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Here are answers to common questions about UK reports. If you require further information then please contact us
Who supplies your data?
Researcha's information is supplied by ICC Information, a leading provider of corporate data for the UK and Europe.
How up-to-date is the data?
ICC information receives a daily feed from Companies House resulting in Document
Images being available within 12 hours of being scanned at Companies House - as fast a turnaround as is possible in this industry. The data from Document Images is analysed and keyed into our database in less
than 3 days making our analysed reports (Financials, etc.) the most up-to-date in our industry.
How accurate is the data?
ICC complies with both ISO9001 for the analysis and compilation of data plus the BSI’s standard for the legal admissibility of electronic images.
Why can't I buy the information direct from your supplier?
ICC Information do not provide a pay-as-you-go service, requiring a minimum annual contract commitment.
How far back does the data in the ICC database go?
ICC's general Companies House data has a history of 20 years, including any
companies which have become dissolved during that time. There would not be a
record of companies which were dissolved before this 20 year period.
As for Accounts Analysis, analysis of larger companies accounts dates from around 1984-1985. Smaller companies were captured at a later date.
Directors - Companies House started capturing the appointment date of
directors from 1992 onwards, so for any appointed director during 1992 their
appointment date shows up as "on or before" and then gives the 1992 annual
return date. ICC took their directors snapshot in 1996, so would have received
all live directors and secretaries at that point in time. Since then they have
been building up a resigned directors list.
The image bank goes back to 1996. Any pre-1996 documents which have been scanned for other ICC services also form part of the image bank.
Read more about ICC's experience
and commitment to data quality >>
What are the filing requirements for different sizes of business?
- Small
- A company which meets at least two of the following three criteria: (i) annual turnover must not be more £2.8m, (ii) the balance sheet total must not exceed £1.4m, (iii) the average number of employees must not be more than 50.
- Small companies must deliver to Companies House an abbreviated balance sheet and notes, and a special auditor's report (if required) [Read more about 'Small and medium-sized company exemptions' on the Companies House Web site (Direct link; new window/tab)]
- The filing period is the same as for a full set of accounts.
- Medium
- A company which meets two of the following three criteria: (i) has an annual turnover not greater than £11.2m, (ii) the balance sheet total must not exceed £5.6m, (iii) the average number of employees must not be more than 250. The balance sheet total is the total of fixed and current assets.
- Medium companies must deliver to Companies House a full balance sheet, abbreviated profit and loss account, special auditors' report, directors' report and Notes to the Accounts [Read more about 'Small and medium-sized company exemptions' on the Companies House Web site (Direct link; new window/tab)]
- The filing period is exactly the same as for a full set of accounts
- Full
- A full filing company must deliver to Companies House a profit and loss account, a balance sheet signed by a director, an auditors report signed by an auditor, a directors' report signed by a director or the secretary of the company, Notes to the Accounts, and, if appropriate, group accounts.
- Private Limited companies must file accounts within twenty-two months of incorporation or 10 months of year end. Public Limited companies must file accounts within nineteen months of incorporation or seven months year end.
How can a person have a live directorship of a dissolved company?
This means that at the time of the dissolution the person was still a live/existing director and hadn't resigned from their position.
What are the definitions of 'Net Worth' and 'Working Capital'?
'Net Worth' is the shareholders funds minus intangibles. Often referred to as the book value of the company. The long-term realisable value after all
liabilities are cleared.
'Working Capital' is obtained by subtracting Total Current Liabilities from the
Total Current Assets. This represents the surplus/deficiency of funds from
normal trading activities.
No Profit & Loss figures are shown in a report for a small company. Why not, since a risk score has been calculated?
A special scorecard has been designed for small companies, so that a score could be given even though the profit and loss figures are not available. The small scorecard uses the balance sheet figures, as well as the elements which are common to both large and small companies - such as existence of CCJs, whether the company is independent or not, time since incorporation, etc.
What is the definition of "Operating under Voluntary Arrangement"?
A voluntary arrangement is when a company makes an agreement with its
creditors by proposing a 'composition in satisfaction of its debt' or a
'scheme of arrangement of its affairs'. This means an arrangement, approved
by the court, in which the company has formally agreed terms with its
creditors for the settlement of its debts. [From "Liquidation and Insolvency", April 2001, Companies House, GBW1/V3]
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