A limited company’s date of incorporation is the date that it is registered at Companies House in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. On this date, the limited company comes into existence as a distinct legal ‘person’ that is separate from its members and directors, can buy property its own name, and is responsible for its own debts and liabilities.
A company can start trading from the moment it is incorporated. However, it is possible to register the trading status of a company as ‘dormant’ (inactive) for Corporation Tax purposes for an indefinite period of time after incorporation. This means you can set up a company for the purpose of protecting or reserving a company name or preparing a business for future trading.
You can find the date of incorporation for any limited company on the public register of companies , which can be viewed online via Companies House. The register, which is free to access, also displays the following details about a limited company:
You can also find the date of incorporation for your own company on the certificate of incorporation. This document, which is issued by Companies House as evidence of a company’s legal registration, contains the following details:
You will need to refer to this certificate or provide a copy of it at various times throughout the life of your company, for example, when registering for Corporation Tax, opening a business bank account , or applying for finance.