Background

Companies House are in the process of implementing the initial stages of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (“ECCTA”). The ECCTA received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. It is primarily aimed at preventing the abuse of UK corporate structures and tackling economic crime, and includes new powers for the Registrar of Companies to assist with the promotion of four key objectives:

Objective 1:

Ensuring that any person required to deliver documents to the Registrar does so, and that they comply with the requirements relating to proper delivery.

Objective 2:

Ensuring that information contained in the register is accurate and contains everything it should.

Objective 3:

Minimising the risk of information set out in the register creating a false or misleading impression to the public.

Objective 4:

Minimising the extent to which companies and others carry out, or facilitate, unlawful activities.

2025 Changes

Some of the changes due to take place during 2025 include:

• The ability for individuals to supress historical documents where their home address is shown as a registered office address or where listed elsewhere.
• The ability for individuals to supress full date of birth, signatures and occupation.
• All new directors and people with significant control (“PSCs”) will need to complete identity verification. For companies currently registered, all directors and PSCs will have a 12-month period to verify their identity with Companies House. This should be a one-off requirement.
• The ability of agents such as solicitors, accountants and incorporation agents to file documents at Companies House will be more tightly controlled. Agents will need to become Authorised Corporate Service Providers and will be required to carry out and confirm identity checks on their clients.
• The ability to use PO Boxes, or similar, as registered offices will cease.

For more information please contact James Oxley at James.oxley@haroldbenjamin.com