Expanding Your Business: Opening a UK Branch

Businesses frequently look to expand into new areas in an increasingly globalized economy to take advantage of rising markets and diversity in their sources of income. Registering as an overseas company is an intelligent strategic step for businesses considering the United Kingdom (UK) as a prospective market. The tips in this article can help you open a UK branch of an international company.

Benefits of opening a UK branch for an international business

International organizations looking to grow their operations find setting up a UK office to be an appealing option due to the numerous strategic advantages it provides.

Below are six advantages of forming a corporation in the UK, which include:

1.Reaching out to markets and seizing expansion opportunities

Establishing a branch in the UK makes it easier to enter a lucrative market. With a GDP projected to reach $3.03 trillion in 2020 (source: World Bank), the United Kingdom is home to more than 66 million people, a sizable portion of whom are well-off consumers. It also has the fifth-largest economy in the world. For companies looking to grow, this situation offers lots of prospects.

2.Increased trust and awareness of the brand

Running a branch office in the UK allows a foreign business to take advantage of the UK’s highly regarded business capabilities. The United Kingdom’s transparent business climate and efficient regulatory framework were highlighted when it ranked eighth in the World Bank’s 2020 Ease of Doing Business Index. Identifying with the UK attracts potential customers and partners by improving brand visibility and credibility.

3.Availability of a trained labour force and innovation

The United Kingdom possesses a highly skilled workforce, as 41% of adults aged 25-64 own university education degrees (OECD). This pool of competent workers allows companies to access a wide range of industry-specific knowledge. In addition, the UK promotes innovation using vibrant tech centers such as London, which facilitate cooperation between commercial enterprises and research organizations.

4.Optimal resource utilization and streamlined operations:

By opening a UK branch, businesses may leverage their current assets, infrastructure, and operational skills, minimizing the need for new expenditures and overhead. By centralizing specific tasks and activities inside the UK branch, companies can attain economies of scale, optimize processes, and improve efficiency in domains like procurement, logistics, and customer service.

5.Tax and regulatory benefits:

Depending on their unique situation and line of business, foreign corporations can obtain tax and regulatory advantages by opening a branch in the UK. The United Kingdom offers favorable legislative frameworks, incentives, and support schemes to encourage foreign investment, innovation, and entrepreneurial endeavors.

6.Advantage of dividend taxation:

Interestingly, UK companies that pay dividends to shareholders who are domiciled in another nation do not have to pay withholding tax, which is a significant benefit for foreign companies doing business there. Moreover, corporations can take advantage of favorable tax conditions because the current Corporation Tax rate is 25%, the lowest among the G7 countries (source: OECD).

Cons of registering an international business in the UK

There are three main drawbacks to registering as an overseas company in the UK, even though doing so provides several significant advantages for founding a UK branch of an international business. They consist of:

1.The amount of paperwork and compliance

Compliance with many legal and administrative obligations is necessary for establishing and managing a branch in the United Kingdom. These include keeping up-to-date financial records, complying with reporting requirements, and registering the branch with Companies House. These administrative duties can be costly and time-consuming, especially for businesses unfamiliar with UK legislation. Bringing in experts with experience in company formation and compliance can help streamline these procedures.

2.Complexity of laws and regulations

Operating a UK branch requires negotiating the complex legal and regulatory environment in the UK. The parent company’s home jurisdiction may differ from the unique set of laws that the UK upholds. Understanding and following UK-specific legislation can be challenging; thus, professional advice is required to assure legal compliance and reduce risks.

3.Monetary commitments

Because a UK branch is an extension of its overseas parent firm, the parent company bears full responsibility for the branch’s activities. When the parent firm faces financial difficulties or legal issues, its assets could be at risk. Performing a thorough risk analysis and considering appropriate legal structures, including creating a subsidiary, can help reduce possible financial obligations.

An overview of foreign corporation tax for the UK branch

An overseas branch of a UK corporation operating in another nation must follow local tax filing and payment regulations. Moreover, the branch’s financial outcomes will be included with those of the company’s other operations in the financial statements and, if no other option is chosen, in the UK corporation tax return.

Because of this, any losses incurred by a foreign branch are considered when calculating corporation tax in the UK, allowing the company to offset such losses against its total corporation tax bill.

If the branch makes money, it must pay taxes at the local rate in the foreign jurisdiction. In addition, UK corporate tax is applied to the branch’s profits. For foreign taxes, the UK offers double tax relief (DTR), but this relief is only available up to the corporation tax rate in the UK. Please review the following examples, which show situations where the foreign tax rate is higher, lower, or equal to the UK rate.

Allowable deductions and expenses directly related to the branch income, along with a reasonable part of overhead costs, must be considered when calculating the UK corporation tax attributable to the branch’s profits to determine the amount of DTR that can be claimed. This could further limit the quantity of DTR that is available.

Establishing a UK branch for a foreign business

Upon commencing the registration procedure for a UK branch, it is imperative to acknowledge that this organization may occasionally be referred to as a UK establishment. This designation was used after the passage of the Overseas Companies Regulations in 2009. You may come across references in some UK government documents to UK branches falling under the general heading of UK establishments.

The first step in opening a branch in the UK is registering it with Companies House, the country’s statutory company registrar. Any foreign business wanting to open a UK branch must choose a name. This name can be the same as the corporate name or a different name that the branch will use to conduct business in the UK. It is advisable to consult with experts specializing in registering foreign firms in the UK before initiating the registration procedure. This is because the application form for opening a branch in the United Kingdom can be complex and needs supporting documentation in addition to the registration fee.

A certified copy of your company’s constitutional documents and an English translation are usually included in the supporting documentation that Companies House requests; however, this need may change based on your company’s unique disclosure duties. Companies House may also require a copy of your most current financial statements with an English translation.

Following the registration process, your business will have continuing obligations to Companies House to provide and reveal specific information. You will be required to keep the essential statutory registers up to date during the financial year and maintain a registered office address for your UK Branch. Moreover, you must notify Companies House of any changes to your UK branch as soon as they happen. You can get advice on the statutory account filing requirements for your UK branch office and help understand your obligations by consulting with a reliable company registration service provider.