Companies Act 1985

222 Where and for how long records to be kept

(1) Subject as follows, a company's accounting records shall be kept at its registered office or such other place as the directors think fit, and shall at all times be open to inspection by the company's officers.

(2) If accounting records are kept at a place outside Great Britain, accounts and returns with respect to the business dealt with in the accounting records so kept shall be sent to, and kept at, a place in Great Britain, and shall at all times be open to such inspection.

(3) The accounts and returns to be sent to Great Britain in accordance with subsection (2) shall be such as to—

(a) disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the business in question at intervals of not more than 6 months, and

(b) enable the directors to ensure that the company's balance sheet and profit and loss account comply with the requirements of this Act as to the form and content of company accounts and otherwise.

(4) Accounting records which a company is required by section 221 to keep shall be preserved by it—

(a) in the case of a private company, for 3 years from the date on which they are made, and

(b) in the case of a public company, for 6 years from that date.

This is subject to any direction with respect to the disposal of records given under winding-up rules under section 663.