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Terminology A–ZLast updated 1 January 1970

Companies House terminology A–Z

TL;DR
Every UK Companies House term, form code, and accounting acronym you'll see when checking a company — decoded in plain English. Bookmark this page and refer back whenever a filing throws a code you don't recognise.

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57 terms across UK company law and accounting.

ABCDFGHILMNOPRSTUVW

Terms are grouped alphabetically. Click a linked term to jump to the deeper guide on that topic. Everything on this page is free and requires no login.

A

AA (annual accounts)
The annual financial statements filed at Companies House. Size determines what's included (full, small, micro). How to read filings →
AA01
Change of accounting reference date. Moves the year-end forward or back — sometimes tax planning, sometimes stalling for time.
AA02
Dormant company accounts. Two-page balance sheet only. Dormant company →
AD01
Change of registered office address. Free to file.
Abridged accounts
Small-company accounts prepared with member consent — reduced note disclosure vs full statutory.
Administration
Formal insolvency process where an administrator takes control to rescue or realise value. Admin explainer →
AP01 / AP02 / AP03 / AP04
Director/secretary appointment forms. AP01 = person, AP02 = corporate director.
Audit exemption
Small companies are exempt from statutory audit under two-of-three thresholds (turnover, balance sheet, employees). Small company exemption →

B

Balance sheet
Statement of financial position — assets, liabilities and equity at the year-end.
Beneficial owner
The natural person who ultimately owns or controls a company. See PSC. Ownership guide →
Bona vacantia
Latin: 'ownerless goods'. Assets of a dissolved UK company that pass to the Crown.

C

CCJ
County Court Judgment — a public record of unpaid debt. Searchable at Trust Online.
Charges register
The list of secured lending against a company. MR01 = new charge; MR04 = satisfaction.
CH01 / CH02 / CH03
Change of director/secretary details (address, name, etc.).
Compulsory strike-off
Dissolution initiated by the Companies House Registrar for non-filing. Strike-off notice →
Confirmation statement (CS01)
Annual filing confirming directors, PSCs, shareholders, SIC codes and share capital. CS01 checker →
Creditors: falling due within one year
Short-term liabilities. Compared to cash and debtors, tells you about working capital.
CVL
Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation — insolvent liquidation initiated by directors and shareholders.

D

Directors' report
Legal narrative required in accounts. Dividends, principal activities, directors. Directors' report guide →
Disqualified director
A person banned from being a director for a period of years. Register public via the Insolvency Service.
Dissolution
The formal end of a company's legal existence.
Dormant company
A company with no significant accounting transactions. Dormant guide →
DS01
Application for voluntary strike-off. Filed by directors of a solvent, non-trading company.

F

Filleted accounts
The public-facing version of small-company accounts — P&L and some notes omitted.
FRS 102 Section 1A
Accounting framework for small companies. Balance sheet + limited notes + P&L for members.
FRS 105
Accounting framework for micro-entities. Ultra-abridged. Micro-entity guide →

G

Going concern
The assumption that the company will continue trading for at least 12 months. Hedged language here is a serious warning.

H

HMRC
His Majesty's Revenue and Customs. UK tax authority.

I

Insolvent
Unable to pay debts as they fall due, or liabilities exceeding assets on the balance sheet.

L

London Gazette
The UK's public journal of record. Every insolvency, strike-off and creditor meeting is published here.

M

MR01 / MR04
Registration and satisfaction of charges (secured lending).
MTIC fraud
Missing-trader intra-community VAT fraud — a supplier disappears with VAT collected. VAT check →

N

Nominee director
A director appointed on behalf of a beneficial owner, often via a service company. Legal, but often a shell signal.

O

Officer
Any director, corporate director, or secretary of a UK company.
Overdue accounts
Accounts filed after the statutory deadline (9 months after year-end for small companies).

P

PAYE
Pay As You Earn — the UK income-tax scheme for employers. Not publicly checkable.
Phoenix company
A new entity carrying on the trade of a failed one, usually with the same director. Shell/phoenix guide →
PSC (Person with Significant Control)
Anyone controlling 25%+ of a UK company. Must be disclosed on the PSC register. PSC lookup →
PSC01-09
PSC filing forms — appointment, change, termination, RLE registration.
P&L (profit and loss)
Income statement showing revenue, costs and profit for the year.

R

Registered office
The legal notification address on Companies House. Address guide →
Registrar
The Registrar of Companies — head of Companies House. Powers include compulsory strike-off.
Relevant Legal Entity (RLE)
A corporate PSC — holding company recorded as controller instead of a natural person.

S

SECR
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting — large-company disclosure of energy use and emissions.
Section 172 statement
Directors' statement on how they've promoted the success of the company for its members and stakeholders.
Service address
A legal notification address that isn't the director's home. Legitimate — but not proof of trading.
SIC code
Standard Industrial Classification. Self-declared industry code. SIC code finder →
Shell company
A registered company with no meaningful operations. Shell company guide →
Statement of affairs
A document filed at the start of formal insolvency listing assets and creditors.
Statutory accounts
The full annual accounts prepared under Companies Act 2006 and the applicable FRS.
Strategic report
Narrative section of medium/large accounts — strategy, KPIs, risks, Section 172. Strategic report →
Strike-off
The process of removing a company from the register. Strike-off notice →

T

TM01 / TM02
Termination of director/secretary appointment. Multiple TM01s in a short window is a governance signal.
Turnover
Revenue for the year. Not filed publicly by micro-entity or filleted small filers.

U

UBO
Ultimate Beneficial Owner. See PSC.

V

VAT
Value Added Tax. Compulsory registration above £90k turnover (2024/25). VAT check →

W

Winding-up petition
Court petition to force a company into compulsory liquidation over unpaid debts.

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need to know these terms?

Companies House uses form codes and accounting jargon that make the register look intimidating. Once you know the twenty most common terms, you can read any filing in minutes.

Are the terms UK-specific?

Yes — this is a Companies House / UK Companies Act glossary. International equivalents are noted where relevant.

Where should I start?

Read the how to check if a UK company is legit guide and refer back here for any term you don't recognise.

What's the most important term to remember?

PSC — Person with Significant Control. It's the closest thing on the register to 'who really owns this business'.

How often is this glossary updated?

We update on every change to Companies House terminology or thresholds. Latest revision on the date shown at the top of the page.

Can I suggest a term?

Yes — get in touch via our contact page and we'll add anything missing.

What if a paid tool uses a different term?

Paid tools often use brand-specific names. The underlying data is the same — refer to this glossary for the statutory term.

Do international companies use these terms?

No — every country has its own statutory framework. UK terminology only.

Are FRS 102 and FRS 105 the same?

No. FRS 102 Section 1A is for small companies; FRS 105 is for micro-entities. Different disclosure requirements.

Where can I read the underlying law?

Companies Act 2006 is the primary UK statute. Accounting standards are set by the Financial Reporting Council.

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