Everything you need to know about the new Companies House rules
We’ve compiled answers to the most common questions firms are asking about the new Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) requirements–from legal obligations to client impact and how to prepare with Amiqus, and more.
You can browse the FAQs below, and download the handy PDF to review later or share with your team.
The introduction of identity verification is a key change to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Identity verification will provide greater assurance regarding who is setting up, running, owning, and controlling companies in the UK. For a long time, Companies House has lacked the complete picture of who files with them; identity verification will help change that by improving the quality and reliability of their data and addressing misuse of the companies register.
Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) are also known as Companies House authorised agents. An authorised agent can be a business (for example, a limited company or partnership) or a person who files on behalf of others (sole trader).
To register as an ACSP with Companies House, agents must be supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body. Examples of agents include:
- Company formation agents
- Solicitors
- Accountants
- Chartered secretaries and governance professionals
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 18th March 2025. From spring 2026, third-party providers will also need to be registered as ACSPs to *make any filings on behalf of other companies*.
Anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK will need to verify their identity to prove they are who they claim to be. This means you’ll need to verify your identity if you are:
- a director
- equivalent of a director – this includes members, general partners and managing officers
- a person with significant control (PSC)
Individuals can verify their identity in one of two ways: directly with Companies House via GOV.UK One Login or through an ACSP.
The voluntary period for identity verification opened on 8 April 2025 and is expected to become mandatory in autumn 2025.
One of the most important considerations for firms is the impact on the client experience and the potential operational risks if they don’t register as an ACSP.
With these requirements set to become mandatory, relying on clients to go through the identity verification themselves can create a fragmented experience and may open doors to delays, errors, or inaction.
Clients may forget to complete the process or run into technical problems. In turn this can prevent firms from fulfilling their own obligations because they’re effectively waiting on client to complete a task.
Becoming an ACSP allows firms to maintain control over the process, ensuring that verification is done correctly and in a timely manner.
Most importantly it helps safeguard the client relationship by offering a smoother service that reflects their role as a trusted advisor.
There are certain legal requirements that Companies House authorised agents must adhere to: informing Companies House of any changes to the information they hold about the agent within 14 days, providing further information about filings and identity checks if requested by Companies House, and maintaining records of any identity checks conducted on clients for 7 years.
Non-compliance with these legal requirements may be regarded as an offence committed by the agent, who will be subject to fines or criminal prosecution
Firms must implement appropriate tools and improve onboarding workflows to meet Companies House requirements—this entails a robust identity verification system, updated AML procedures, and effective record-keeping practices.
Additionally, staff should receive training on these new protocols and understand the firm’s legal responsibilities.
To foster transparency and enhance the client experience, firms should inform clients about these changes, educate them on regulatory requirements, and clarify the necessity of stricter onboarding processes.
When verifying identities, firms must clearly communicate the necessary documents required from clients and explain the submission process.
How Amiqus can help firms intending to become an ACSP
Verifying the identity of clients manually can be burdensome, time-consuming, and administratively demanding. Moreover, according to Companies House guidelines, only those trained by specialised providers to detect fraudulent documents can effectively perform these checks, which adds additional potential risk to your business. Amiqus possesses digitally advanced technologies to carry out and document identity verification processes, providing firms with peace of mind and minimising impact on clients and staff.
Identity document validation technologies (IDVT) are forms of technology that can quickly and easily assist you in establishing the authenticity of documents presented for identity verification purposes, including passports, biometric residence permits, driving licences and identity cards.
ACSPs must consider the guidance provided by Companies House on how to meet Companies House identity verification standards and The Registrar’s (Identity Verification by Authorised Corporate Service Providers Rules) 2025.
The official expectations on this matter are: “The applicant must use Option 1 if they are eligible for any of the evidence listed in Option 1 and the ACSP has the capability to validate cryptographic features.”
The term ‘applicant’ refers to the person requesting verification or re-verification of their identity by an ACSP.
Additionally, the rules specify, “When available, biometric or photographic evidence must be used to assess likeness against the individual. If an applicant is eligible to obtain this evidence from the relevant authority, it is considered available, even if they do not currently hold it.” Therefore, failing to provide this evidence may be regarded as unacceptable.
Cryptographic features of identity documentation are security features that correctly identify the person or organisation that issued the documentation.
Many modern identity documents, such as passports and ID cards, include an RFID chip. This chip stores reliable personal information, including the holder’s full name, date of birth, nationality, and a high-resolution face image suitable for face matching. These features make cryptographic checks an essential step in verifying the authenticity of identity documents.
Yes. Amiqus leverages the NFC (Near Field Communication) technology in smartphones to read the chip embedded within identity documents. This chip holds personal details and a digital version of the passport photo, ensuring it matches the information visible on the physical document.
Additionally, the chip contains data about the document’s digital security and authenticity. The Amiqus check process includes facial verification, where a live image of the individual is compared with the high-resolution face image from their identity document. This ensures the person presenting the document is its rightful owner.
By merging the passport chip data with the photo of the passport’s photo page and assessing facial similarity and liveness, Amiqus delivers a thorough and reliable ID process for ACSPs.
To save time later, Companies House recommends that directors, people with significant control, and those filing information with Companies House verify their identities during the ongoing voluntary window.
If you don’t already have a system in place, it’s worth looking into a solution like Amiqus which offers quick, easy, and secure identity verification. We’re here to support you through this process. Please book a call or email us at [email protected] if you’d like to talk about how we can help.