Last updated: 03 Feb 2025 02:00 Posted in:
Accountants and tax agents who file information with Companies House on behalf of clients will be able to register as an ‘Authorised Corporate Service Provider’ (ACSP) from this month (February).
At some point all third parties that file information to Companies House on behalf of clients will have to register as an ACSP, although no date has yet been confirmed for a final transition to the new system.
The ACSP initiative is part of a wider plan for anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK, who will need to verify their identity to prove they are who they claim to be, Companies House said.
It added that, from 25 February 2025, firms can apply to become an ACSP using the new ‘Apply to register as a Companies House authorised agent’ service, available on gov.uk One Login. The launch provides an opportunity for firms to register early and complete identity verification for themselves and their clients.
As part of the registration process, ACSPs will need to verify their identity, prove they are supervised by an anti-money laundering body, and pay a £55 registration fee.
The plans form part of a programme to bolster the accuracy of company records on the public register by introducing a range of new requirements. These include strengthening identity verification measures and increased powers to analyse and share data with law enforcement agencies as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (2023).
Companies House information has been criticised for failings, with incorrect names, addresses and financial information appearing on the register, with the agency lacking capacity to verify the accuracy of all information submitted to it.
Last year, celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal asked Companies House for “greater transparency” after one of his business was scammed. It was revealed that top restaurants, including Blumenthal’s, were hit by scammers who created ‘clones’ of restaurants with Companies House in order to apply for loans and bank accounts and to buy expensive stock from suppliers.
“Checks by Companies House on the identity of people registering companies would reduce the risk of frauds and be a major help for restaurants and other businesses facing up to problems with fraudsters,” he added.
From 25 February 2025, registration will be available through gov.uk One Login, the government’s new single sign-in service, which will eventually replace Government Gateway accounts as a single identity check and login system to access all central government services.
Eventually, only ACSPs will be permitted to file documents (such as confirmation statements, annual accounts, change of registered office or change of directors) at Companies House for a client company. From the February start date, the new system will run in tandem with the current web-filing service.
“We’re introducing identity verification in a phased approach,” stated the Companies House web page. “Over the coming months, we’ll explain when each of the changes will come into effect and how the identity verification process will work. You do not need to do anything yet.”
