Companies House reform and Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSP)

Third-party providers who intend to file documents on behalf of clients and also carry out identity verification checks (IDV) on behalf of clients for Companies House will need to register as an ACSP ^[1].

Below is the step-by-step summary of the upcoming registration process for ACSP:

• To be able to register as an ACSP, businesses must be supervised by one of the 25 relevant anti-money laundering supervisory bodies (see full list here ^[2]).
• The registration will be available through gov.uk One Login ^[3], the government’s new single sign-in service, with the aim of replacing Government Gateway accounts as a single identity check and login system. The new system will run in conjunction with the current web-filing service for the foreseeable future. 
• You need to identify an individual in a senior role within the business (a director or Head of Compliance, for example) who will be required to go through an identity verification process to set up the account in the first instance.
• This individual will be able to add other people within the business to the authorised agent account once it is registered and approved. Those individuals can then carry out IDV work for clients.
• Pay a £55 registration fee.
• Once approved, a digital account and unique identity number will be provided, which in turn will allow you to file information and complete IDV for your clients via Companies House service directly or via a third-party software.

IDV using Companies House gov.uk One Login service

There are three ways that users can prove their identity ^[4]:

• Via gov.uk ID check app
• By answering security questions online
• At a Post Office branch

Which option depends on the type of device, if you have photo ID, and what type of ID it is. Once IDV is completed, it is automatically saved to their gov.uk One Login account. Users who sign up for the first time will be required to insert their email address and choose a preferred way of receiving security codes (SMS or authenticator app via mobile app, pc or tablet).

The timeline of changes in 2025-2026

• To be confirmed – Companies House will open voluntary ACSP Registration through gov.uk One Login.
• From 25 March – Companies House should release the facility for individual Directors/Persons with Significant Control (PSC) to voluntarily verify their identity (via ACSPs or directly with Companies House).
• All software providers and entity management systems to be provided with e-specifications in spring. Software providers will then have approximately six months to develop a compatible solution ready for IDV.
• By Autumn 2025 – compulsory IDV will be implemented for all new incorporations and new Directors/PSCs, and also a 12-month transition phase will commence, which will require more than 7 million existing Directors/PSCs to verify their IDs (IDV to happen as part of the annual Confirmation Statement filing).
• By Spring 2026 – IDV becomes a compulsory part of filing of any document with Companies House (date to be confirmed by Companies House).
• By the end of 2026 – all limited liability partnerships will submit more information, providing greater transparency for users of the register. Completion of the transition period for IDV and commencement of compliance activity against those who have failed to verify.

If you have any questions about upcoming changes, we have a dedicated Company Secretarial team at Greenwoods that can assist with any Company Secretarial queries you may have. Please reach out to us cosec@greenwoods.co.uk to see if we can assist.

[1]Authorised Corporate Service Providers – Changes to UK company law
[2]Anti-money laundering registration – GOV.UK
[3]Companies House to join GOV.UK One Login – GOV.UK
[4]Using your GOV.UK One Login: Proving your identity with GOV.UK One Login – GOV.UK