An update to the Companies Act 1985 requires all companies to include specified information about themselves in electronic communications, including websites and emails.
The required information includes:
- The name, postal address, and email address of the company
- If the sender is a registered company, the registration number should be provided as well as the place of registration
- If the business is a member of a trade or professional association, details of these should be provided including membership numbers
If the business has a VAT number, it should be listed even if the website is not being used for e-commerce transactions.
Companies and company officers who fail to comply with these regulations are liable to a fine. This rule currently only applies to companies, it’s not applicable to sole traders or partnerships, but in our view it’s good practice to provide such information as your name, address and registration details on websites and emails, after all you have nothing to hide, do you?
For more information on this and other rules relating to electronic trading call Woolley & Co on 01789 267377 or visit trading on and offline on the Woolley & Co website.


