Chinese founders can register a UK Ltd remotely in 1-2 days (Companies House, from GBP 12); UTR arrives automatically; corporation tax is 19-25%; bank accounts for non-resident directors are the practical bottleneck.
Essentials: (1) Formation: one director + shareholder (any nationality), registered office (service address providers suffice), SIC codes; 1-2 days online. (2) Tax: corporation tax 19% (profits under GBP 50k) to 25% (over GBP 250k); VAT registration at GBP 90,000 turnover; annual accounts + confirmation statement due dates are strict with automatic penalties. (3) UTR + Corporation Tax registration happens post-incorporation. (4) Banking: high-street banks require UK presence; fintech (Tide, Wise, Revolut Business) works for non-resident directors. (5) PSC register transparency — ownership visible publicly. (6) For sellers: UK VAT + EPR obligations apply when storing goods in UK (see our VAT answers). UK Ltd is fast and cheap; the compliance calendar is what trips up remote owners.
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