The Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) has introduced new identity verification and filing requirements to be implemented in phases as part of the UK government’s ongoing legislative agenda to prevent economic crime. .
To register as an ACSP, an individual or business will need to be a member of a supervisory body for anti-money laundering purposes, such as the Solicitors Regulatory Authority.
Broadly, all directors and other registrable individuals (such as persons of significant control or officers of registrable legal entities holding an interest in the relevant company) will need to verify their identities under ECCTA.
Since 18 March 2025, third parties who submit verification statements to Companies House on behalf of another company are required to register as anAuthorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSP).
Since 8 April 2025, individuals have been able to voluntarily verify their identity when making filings with Companies House.
From Autumn 2025, Directors and persons of significant control (“PSCs) will be required to verify their identities with Companies House during the process to incorporate a company.
A 12-month transition period will begin to require existing directors and PSCs to comply with identity verification (“IDV”).
By Spring 2026, all those filing documentation will need to comply with IDV and any third-party agents doing so will need to be registered as an ACSP.
Full guidance is awaited from Companies House, but we expect that identity verification will need to be undertaken by an ACSP, who will confirm the verification.
How to verify identity
The new procedures will allow verification either:
- Directly via the Registrar of Companies House; or
- By the relevant entity’s ACSP applying statutory identity verification procedures providing prescribed evidence (including biometric and photographic evidence where available) of likeness, name (including former names), address and a suitable email address
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