Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000
2000 c. 12An Act to make provision for limited liability partnerships.
Enacted[20th July 2000]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1
Introductory¶
1 Limited liability partnerships.¶
Incorporation¶
2 Incorporation document etc.¶
- “appropriate address” means an address at which, in the ordinary course of events—
- a document addressed to the limited liability partnership, and delivered there by hand or by post, would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the limited liability partnership, and
- the delivery of documents there is capable of being recorded by the obtaining of an acknowledgement of delivery;
- “appropriate email address” means an email address to which, in the ordinary course of events, emails sent by the registrar would be expected to come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the limited liability partnership
- “disqualified under the directors disqualification legislation” has the meaning given in section 159A(2) of the Companies Act 2006, as applied to limited liability partnerships by regulation 17ZC of the 2009 Regulations;
- “permission of the court to act” means permission of a court under provision mentioned in column 2 of the table in section 159A(2) of that Act, as so applied.
3 Incorporation by registration.¶
Membership¶
4 Members.¶
4A Minimum membership for carrying on business¶
5 Relationship of members etc.¶
6 Members as agents.¶
7 Ex-members.¶
8 Designated members.¶
F489 Registration of membership changes.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Taxation¶
10 Income tax and chargeable gains.¶
11 Inheritance tax.¶
In the M2Inheritance Tax Act 1984, after section 267 insert—12 Stamp duty.¶
13 Class 4 national insurance contributions.¶
In section 15 of the M4Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and section 15 of the M5Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (Class 4 contributions), after subsection (3) insert—Regulations¶
14 Insolvency and winding up.¶
15 Application of company law etc.¶
Regulations may make provision about limited liability partnerships and oversea limited liability partnerships (not being provision about insolvency or winding up) by—C6C416 Consequential amendments.¶
17 General.¶
- Part 4 (a company’s capacity and related matters);
- Part 5 (a company’s name);
- Part 6 (a company’s registered office);
- Chapters 1 and 8 of Part 10 (register of directors);
- Part 15 (accounts and reports);
- Part 16 (audit);
- Part 19 (debentures);
- Part 21 (certification and transfer of securities);
- Part 24 (a company’s annual return);
- Part 25 (company charges);
- Part 26 (arrangements and reconstructions : general);
- Part 26A (arrangements and reconstructions: companies in financial difficulty);
- Part 29 (fraudulent trading);
- Part 30 (protection of members against unfair prejudice);
- Part 31 (dissolution and restoration to the register);
- Part 35 (the registrar of companies);
- Part 36 (offences under the Companies Acts);
- Part 37 (supplementary provisions);
- Part 38 (interpretation).
Supplementary¶
18 Interpretation.¶
In this Act—- F16...
- “business” includes every trade, profession and occupation,
- “designated member” shall be construed in accordance with section 8,
- “enactment” includes subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the M7Interpretation Act 1978),
- “incorporation document” shall be construed in accordance with section 2,
- “limited liability partnership” has the meaning given by section 1(2),
- “member” shall be construed in accordance with section 4,
- “modifications” includes additions and omissions,
- “name”, in relation to a member of a limited liability partnership, means—
- if an individual, his forename and surname (or, in the case of a peer or other person usually known by a title, his title instead of or in addition to either or both his forename and surname), and
- if a corporation or Scottish firm, its corporate or firm name,
- “oversea limited liability partnership” has the meaning given by section 14(3),
- “the registrar” means—
- if the registered office of the limited liability partnership is, or is to be, in England and Wales (or Wales), the registrar of companies for England and Wales,
- if the registered office of the limited liability partnership is, or is to be, in Scotland, the registrar of companies for Scotland, and
- if the registered office of the limited liability partnership is, or is to be, in Northern Ireland, the registrar of companies for Northern Ireland;
- “regulations” has the meaning given by section 17(1).
- “the 2009 Regulations” means the Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804).
19 Commencement, extent and short title.¶
SCHEDULE
Names F39...
Part I Names¶
Index of names¶
Name to indicate status¶
Registration of names¶
Change of name¶
Notification of change of name¶
Registration of a change of name¶
Effect of change of name¶
Improper use of “limited liability partnership” etc.¶
Similarity of names¶
F6Part II Registered offices¶
F6 Situation of registered office¶
F6 Change of registered office¶
Footnotes
- M11992 c. 12.
- M21984 c. 51.
- M31891 c. 39.
- M41992 c. 4.
- M51992 c. 7.
- M61986 c. 45.
- M71978 c. 30.
- P1S. 19(1) power fully exercised (18.12.2000); 6.4.2001 appointed by S.I. 2000/3316, art. 2
- M81998 c. 46.
- F1S. 10(2) repealed (6.4.2007) by Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3), s. 1034(1), Sch. 3 Pt. 1 (with Sch. 2)
- C1Act extended (Northern Ireland) (1.10.2009) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1286(1), 1300(2); S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(z) (with arts. 7, 8, Sch. 2 para. 1)
- F2Words in s. 14(1) substituted (9.7.2009 for specified purposes, 1.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(2)(3), Sch. 3 para. 6(2) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F3Words in s. 14(3) substituted (9.7.2009 for specified purposes, 1.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(2)(3), Sch. 3 para. 6(3) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F4Words in s. 17(5)(a) inserted (9.7.2009 for specified purposes, 1.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(2)(3), Sch. 3 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F5S. 17(5)(b) substituted (9.7.2009 for specified purposes, 1.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(2)(3), Sch. 3 para. 7(3) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F6Sch. Pt. II omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 10(6) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F7S. 4A inserted (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 3 (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F8S. 2(2A)(2B) omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(6) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F9S. 2(1)(b) substituted (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(2) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F10Words in s. 2(1)(c) omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(3) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F11S. 2(2)(a) omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(4)(a) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F12Words in s. 2(2)(c) substituted (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(4)(b) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F13S. 2(2)(e) substituted (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(4)(c) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F14S. 3(1)(1A) substituted for s. 3(1) (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 2 (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F15S. 8(5) omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 4 (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F16Words in s. 18 omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 8(2) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F17Words in s. 18 substituted (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 8(3) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F18S. 19(4) substituted (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 9 (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F19Sch. para. 1 repealed (1.10.2009) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), s. 1300(2), Sch. 16; S.I. 2008/2860, art. 4, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (with arts. 7 8 Sch. 2) (which transitional provisions in Sch. 2 are amended (1.10.2009) by S.I. 2009/2476, arts. 1(3), 2(3)(4) and by S.I. 2009/1802, arts. 1, 18, Sch.)
- F20Sch. para. 3 omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 10(2) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F21Sch. para. 4(2) substituted for Sch. para. 4(2)-(9) (1.10.2009) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 10(3) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F22Sch. para. 5(2) omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 10(4)(a) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F23Sch. para. 8 omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), reg. 2(3), Sch. 3 para. 10(5) (with Sch. 3 para. 11)
- F24S. 10(1) repealed (with effect in accordance with s. 1184(1) of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax Act 2010 (c. 4), s. 1184(1), Sch. 3 Pt. 1 (with Sch. 2)
- C2S. 4(4) restricted by 1992 c. 4, s. 4AA(6) (as inserted (13.3.2014) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2014 (c. 7), s. 14(2))
- C3S. 4(4) restricted by 1992 c. 4, s. 4AA(6) (as inserted (13.3.2014) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2014 (c. 7), s. 14(6))
- F25S. 2(2)(g) inserted (E.W.S.) (30.6.2016) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/340), reg. 1(2)(c), Sch. 3 para. 1(b)
- F26Word in s. 2(2)(e) omitted (E.W.S.) (30.6.2016) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/340), reg. 1(2)(c), Sch. 3 para. 1(a)
- F27Word in s. 2(2)(f) inserted (E.W.S.) (30.6.2016) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Register of People with Significant Control) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/340), reg. 1(2)(c), Sch. 3 para. 1(a)
- F28Words in s. 7(2)(b) substituted (30.11.2016) by The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1034), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22
- C4Ss. 14(2)(a), 16, 17(1)(2)(3) functions exercisable concurrently (E.W.S.) (9.2.2018) by The Scotland Act 1998 (Insolvency Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/174), arts. 1(1), 2(1)(3)(c)(5) (with art. 6(1))
- C5S. 17(1)(4)(6) excluded (E.W.S.) (9.2.2018) by The Scotland Act 1998 (Insolvency Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/174), arts. 1(1), 4(4)
- C6Ss. 14(2)(a), 16, 17(1)(2)(3) functions exercisable concurrently (E.W.S.) (9.2.2018) by The Scotland Act 1998 (Insolvency Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/174), arts. 1(1), 5(1)(3)(c)(5) (with art. 6(2))
- F29Word in s. 17(5)(b) inserted (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (2020 c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 9 para. 21(a) (with ss. 2(2), 5(2))
- F30Words in s. 17(5)(b) inserted (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (2020 c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 9 para. 21(b) (with ss. 2(2), 5(2))
- C7S. 16(1) extended (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (2020 c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 3 para. 37 (with ss. 2(2), 5(2))
- C8S. 14(1) extended (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (2020 c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 8 para. 55 (with ss. 2(2), 5(2))
- F31Words in s. 14(1)(a) substituted (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (2020 c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 3 para. 36 (with ss. 2(2), 5(2))
- C9S. 14(1) extended (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (2020 c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 4 para. 91 (with ss. 2(2), 5(2))
- F32Words in s. 14(1)(b) substituted (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (2020 c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 7 para. 31 (with ss. 2(2), 5(2))
- F33S. 2(5) inserted (4.3.2024) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 3(3); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a)
- F34S. 2(2)(da) inserted (4.3.2024) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 3(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a)
- F35Words in s. 2(2)(d) inserted (4.3.2024) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 3(2)(a); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a)
- F36Sch. para. 4(2)(ba) inserted (4.3.2024) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 4(3); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a)
- F37Sch. para. 5(3) omitted (4.3.2024) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 4(4); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a)
- F38Sch. para. 5(4) omitted (4.3.2024) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 4(4); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a)
- F39Words in Sch. heading omitted (4.3.2024) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 4(2); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a)
- F40Sch. para. 5A and cross-heading inserted (4.3.2024) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/234), regs. 1(2), 4(5); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(a)
- F41S. 2(2ZB)(2ZC) inserted (18.11.2025 for specified purposes) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(4)(b), 3(2)(c) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(i)(4)
- F42S. 2(2)(ea) inserted (18.11.2025) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(2), 3(2)(a)(ii) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(g)
- F43S. 2(2)(eb) inserted (18.11.2025 for specified purposes) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(4)(a), 3(2)(a)(iii) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(i)(4)
- F44Words in s. 2(2)(e) substituted (18.11.2025) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(2), 3(2)(a)(i) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(g)
- F45S. 2(2ZA) substituted (18.11.2025) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(2), 3(2)(b) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(g)
- F46Words in s. 2(5) inserted (18.11.2025 for specified purposes) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(4)(c), 3(2)(d) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(i)(4)
- F47S. 4(2A) inserted (18.11.2025) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(2), 3(3) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(g)
- F48S. 9 omitted (18.11.2025) by virtue of The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(2), 3(4) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(g)
- F49Words in s. 18 inserted (18.11.2025) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(2), 3(5) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(g)
- F50Words in Sch. para. 4(2)(a) inserted (18.11.2025) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application and Modification of Company Law) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1033), regs. 1(2), 3(6) (with regs. 12-16); S.I. 2025/1118, reg. 2(1)(g)