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Yearly update · 2024
What changed in 2024 for e-commerce companies
Retrospective edition, written in October 2026 from the public record. 2024 was the year of new reporting duties and the first large increase in UK registry fees in years.
This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change; check the official source or a licensed professional before acting.
Beneficial ownership reporting began in the United States
The Corporate Transparency Act's reporting requirement took effect on 1 January 2024. Most small US companies had to report their beneficial owners to FinCEN. The requirement was contested in court throughout the year and was withdrawn for US-formed companies in March 2025.
UK company law reform started to bite
The first measures of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act came into force on 4 March 2024. Companies must have an appropriate registered office address, where a PO Box is no longer acceptable, provide a registered email address and confirm that they are formed for a lawful purpose.
Companies House fees increased
On 1 May 2024, the digital incorporation fee rose from £12 to £50 and the digital confirmation statement fee from £13 to £34.
Hong Kong raised its business registration fee
From 1 April 2024, the annual business registration fee rose from HK$2,000 to HK$2,200, while the HK$150 levy was waived for two years.
Other editions
What to remember
- Ownership transparency became a standard part of company administration.
- A PO Box stopped being acceptable as a UK registered office.
- UK and Hong Kong registry costs both moved up.
This page is general information, last reviewed in October 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and may not reflect the latest rules in every state. Atiko is not a law firm or an accounting firm. Please consult a licensed attorney or tax adviser about your own situation.
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