UK SIC Codes for Non-Resident Companies: How to Choose the Right Code

Every UK company must provide at least one Standard Industrial Classification code, usually called a SIC code, to describe its business activity.

For a non-resident founder, the important question is not:

Which SIC code looks easiest for banking or company formation?

It is:

Which code reasonably reflects what the company actually sells, how it earns revenue and what activity it carries on?

Companies House strengthened its emphasis on accurate SIC information in 2026. It says companies must keep their SIC codes aligned with their current activity and can challenge, reject or remove information that appears incorrect, inconsistent or misleading.

A SIC code is only one part of the company’s profile. It does not determine the company’s tax treatment, regulatory permissions or whether a bank or payment provider will accept the business.

In Brief

Does every UK company need a SIC code?

Yes. Companies House requires at least one SIC code, including for dormant and non-trading companies.

How many SIC codes can a company use?

Up to four, where the company genuinely carries out several activities.

Are SIC codes different for non-resident founders?

No.

The founder’s nationality or country of residence does not determine the SIC code. The company’s economic activity does.

Can the SIC code be changed later?

Yes. SIC codes can be updated through a Confirmation Statement.

Can the company change it before the next Confirmation Statement is due?

Yes. A Confirmation Statement can be filed early, although doing so starts a new review period.

Should companies already use new SIC 2026 codes?

Not automatically.

ONS has published SIC 2026, but Companies House currently tells companies to use the codes available on its own condensed SIC list when filing.

1. What Is a UK SIC Code?

SIC stands for Standard Industrial Classification.

It is a five-digit code used to classify businesses according to their economic activity.

For example, the current Companies House condensed SIC list includes:

• 62012 — Business and domestic software development
• 62020 — Information technology consultancy activities
• 62090 — Other information technology service activities
• 63110 — Data processing, hosting and related activities
• 47910 — Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet
• 70229 — Management consultancy activities other than financial management
• 73110 — Advertising agencies
• 64209 — Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.

Companies House uses a condensed version of the wider classification system. It expressly says that companies should use codes from this condensed list for Companies House filings, otherwise a filing may be rejected.

A SIC code does not need to describe every detail of the business.

It needs to classify the underlying activity reasonably accurately.

2. Do Non-Resident Companies Use Different SIC Codes?

No.

A company owned or managed from:

• India;
• UAE;
• France;
• United States;
• Singapore;
• Saudi Arabia;
• or another country

uses the same Companies House SIC system as a company owned by a UK resident.

The code relates to what the company does, not where the founder lives.

If you are still deciding how to establish the company, see our UK company formation for non-residents guide⁠.

3. How Many SIC Codes Can a Company Use?

Companies House currently allows a company to provide up to four SIC codes.

Using more than one code can be appropriate where the company genuinely carries out several material activities.

For example, a technology company might provide:

• software development;
• IT consultancy;
• hosting services.

If each activity genuinely forms part of the business, more than one code may be appropriate.

However, do not select four codes simply because they describe activities you might carry out in the future.

The codes should reflect the company’s real current activity.

4. How to Choose the Right SIC Code

Start with the business model, not the code list.

Ask four questions.

What does the company actually sell?

For example:

• software;
• physical goods;
• subscriptions;
• consultancy;
• advertising services;
• licensing;
• wholesale products.

Who pays the company?

For example:

• consumers;
• companies;
• marketplace users;
• group companies;
• retailers;
• distributors.

How does the company earn revenue?

For example:

• product sales;
• subscriptions;
• consultancy fees;
• commissions;
• licence fees;
• wholesale margins.

Which activity is economically significant?

If several activities exist, consider whether more than one SIC code is justified.

Companies House also suggests looking at similar businesses on the register when the correct code is unclear, but another company’s code should be treated only as a reference rather than copied automatically.

5. Common SIC-Code Examples for Non-Resident Founders

These are useful examples, not universal recommendations.

The correct classification depends on the company’s actual activity.

Software Development

62012 — Business and domestic software development

This may be appropriate where the company develops software products or systems.

IT Consultancy

62020 — Information technology consultancy activities

Potentially appropriate where the main business is advising clients on information technology.

Other Technology Services

62090 — Other information technology service activities

This may be relevant where the technology service does not fit a more specific category.

Data Processing and Hosting

63110 — Data processing, hosting and related activities

Potentially relevant to certain hosting, infrastructure and data-processing businesses.

E-Commerce

47910 — Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet

This is commonly used for online retail of goods.

However, selling something through a website does not automatically make 47910 the right code.

For example, an online:

• SaaS platform;
• consulting business;
• advertising agency;
• marketplace;
• education service

may have a completely different underlying economic activity.

The sales channel is not always the same as the business activity.

Management Consultancy

70229 — Management consultancy activities other than financial management

This can fit genuine business and management consultancy.

But it should not be used simply because the founder describes themselves as an adviser.

A SaaS company that occasionally provides strategic advice alongside its software product is not automatically a management consultancy. The classification should reflect the company’s actual economic activity and revenue model.

Advertising

73110 — Advertising agencies

Potentially relevant where the company genuinely provides advertising-agency services.

Holding Companies

64209 — Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. is included in the current Companies House list. Companies House separately lists 64205 — Activities of financial services holding companies.

Do not therefore treat 64209 as a universal holding-company code.

The correct classification depends on what the entity actually does, including whether it:

• passively holds shares;
• manages group companies;
• conducts investment activity;
• provides services to subsidiaries;
• carries on its own operating activity.

A SIC code also does not resolve wider tax, regulatory, transfer-pricing or investment issues.

6. What If No SIC Code Fits Perfectly?

That is normal.

The SIC system is a classification framework, not a detailed business-description tool.

A modern business such as:

• SaaS;
• AI;
• a digital marketplace;
• a hybrid consulting/software company;
• a subscription platform

may not find a code that reproduces its exact business model.

Choose the code—or combination of codes—that most reasonably describes the actual economic activities.

Avoid selecting a deliberately vague code simply because it feels safer.

If the business changes later, review the classification again.

7. SIC Code vs Website, Banking and KYC Business Description

This is one of the most important distinctions for non-resident founders.

A SIC code is a standardised public classification.

A bank, EMI, payment provider or compliance provider may ask for much more detail, including:

• what the company sells;
• who its customers are;
• countries of operation;
• expected turnover;
• transaction values;
• payment methods;
• revenue model;
• source of funds;
• whether it holds stock;
• whether it handles third-party money.

For example:

Companies House SIC code:
62012 — Business and domestic software development

Detailed business description:
“The company develops and licenses cloud-based workflow software to small and medium-sized businesses through monthly subscription plans.”

Those descriptions are not identical.

But they are consistent.

The problem arises when the wider business story does not make sense.

For example:

Companies House: management consultancy

Website: cryptocurrency trading platform

or:

Companies House: online retail

Provider application: software licensing business

Inconsistent information may cause a bank, EMI or payment provider to request clarification. The provider’s decision will depend on its own policies and the information supplied.

A SIC code does not guarantee or prevent banking approval.

If you are dealing with provider difficulties, see our guide on what non-resident founders should do after a UK business bank-account rejection⁠.

8. How and When to Change a SIC Code

If the company’s activity changes, its SIC code should be reviewed.

Companies House says SIC-code changes are made through the Confirmation Statement.

You can:

1. check the company’s current SIC code;
2. identify the appropriate code from the current condensed list;
3. file a Confirmation Statement;
4. update the SIC information;
5. confirm the filing.

You do not necessarily need to wait until the normal Confirmation Statement deadline.

Companies House allows an early Confirmation Statement. If filed early, a new review period begins after the new confirmation date.

The review period and payment period are separate.

Companies House currently says the online Confirmation Statement costs £50, and the annual fee is only payable with the first Confirmation Statement filed within the relevant 12-month payment period. Further Confirmation Statements filed during that same payment period do not incur the annual fee again.

This can matter where a company needs to correct its SIC code before its ordinary annual review date.

For wider filing obligations, see our UK company compliance calendar for non-resident directors⁠.

9. Dormant Code 99999 vs Non-Trading Code 74990

Companies House currently lists:

99999 — Dormant Company

and

74990 — Non-trading company.

These codes are not inherently wrong.

They may be appropriate where the company’s real circumstances justify them.

The problem arises when an actively trading company continues to show a dormant or non-trading classification.

Companies House identified this in May 2026 as a common discrepancy and emphasised that actively trading companies should keep their SIC information aligned with their actual activity.

However, changing a SIC code does not, by itself:

• determine whether a company is dormant for accounting purposes;
• determine its Corporation Tax status;
• create or remove VAT obligations;
• determine whether the company is legally trading.

Those are separate questions.

If you need to understand the distinction, read our dormant UK company guide for non-resident owners⁠.

10. What Happens If the SIC Code Is Wrong?

An inaccurate SIC code does not automatically mean the company is invalid or that a regulatory breach has occurred.

However, it can make the public register inaccurate.

Companies House says its powers under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act allow it to challenge, reject or remove information that appears incorrect, inconsistent or misleading. It specifically states that SIC-code discrepancies can lead to filing delays or further questions.

An outdated code may also require explanation during:

• lender reviews;
• funding applications;
• provider onboarding;
• compliance reviews;
• later Companies House filings.

The practical effect depends on the nature of the mismatch and how the information is being used.

The appropriate response is normally simple:

If the company’s activity has genuinely changed, update the classification rather than leaving an outdated code indefinitely.

11. What Does UK SIC 2026 Mean for Companies House Filings?

ONS has now published the revised UK SIC 2026 classification.

The revised framework updates SIC 2007 and includes more detailed classifications for modern sectors, including software and artificial-intelligence-related activities.

But there is an important distinction:

Publication of SIC 2026 does not mean every Companies House filing should immediately use a new SIC 2026 code.

ONS states that implementation will take place gradually and that the earliest anticipated use of SIC 2026 in National Accounts is the 2031 Blue Book publication.

For Companies House filings today, companies should continue using the codes available on the current Companies House condensed SIC list.

Companies House expressly warns that using a code outside that condensed list may result in the filing being rejected.

Practical Rule

Do not copy a new SIC 2026 code from ONS into a Companies House filing unless that code is available through the Companies House filing system.

The SIC 2026 framework is important for understanding where UK industrial classification is heading.

It is not a reason to make unsupported changes to today’s Companies House filing.

Date-sensitive information last checked: 20 September 2026.

12. Seven Oak Prestige SIC-Code Checklist

Before incorporating a company or filing a Confirmation Statement, check the following.

Business Activity

What does the company actually sell?

How does it earn revenue?

Which activity is commercially significant?

Does it genuinely carry out more than one activity?

Companies House

Is the existing SIC code still accurate?

Is an active company still showing 99999 or 74990?

Are all selected codes on the current Companies House condensed list?

Are unnecessary codes being added for activities the company does not yet carry on?

Business Consistency

Does the website describe the same underlying activity?

Do customer invoices make sense against that activity?

Does the business description used for provider onboarding tell the same overall story?

Do expected transaction flows reasonably match the stated business model?

Changes

Has the company entered a different sector?

Has its primary revenue model changed?

Should a Confirmation Statement be filed to update the SIC code?

If filing early, have you considered the effect on the next review period?

SIC 2026

Are you using the current Companies House list for today’s filing?

Have you avoided assuming that every new ONS SIC 2026 category is already available at Companies House?

Not Sure Whether Your SIC Code Matches Your Business?

Seven Oak Prestige can review your company’s actual business activity, current Companies House classification and business description, then identify whether an update or further specialist advice may be appropriate.

Request a SIC-Code Review

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a UK SIC code?

A SIC code is a five-digit classification used to identify the economic activity carried on by a business.

Does every UK company need a SIC code?

Yes. Companies House requires companies to provide at least one code, including dormant and non-trading companies.

How many SIC codes can a UK company have?

Up to four.

Are SIC codes different for foreign or non-resident owners?

No. The code is based on company activity rather than the founder’s residence or nationality.

What SIC code should an e-commerce company use?

47910 may be appropriate for genuine online retail, but it should not automatically be used for every business operating through the internet.

What SIC code should a software company use?

62012 covers business and domestic software development, although another technology code may better reflect the company’s actual activity.

Can I change my SIC code?

Yes. Companies House SIC information can be updated through a Confirmation Statement.

Can I file a Confirmation Statement early to change it?

Yes. If you file early, a new review period begins.

Do I pay the Confirmation Statement fee again if I file early?

Not necessarily. Companies House says the annual fee is payable only with the first Confirmation Statement filed in the relevant 12-month payment period.

What does SIC code 99999 mean?

It is the current Companies House classification for a dormant company.

What does SIC code 74990 mean?

It is the current classification for a non-trading company.

Is SIC 2026 already compulsory at Companies House?

Do not assume so. ONS has published SIC 2026, but implementation is phased, while Companies House currently continues to use its own condensed list for filings.

Is a SIC code the same as the description used for banking or KYC?

No. A SIC code is a broad standard classification. Banks, EMIs and compliance providers may ask for a much more detailed description of what the company does.

About the Author

Isaac Jackson

Founder & Managing Director — Seven Oak Prestige Ltd

Isaac Jackson supports international founders and overseas businesses with UK company formation, Companies House administration, compliance preparation, statutory-address arrangements and practical company-support coordination.

His work focuses on the operational issues faced by founders managing UK companies from outside the United Kingdom.

Editorial Methodology

Last reviewed: 20 September 2026

This guide was checked against current primary sources from:

• Companies House;
• GOV.UK;
• the Companies House condensed SIC list;
• Office for National Statistics SIC 2026 guidance.

Date-sensitive information, particularly SIC 2026 implementation and Companies House filing requirements, should be reviewed periodically because official systems and classifications can change.

Important Disclaimer

This guide provides general information about SIC codes and Companies House filings.

It does not constitute legal, accounting, tax, financial or regulatory advice.

Selecting a SIC code does not determine whether an activity is regulated, whether the company is tax resident, whether it is dormant for accounting or tax purposes, or whether a bank or payment provider will approve an application.

Businesses operating in regulated or complex sectors may require specialist advice.

Related Guides

UK Company Formation for Non-Residents⁠

For choosing the company structure and business activity before incorporation.

What to Do After UK Company Formation⁠

For organising the operational and compliance steps after incorporation.

UK Company Compliance Calendar for Non-Resident Directors⁠

For Confirmation Statements, annual accounts and other recurring deadlines.

Dormant UK Company for Non-Resident Owners⁠

For understanding dormant status and the use of code 99999.

UK Business Bank Account Rejected — What Non-Resident Founders Should Do Next⁠

For founders dealing with provider questions or onboarding difficulties.

UK Company Director Duties for Non-Residents⁠

For directors’ wider responsibilities to keep company information accurate.