On 18 March 2025, Companies House will launch our new ‘Apply to register as a Companies House authorised agent’ service. Find out how to get your business ready.
Service launch
We recently published a blog post on what third-party providers, such as accountants and legal professionals, need to know about becoming an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), also known as an authorised agent. Since then, we’ve been busy developing the registration service.
The ‘Apply to register as a Companies House authorised agent’ service launches on 18 March 2025. Third-party providers who plan on carrying out identity verification checks on behalf of clients for Companies House will need to register as an ACSP from this date.
From spring 2026, third-party providers will also need to be registered as an ACSP to make any filings on behalf of other companies.
There will be a fee of £55 to register as an ACSP.
Completing the registration process
To register as an ACSP, businesses must be supervised within the UK by an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body. There are currently 25 supervisory bodies in the UK. When registering as an ACSP, businesses will need to provide their AML supervisory body membership number.
The ACSP registration process will need to be completed by someone who holds a senior role within the business, such as a director. During the registration process, they will be asked to verify their identity through GOV.UK One Login.
After an ACSP registration has been completed, a digital account and a unique identity number will be provided.
Once the account has been approved, other employees of the ACSP can then be added to the account. These employees will not have to verify their identity, but will be allowed to carry out services on behalf of the ACSP, such as identity verification checks and filing accounts for clients.
Get ready to register
There are 4 key things you can do to prepare your business for ACSP registration:
- Make sure you understand the upcoming changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.
- Review and update your identity verification processes to make sure they meet the new requirements.
- Confirm you’re Anti-Money Laundering regulated in the UK, and locate your membership number ready for your registration.
- Register as an ACSP from 18 March 2025.
Verifying your clients’ identity
From 8 April 2025, company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) will be able to voluntarily verify their identity for Companies House.
Directors and PSCs will be able to verify their identity directly through GOV.UK One Login, or through a third-party provider who has registered and been approved as an ACSP.
If you’re a third-party provider who plans to carry out identity verification checks on behalf of clients, you can prepare by registering once the ‘Apply to register as a Companies House authorised agent’ service launches on 18 March 2025.
For now, only providers that plan to verify the identity of clients need to register. In the future, all providers that file with Companies House on behalf of clients will need to register as an ACSP.
The importance of staying compliant
In the future, if an ACSP is found to be noncompliant (for example if they lose their AML supervision status) Companies House may suspend their account whilst any misconduct is investigated.
Companies House may also cease their status as an ACSP if they are deemed unfit to carry out ACSP functions. Public notices will be published when an ACSP has been suspended or removed. It’s important to make sure your business stays compliant with the legislation, even after the registration process is complete and approved.
Read the full guidance on GOV.UK to help you with your responsibilities as an ACSP, including:
25 comments
Comment by Adrian posted on
We are already registered as an authorised agent for submissions made under the Register of Overseas Entities. Will we have to register separately as an ACSP, or will our existing registration for ROE services transfer to the new system?
If a new registration is required, will this replace/supercede our existing authorised agent registration, or will separate registrations continue for the 2 systems?
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Adrian,
Thank you for your comment.
If you are already registered as a ROE agent, this registration is still valid. You will need to register separately as an ACSP in the future when the requirements relating to presenters begin.
We will publish guidance about how and when to do this, giving you time to prepare.
Comment by Tony Kazaz posted on
I understand it will be necessary to have been trained for document verification. Where will such training be obtained from and how much will it cost.
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your comment.
We're unable to advise on training providers for identity verification.
To find out more about how to meet the Companies House identity verification standard, please read our guidance page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-meet-companies-house-identity-verification-standard
Comment by Fran posted on
Hi Are all directors of the company required to complete identity verification before submitting the ACSP registration, or is it sufficient for just one of them to do so?
How long will your team generally take to process the approval of the ACSP registration once the application is received?
Thanks!
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Fran,
Thanks for your question.
Only the director who is submitting the application will need to verify their identity in order to register the business as an ACSP. Eventually all directors will need to verify their identity, which we will soon provide more information on.
Timings for approval depend on how easily we can identify whether applicants are AML supervised. This process can take longer if further checks are required.
Comment by process server orlando florida posted on
I have been having problems like this! So happy to have read this, big help!
Comment by Fran posted on
Hi Luke We are a firm on the HMRC’s TCSP register and do TCSP work, will we exempt from the registration as an ACSP? Thank you!
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Fran,
Thank you for your comment.
TCSPs are not exempt and must register as an ACSP if they want to verify their clients identity, and later, file on behalf of other companies.
Comment by Muhammad posted on
If a client chooses to verify their identity directly with Companies House, how can we confirm that they have completed the process? Would providing the confirmation email from Companies House be sufficient, or is there an alternative method, such as checking directly with Companies House using a reference number issued by the Companies House?
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Muhammad,
Thank you for your comment.
When an individual verifies their identity directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login, they'll receive a Companies House personal code. This personal code will be required to prove they've completed identity verification.
Comment by Amanda posted on
I understand that when performing the identity verification checks for clients, verifications must be completed on Directors and PSCs. Can you confirm if that also includes other officers listed for a company such as Secretaries?
Thanks
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Amanda,
Thank you for your comment.
Identity verification will apply to all directors (and equivalents) and People of Significant Control (PSCs). In the future, those who are delivering information to the registrar (known as presenters) will also have to undergo identity verification. We will provide more information on this before it is introduced.
Comment by Simon K posted on
Can you please provide details of where we might find training on how to identify false documents, given this has to be provided by a specialist trainer. I have been unable to identify any such training provision to date.
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Simon,
Thank you for your comment.
We're unable to advise on training providers for identity verification.
To find out more about how to meet the Companies House identity verification standard, please read our guidance page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-meet-companies-house-identity-verification-standard
Comment by Ian posted on
I attended yesterdays workshop on the introduction of ACSP’s. I believe from the material that ACSP’s can utitilse Digital Identity Verification Technology to speed up the verification process. Our Luciditi platform does this, but can ACSP’s buy this technology from us now as a component of their process, or do we have to become an ACSP in our own right in order for them to be able to buy this technology from us?
Thanks
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Ian,
Thank you for your comment.
If you are just selling identity verification software to an ACSP, you do not need to register as an ACSP yourselves. It will be for the individual ACSP to be satisfied that this technology can meet all or part of the Companies House identity verification standard, and supplement with their own checks where appropriate. If you plan to undertake any of the identity checks yourselves, you will need to register as an ACSP.
Comment by Jo Burton posted on
Will there be a logo or official mark that can be used (on a website for example) to show that someone is ACSP registered? My client is an accountant and would like to make this information prominent on her business website.
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Jo,
Thank you for your comment.
This is not something that Companies House will provide.
Comment by Barb posted on
Hello,
We understand that when registering as an ACSP, businesses will need to provide their AML supervisory body membership number. To register as an ACSP, businesses must be supervised within the UK by an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body. There are currently 25 supervisory bodies in the UK. Is HMRC one of the 25 supervisory bodies, as HMRC is not listed on the 25 supervisory bodies that you reference in your article?
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Barb,
Thank you for your comment.
We can confirm that HMRC is an Anti-Money Laundering supervisory body. You can find out more about whether HMRC are the right supervisory body to register with for your business here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/money-laundering-regulations-who-needs-to-register
Comment by Cosec team posted on
Hi - I just want to understand whether an in-house company secretarial team of a UK plc can register as ACSP? My understanding is no, but just want to confirm that this is the case
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Marta,
Thanks for your comment.
That's correct. If you're an in-house company secretary filing on behalf of your own company, you will not need to register as an ACSP.
Comment by Helen posted on
I am a company Director and use my maiden name for work purposes.
However my passport and other documents are in my married name.
I do have a company bank account and my bank verified my identity as a Director by taking my passport and marriage certificate.
How can i verify my identity for these new requirements?
Is my only option to change to my married name which i am reluctant to do after using my maiden name for the last 35 years.
Comment by Luke C posted on
Hi Helen, thanks for your comment.
We are unable to help with personal cases on our blog. Please contact enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk for help.