Companies House Reform: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023

Companies House has already seen some significant changes to its powers and to the way it operates, and there are further changes ahead. Ryan Copeland and Ruth Crout explain the details. 

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) has already brought some significant reform to the powers Companies House has, and the way it operates, and there are more changes in the pipeline. Read below for the main changes to date, and those to look out for in the next few months and beyond.

Changes so far – increased power for the Registrar, appropriate addresses, and ID verification

4 March 2024

Companies House gained the power to query information filed, and to reject information which is inconsistent where the inconsistency brings doubt as to its accuracy. The Registrar’s ability to remove information has been extended to include the removal of incorrect information.

Companies are now also required to provide an “appropriate” registered email address (not for public view), and to maintain an “appropriate address”. An appropriate email address is one where emails sent to it should ordinarily come to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company. An appropriate address is one where documents can be delivered to the office, recorded, and brought to the attention of a person acting on behalf of the company. Failure to maintain an appropriate address or an appropriate email address, without reasonable excuse, will be an offence.

18 March 2025

Companies House gained the power to carry out checks on Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ASCPs), to authorise them to carry out verification services. ACSPs need to be registered in the UK, and are subject to the UK’s anti-money laundering regime.

18 November 2025

The requirement for UK Companies to maintain their own ‘local’ register of directors, register of directors’ residential addresses, register of secretaries, and/or register of persons with significant control (PSC) ceased.

The transition period for compulsory ID verification began. Newly appointed directors and PSCs of UK companies who are individuals now are required to have their identities verified. During the 12-month transition period, existing directors and PSCs will need to confirm that they have verified their identity when they file their next annual confirmation statement. This is something all companies should keep a look out for. If their appointed directors are not yet verified (which you can see from the “People” page on the Companies House register) this will need to be done as part of the company’s confirmation statement this year.

Changes to look out for – transparency for limited partnerships, corporate directors, and annual accounts

No earlier than November 2026

Provision was made in the ECCTA for requirements on individuals delivering documents to Companies House (either on their own behalf or on behalf of another), who will need to have their identity verified. This requirement will not apply to employees of ACSPs. Third party agents will need to be registered as ACSPs in order to be able to file documents at Companies House. These new requirements were intended to come into force in spring 2026, but Companies House’s outline transition plan confirms these will be in place no earlier than November 2026.

By end of 2026

The ECCTA includes provisions aiming at increasing corporate transparency requirements for limited partnerships, including maintaining a registered office which is an appropriate address, and that the appropriate address is in the part of the UK where the limited partnership is registered – this will ensure limited partnerships maintain a UK connection. Additionally, changes to partners’ details will need to be notified within 14 days and the limited partnership will need to submit annual confirmation statements.

Timing unclear…

The compulsory ID requirements are intended to be expanded to Relevant Legal Entities (RLE) which qualify as a PSC. The RLE will need to identify a “relevant officer”, whose identity will need to be verified.  Corporate directors will also be required to identify a relevant officer who is a natural person and have their identify verified. Corporate general partners of limited partnerships will also need to nominate a director whose identity will need to be verified.

New restrictions will prevent overseas companies acting as corporate directors in the UK, and corporate directors of companies must have a Board of entirely natural persons. The directors of corporate directors will be required to verify their identity. The Companies House transition plan does not provide a timeframe for these changes.

Changes to the regime for filing companies’ annual accounts are also included in the ECCTA. These changes include mandatory software-only filing, removing the option for small companies and micro-businesses to file abridged accounts, and limits to the number of times that a company can shorten its accounting reference period. Companies will be given 21 months to prepare for these changes. They were initially intended to come into effect in April 2027, but are currently under review and implementation will therefore be delayed.

Ryan Copeland is a Partner and Ruth Crout is a Trainee Solicitor at Sharpe Pritchard LLP.

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