New restrictions on who can file information with Companies House are being introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.
We’re working to implement these changes and will give at least 6 months’ notice before they come into effect. The restrictions will not be introduced before November 2027.
When the filing restrictions are introduced, you’ll only be able to file with Companies House if you’re:
- an identity-verified company officer or employee – this includes company directors and people with significant control (PSCs)
- an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) registered with Companies House
- an employee of an ACSP
The restrictions will apply to all filings, including:
- incorporating a company
- filing a confirmation statement
- filing accounts
- updating company information
We’re working with stakeholders to understand how different organisations manage their filings and to test proposals for the restrictions. This includes exploring whether regulations should be used to allow a wider range of people to file on behalf of an ACSP or within a group structure.
Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs)
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is an individual or organisation that undertakes anti-money laundering (AML) supervised activity, such as:
- company formation agents
- solicitors
- accountants
- chartered secretaries and governance professionals
Currently, third-party agents need to register as an ACSP to tell Companies House about identity verification checks they’ve carried out. When the new filing requirements come into effect, they’ll also need to be registered as an ACSP, or be an employee of an ACSP, to file information with Companies House on behalf of their clients.
You can find a list of registered ACSPs on GOV.UK.
Why we’re making this change
Fraud and economic crime cost the UK billions of pounds every year. Criminals have sometimes used company registrations to hide their identity or disguise illegal activity. These new filing rules are designed to close that gap.
By restricting who can file information with Companies House, we can establish greater accountability for information submitted to the register. This will help us identify who is responsible for filing information and strengthen our ability to detect suspicious activity and tackle fraud.
The restrictions will also help us identify patterns of risk and focus our efforts where they are needed most. They will also prevent non-AML supervised overseas agents from incorporating companies in the UK.
These changes will help improve the accuracy and reliability of the company register, strengthening trust in the information it holds and helping to protect businesses, consumers and the wider economy.
What to do next
We’ll give at least 6 months’ notice before the filing restrictions come into effect. Some services may also have a voluntary period, giving users the opportunity to test them before they’re legally required to use them. We’ll share more information about these as plans develop.
If you’re a company director or PSC, you should have already completed identity verification for Companies House. You can use the same identity verification to meet the filing requirements when they come into effect. You do not need to verify your identity again.
If you’re an employee responsible for filing on behalf of a company, you’ll need to complete identity verification if you want to continue filing. You can do this now. Find out how to verify your identity for Companies House.
If you’re a third-party provider, such as an accountant, who files on behalf of companies, you’ll need to be registered as an ACSP or be an employee of an ACSP to continue filing. If you have not already registered, you can apply to register as an ACSP.
We’ll share more updates, information and guidance once available. Follow us on social media or sign up for email alerts to stay up to date.