Important changes to UK company law from April 2025
Changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act were introduced by Companies House in March.
The key changes and your action plan is set out below.
Identity verification
From autumn of this year (2025) it will be compulsory for anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a UK company to verify their identity with Companies House. This includes:
- directors
- persons with significant control (PSCs)
- members of limited liability partnerships; and
- managing officers of certain legal entities.
Individuals will be able voluntarily verify their identity from 8 April 2025 through GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). This will become mandatory from autumn 2025, with a 12-month transitional period for existing directors and PSCs.
You can verify your identity using GOV.UK One Login: https://www.gov.uk/using-your-gov-uk-one-login
Are you registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider?
Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSPs) are intermediaries between limited companies, limited partnerships, LLPs and Companies House, who undertake anti-money laundering (AML) supervised activity, such as:
- Solicitors
- Accountants; and
- Company formation agents.
From 8 March 2025, all third-party providers who carry out identity checks on behalf of clients for Companies House must register their business as an ACSP. Eventually, all third-party agents who are, or will be, making filings at Companies House for their clients will need to register as ACSPs.
To register as an ACSP, agents must:
- provide information about their business
- verify their identity
- be supervised within the UK by a relevant Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body; and
- pay a registration fee of £55.
Further information, is available in the Guidance on Applying to register as a Companies House authorised agent.
Key Dates
- 8 March 2025: third-party providers able to register as ACSPs.
- 8 April 2025: voluntary identity verification requirements come into effect.
- Autumn 2025: mandatory identity verification requirements for all new directors and PSCs come into effect.
- 12-month transition period: existing directors and PSCs will have 12 months to comply with the new requirements.
How can we help?
If you require further information and guidance on the requirements of the Companies House reforms, or if you have concerns implementation of the changes, please contact the Corporate team at Hamlins.