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UK Private Ltd · via 1Office·🇩🇪Founder profile

Incorporating a UK Private Limited Company for German Indie Developers

VerifiedOct 2026
EligibilityEligible
Setup timeline14–30days
Year-1 total$240.00

German indie developers can incorporate a UK Private Limited Company (Ltd) to access the UK market and simplify international software sales. This structure requires compliance with both UK Companies House regulations and German tax disclosure obligations.

The process involves registering the company, appointing directors, and ensuring the Person with Significant Control (PSC) register is accurate. German residents must report their foreign holdings under AO §138 to avoid penalties.

§ 01Cost of ownership

Model the full outlay, not just the setup fee

Renewal costs sneak up on non-resident founders. Compare year-1 filing against a 3-year total to see the real bill.
Currency · USD (live FX)
2-year cost of ownership
$720.00
≈ $30.00/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • Setup1Office setup
    $240.00
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $480.00
Total$720.00
§ 02Tax residency · German Indie Developers

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

UK corporation tax is levied at a main rate of 25% for profits over GBP 250,000, with a 19% small profits rate for profits under GBP 50,000.

Home-country rule

AO §138 Anzeigepflicht (foreign entity disclosure); CFC rules

Editorial verdict

Use 1Office to manage your PSC register and registered office requirements; ensure you maintain detailed records to satisfy German AO §138 disclosure requirements.

Key compliance risks
  • 01German CFC (Aussensteuergesetz) rules may apply to passive income
  • 02Mandatory AO §138 reporting to German tax authorities
  • 03Requirement to maintain a Person with Significant Control (PSC) register
§ 03Setup timeline

From filing to funded bank account

Setup timeline
14–30days total, 3 phases
Milestone check
Filing · Tax ID · Banking
d0
d8
d15
d23
d30
01Filing1Office submits formation docs
d0–d11
02Tax ID / EINLocal tax authority registration
d9–d23
03BankingBusiness account approved & funded
d18–d30
§ 04Head-to-head

UK Private Ltd vs UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN)

Full comparison →
UK Private Ltd
Ltd
UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN)
Free Zone LLC
Entity
Ltd
Free Zone LLC
Setup cost
$12.00
$1,307
Annual
$100.00
$1,307
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
19-25% corporation tax; PSC register required
9% CT above AED 375k; 0% VAT for out-of-UAE trade
§ 05Questions founders actually ask

FAQ

Under German CFC (Aussensteuergesetz) rules, if your UK company is managed from Germany, the German tax office may treat it as a domestic entity for tax purposes. Consult a tax advisor regarding the 'place of effective management' test.
More profiles for UK Private Ltd
German Indie Developers — other jurisdictions
Next step

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