New powers to challenge and change company names

On 4 March, the first measures under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act came into force.

As part of these new measures, Companies House are running stronger checks on company names which may give a false or misleading impression to the public. This will helps improve the accuracy and quality of the data they hold, and helps tackle the misuse of company names.

New powers to challenge company names  

These new measures build on existing controls on company names. Names cannot be the same as or too similar to an existing name, and certain terms are restricted, such as terms implying a connection to the UK government or using a sensitive word or expression.

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, Companies House can now also reject an application to register a name where they have reason to believe:

• the name is intended to facilitate fraud
• the name is comprised of or contains a computer code
• the name is likely to give the false impression the company is connected to a foreign government or an international organisation whose members include two or more countries or territories (or their governments)

Companies House can also direct companies to change their name in more circumstances, for example, where the name has been used, or is intended to be used, by the company to facilitate fraudulent activity.

If a company fails to change its name within 28 days, they can now determine a new name for the company, for example, changing the company name to its registered company number.

The Registrar also has the power to suppress a name from the register while a company responds to a direction to change its name.

If a company does not respond to a direction to change their company name within 28 days, an offence is committed.

It’s also an offence to continue using a company name which has been directed to change.

Company Names Tribunal

The Company Names Tribunal continues to be responsible for considering objections to the use of a name which is:

• the same as an existing name in which another person has goodwill
• sufficiently similar to that name that it is likely to mislead

We can help with any queries you may have regarding the suitability of any new company name.