I'm doing my company's confirmation statement, and one of the questions stood out to me:
"All company records are kept at the registered office address, or on the public record."
As I understand it, this applies to statutory records, as described here:
What are statutory records and why are they important?
For instance, section 228 of the Companies Act 2006 says:
MyCo's registered office is provided by my accountants, i.e. there are hundreds of companies all sharing the same address, and I don't think there are any company records stored there.
I could "elect" to store some statutory registers on the public register at Companies House:
Company registers - GOV.UK
However, that doesn't include service contracts.
The other option is to add a SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location), where all the records are kept. However, the SAIL is public, so if I provide my home address then it seems a bit pointless to have a registered office elsewhere.
I searched the forum for previous discussions, and found this:
Unannounced HMRC visit - Contractor UK Bulletin Board
Based on the comments there, I think the practical answer is "Just say yes on the confirmation statement, because nobody will ever check". However, I'd like to be honest about this.
So, how are other people handling this?
To forestall the traditional question, I have asked my accountant what information they store (and at what address), and I'm waiting to hear back. However, this might also fit in with a wider question ("Do I need an accountant?"), i.e. is that the best way to have an inspection address which isn't your home address?
"All company records are kept at the registered office address, or on the public record."
As I understand it, this applies to statutory records, as described here:
What are statutory records and why are they important?
For instance, section 228 of the Companies Act 2006 says:
(1) A company must keep available for inspection—
(a)a copy of every director's service contract with the company or with a subsidiary of the company, or
(b)if the contract is not in writing, a written memorandum setting out the terms of the contract.
(2)All the copies and memoranda must be kept available for inspection at—
(a)the company's registered office, or
(b)a place specified in regulations under section 1136.
(a)a copy of every director's service contract with the company or with a subsidiary of the company, or
(b)if the contract is not in writing, a written memorandum setting out the terms of the contract.
(2)All the copies and memoranda must be kept available for inspection at—
(a)the company's registered office, or
(b)a place specified in regulations under section 1136.
I could "elect" to store some statutory registers on the public register at Companies House:
Company registers - GOV.UK
However, that doesn't include service contracts.
The other option is to add a SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location), where all the records are kept. However, the SAIL is public, so if I provide my home address then it seems a bit pointless to have a registered office elsewhere.
I searched the forum for previous discussions, and found this:
Unannounced HMRC visit - Contractor UK Bulletin Board
Based on the comments there, I think the practical answer is "Just say yes on the confirmation statement, because nobody will ever check". However, I'd like to be honest about this.
So, how are other people handling this?
To forestall the traditional question, I have asked my accountant what information they store (and at what address), and I'm waiting to hear back. However, this might also fit in with a wider question ("Do I need an accountant?"), i.e. is that the best way to have an inspection address which isn't your home address?
