General partnership
A partnership of two or more people carrying on business together with a view to profit. It is not registered at Companies House, and the partners have unlimited personal liability.
- Entiva fee to form
- $119
- Government fees to form
- £52
- Run plan
- $49 a month
- Steps to form
- 6
- Ongoing filings
- 2
- Ways to close
- 3
Who it suits, and what defines it.
Governed by the Partnership Act 1890.
Who it suits
- Two or more people carrying on business together for profit.
- Businesses that do not need to register at Companies House.
Key facts
- Partners
- At least two (individuals or bodies corporate)
- Liability
- Unlimited personal liability
- Companies House
- Not registered
- Legal personality
- None, except in Scotland
- Nominated partner
- Manages the tax return and records
- HMRC registration
- By 5 October in the second tax year
- Agreement
- Recommended, not required
- Law
- Partnership Act 1890
What the law requires.
6 rules, each in plain words.
At least two partners
The partners can be individuals or bodies corporate, which are legal entities such as companies.
A nominated partner
This partner manages the partnership tax return and records.
Registration with HMRC for Self Assessment
It is due by 5 October in the business's second tax year, online or on paper form SA400, and each partner also registers on SA401.
VAT registration over £90,000
The partnership registers for VAT if its VAT-taxable turnover is over £90,000.
A written partnership agreement is recommended
Without one, the default terms of the Partnership Act 1890 apply.
Different tax return dates for some company partners
Different dates apply where a partner is a limited company and the accounting date falls between 1 February and 5 April.
How Entiva forms it.
6 steps. Entiva prepares and files each one, and collects every signature the law needs.
The steps
6 steps- 1Adopt the partnership agreement
Recommended. Without one, the Partnership Act 1890 default terms apply.
- 2Register the partnership with HMRC
The nominated partner registers for Self Assessment, and each partner registers too. There is no registry fee.
- 3Register for VAT
Required if VAT-taxable turnover is over £90,000.
- 4Register as an employer for PAYE
Needed once the partnership employs staff.
- 5Pay the data protection fee
Paid to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) before processing personal data, unless exempt.
- 6File the workplace pension declaration
Within 5 months of the duties start date.
Documents
6- Partnership agreement
- Documents for any company that is a partner
- HMRC authorisation for Entiva (online code or form 64-8)
- HMRC receipt for the partnership registration (SA400)
- HMRC letter with the partnership's Unique Taxpayer Reference
- Each partner's own Self Assessment registration confirmation
Who takes part
3- Every partner is identified, with ID and proof of address
- A company that is a partner is checked, with the individuals who own over 25%
- Individuals above a company partner who meet the ownership test give ID and address proof
What has to be filed, and when.
Entiva tracks every deadline from the day it is formed, and files before each one.
Every year, and as things happen
2 filings- File the Partnership Tax Return
Online by 31 January after the tax year, or by 31 October on paper
- Pay the data protection fee
Every 12 months, on the renewal date the ICO sets
The changes Entiva handles.
Each change is prepared, approved, signed and filed.
The most common changes
2 changes- Cancel the VAT registration
- Close the PAYE scheme
How it closes.
3 routes. The right one depends on whether it can pay its debts, and who starts it.
Voluntary dissolution
When the partners agree to stop trading, or a partner gives notice where the agreement allows.
- 1
Dissolve under the agreement or the Partnership Act 1890
- 2
Settle debts and distribute assets
- 3
Record the dissolution and file the final partnership return
- 4
Cancel the VAT registration
- 5
Close the PAYE scheme
Dissolution by event
When a partner dies or becomes bankrupt, unless the agreement says otherwise.
- 1
The remaining partners decide whether to continue or wind up
- 2
If they wind up, the steps above follow
Insolvency of the partnership
When the partnership cannot pay its debts.
- 1
An insolvency practitioner is appointed
- 2
Final returns are filed and HMRC registrations are closed
What Entiva does for you.
From the first filing to the last.
General partnership
- Registers the partnership with HMRC for Self Assessment through the nominated partner.Formation
- Drafts the partnership agreement from a template, or takes yours, and collects each signature.Formation
- Files the Partnership Tax Return (SA800) once the nominated partner approves.Ongoing
- Files the final SA800 and tells HMRC each partner has stopped.Closing
- Cancels the VAT registration and prepares the final VAT return.Closing
Build it with the API.
Every step on this page is an action in the Entiva API, with its documents, signatures and filing.
What it costs, item by item.
Every Entiva fee and every government fee, from forming it to closing it.
Forming it
$119one-off
- Government fees
- £52
Closing it
From $129
- Entiva fee
- Fixed, quoted first
- Government fees
- At cost
Included in the Run plan
- File the Partnership Tax Return
- Routine changes
- Every deadline tracked
Extra, at a fixed fee
- Pay the data protection fee
- File the workplace pension declaration
- Cancel the VAT registration
- Close the PAYE scheme
Each extra is quoted before it starts, and nothing is done until you approve it.
Forming it
Entiva's formation fee is $119, one-off. Government fees are passed through at cost.
The registration threshold is £90,000.
Tier 1 £52; tier 2 £78; tier 3 £3,763; £5 off by direct debit.
Excludes steps marked only if needed.
Every year
The Run plan costs $49 a month ($588 a year).
Tier 1 £52; tier 2 £78; tier 3 £3,763; £5 off by direct debit.
Changes
Routine changes are included in the Run plan.
Closing it
Closing is a fixed-fee project, quoted before it starts.
The optional Gazette notice is £96.55 plus VAT.
Entiva fees are in US dollars. Government fees are in the currency each authority charges, passed through at cost when the filing is made. Taxes are separate.
Start with your first company.
We are onboarding a small group of founders and finance teams with entities in more than one country.