Move shares cleanly, correct documents, stamp duty handled, Companies House updated, no nasty surprises later.
Transferring shares in a UK limited company is deceptively simple on paper and surprisingly easy to get wrong. A missing board resolution, an unstamped stock transfer form, an ignored pre-emption clause, or a forgotten PSC update can resurface years later during a sale, an investment round, or an HMRC enquiry, exactly when you least want it. Zmartly handles the whole transfer end to end: we check what your articles and shareholders' agreement actually permit, draft the J30 stock transfer form and board paperwork, deal with stamp duty where it applies, and update your statutory registers and Companies House records. You get an ACCA-qualified named accountant, fixed pricing, replies within 72 hours, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so a routine ownership change stays routine.
We prepare the J30 stock transfer form for fully paid shares (J10 for partly paid), the directors' board resolution approving the transfer, and the updated share certificate for the new holder. Everything is drafted to match your company's articles so the transfer is valid and properly minuted, not just signed and forgotten.
Stamp Duty on shares is charged at 0.5% of the consideration where the price paid is more than £1,000, rounded up to the nearest £5, and the signed form must be sent to HMRC for stamping. Where consideration is £1,000 or less, or the transfer is a genuine gift for no consideration, we self-certify the exemption on the form instead. We calculate what's due, submit to HMRC, and keep the stamping confirmation on file.
Before any shares move, we read your articles of association and shareholders' agreement for pre-emption rights, drag-along and tag-along provisions, director consent thresholds, and transfer restrictions. We flag any consents or waivers needed first, so the transfer can't be challenged by another shareholder later.
We update your statutory register of members, the PSC (people with significant control) register where the change crosses a control threshold, and reflect the new shareholdings at Companies House through the next confirmation statement. Your official record and your internal books stay in step.
A share disposal can trigger Capital Gains Tax for the person selling. We model the gain, check whether reliefs such as Business Asset Disposal Relief may apply to the seller's circumstances, and factor in the annual exempt amount before you commit, so the tax position is understood up front rather than discovered at filing. We confirm current rates and allowances against the relevant tax year for your transfer.
Transfers to family, between spouses, or as part of succession planning have their own stamp duty and CGT treatment. We help evidence a fair value for the shares, document the consideration (or lack of it) properly, and structure family transfers so the paperwork supports the intended tax outcome rather than undermining it.
You work with one named, ACCA-qualified accountant who knows your company structure, not a call centre. They handle the documents, the stamp duty submission and the filings, and they're the person you email when a question comes up.
Share transfer work is delivered on transparent fixed fees, £99, £199 or £499 depending on scope, agreed before we start. You know the cost of getting the transfer done properly, with no open-ended hourly clock running in the background.
Most DIY transfer problems only surface during due diligence on a sale or raise, unstamped forms, missing resolutions, registers that don't reconcile. We get the documentation, stamping and filings right now, so your cap table stands up to scrutiny later.
You'll get a reply within 72 hours at every step, and we move at the pace of your deal rather than holding it up. Rolling monthly terms mean you're never locked in, and a 30-day money-back guarantee backs the work.
If your share restructure is tied to expanding into the US, bringing in an investor, or setting up a Delaware or Wyoming entity, we can advise on both sides under one roof, from the UK transfer through to US incorporation, EIN and bookkeeping.
Understanding your business needs.
Crafting your custom accounting strategy.
Quick and easy integration.
Consistent monitoring and reporting.
Limited company incorporation, share structure design, and Companies House filings.
Read moreConfirmation statements, PSC updates, register maintenance, handled and filed.
Read moreA London business address for Companies House + post forwarding.
Read moreCo-founder vesting, IP assignment, decision-making clauses, drafted to fit your cap table.
Read more
Stamp duty at 0.5% is payable on any share transfer for consideration above £1,000, rounded up to the nearest £5. Gifts and transfers under £1,000 are exempt. The stock transfer form must be stamped by HMRC within 30 days of execution - missing the deadline triggers interest and penalties. We calculate, prepare, and submit stamping on your behalf.
Pre-emption rights give existing shareholders first refusal on any shares being sold. They can sit in the articles of association, a shareholders agreement, or both - and most off-the-shelf incorporations include them by default. Transferring shares without offering them to existing shareholders first can void the transfer. We review your articles and any shareholder agreement before any transfer goes ahead.
Yes if the shares are sold above their base cost - though Business Asset Disposal Relief (formerly Entrepreneurs' Relief) can reduce the CGT rate to 14% on the first £1 million of lifetime gains for qualifying business owners. We assess BADR eligibility, holdover relief on gifts to family, and any other applicable reliefs before the transfer is structured.
The transfer itself is private - it does not need filing immediately - but the next confirmation statement (CS01) must reflect the new shareholder. PSC register updates are due within 14 days if the transfer changes who holds more than 25%, 50%, or 75% of shares or voting rights. We handle both filings as standard.
Stock transfer form (J30), board minute approving the transfer, updated register of members, new share certificate for the transferee, cancelled share certificate from the transferor, stamp duty submission where applicable, PSC register update, and confirmation statement amendment. We prepare and execute the full pack so there are no missing documents at the next due diligence event.
Thirty minutes with an ACCA-qualified accountant. Most owners uncover £1,000-£3,000 in annual savings on the first call. If we are not the right fit, you walk away with a free tax review on the house.
