of opening for business.
- New UK company owned by you personally. A standalone UK limited company, owned by you as an individual rather than by an overseas company.
Each option has different consequences for tax, accounts and reporting, both in the UK and in your home country. We explain the UK side clearly, and we recommend you also take advice in your home country before you decide.
Registering a company with non-UK directors
You do not have to live in the UK to be a director of a UK company. The rules on GOV.UK are clear: directors do not have to live in the UK, but the company must have a UK registered office address.
The main requirements
- At least one director. A UK company must have at least one director, aged 16 or over.
- A UK registered office. This must be a physical address in the UK, in the same country your company is registered in (for example, England and Wales). You can no longer use a Royal Mail PO Box as your registered office.
- An appropriate address. Post sent to the registered office must come to the attention of someone acting for the company, and the sender must be able to get delivery confirmation.
- A registered email address. Companies House uses this to contact the company. It is not shown on the public register.
- Identity verification. Since 18 November 2025, identity verification has been a legal requirement for directors and people with significant control (PSCs).
Identity verification for overseas directors
Directors and PSCs can verify their identity directly through the GOV.UK One Login service, which is free. Alternatively, they can ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify their identity on their behalf.
For founders living outside the UK, the ACSP route can be simpler. An ACSP can be used from any country, but it must be registered with a UK anti-money laundering supervisory body.
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We can guide you through the process, form the company, and make sure the details on the public register are correct from the start. See also our company formation service.
Visas and immigration
Setting up a UK company does not give anyone the right to live or work in the UK. We do not give immigration or visa advice. If you have questions about visas, we will refer you to immigration specialists.
Opening a UK business bank account
A UK business bank account makes it much easier to pay suppliers, receive money from UK customers and keep the company’s records clean. Banks set their own requirements, and these can be stricter when the directors or owners live outside the UK.
Banks will usually want to understand who owns and controls the company, where the money will come from, and what the business will do in the UK. A properly formed company with clear ownership records helps.
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We can help you prepare the information banks typically ask for, but the decision is always the bank’s.
Tax and VAT basics
Once set up, your UK company has its own UK tax responsibilities.
Corporation tax
UK companies pay corporation tax on their profits. The main rate is 25% for profits over £250,000, and a small profits rate of 19% applies to profits of £50,000 or less. Between those figures, marginal relief may apply.
The £50,000 and £250,000 thresholds are reduced for short accounting periods and where your company has associated companies. A UK subsidiary of an overseas group may count those group companies as associated, so it is worth checking early. See our limited company accounts service.
VAT
A UK-based business must register for VAT if its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000. Different rules apply to businesses based outside the UK.
If both the business and its owner are based outside the UK and it supplies goods or services to the UK, it must generally register for VAT whatever its turnover. We will check which rules apply to you. See our VAT returns and advice page.
Payroll
If you employ people in the UK, including yourself as a director in some cases, you will need to run payroll through HMRC’s Real Time Information system. Our payroll service can handle this for you.
Ongoing UK accounts and compliance
Setting up is the start. Every UK company then has regular filing obligations to Companies House and HMRC, and missing them can lead to penalties.
We can look after:
- Bookkeeping in Xero, so your UK figures are up to date and can be shared easily with your head office
- Annual accounts filed with Companies House
- Corporation tax returns (CT600) filed with HMRC
- Confirmation statements to keep the public register up to date
- VAT returns under Making Tax Digital, if you are registered
- Payroll for UK staff and directors
We agree a fixed fee before we start, so you know what your UK compliance will cost. The fee depends on the structure you choose, the volume of transactions and which services you need.
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You can meet us in Uxbridge when you are in London, and work with us by email and video call the rest of the time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set up a UK company if I live in India?
Yes. Directors do not have to live in the UK, but the company must have a UK registered office address. Directors and PSCs must also verify their identity with Companies House.
Do I need a UK address?
Your company needs a UK registered office address. It must be a physical address in the UK, and a Royal Mail PO Box can no longer be used.
Can you help me get a UK visa?
No. We do not give immigration or visa advice. Setting up a company does not by itself give anyone the right to live or work in the UK, and we will refer visa questions to immigration specialists.
Should I set up a subsidiary or a branch?
It depends on your plans and on the tax position in both countries. We explain the UK side during your free consultation and recommend you also speak to an adviser in your home country.
Can you handle everything after the company is set up?
Yes. We can look after your bookkeeping, annual accounts, corporation tax, VAT and payroll on a fixed fee, working with you remotely or in person.