The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 is transforming UK company law to enhance transparency, combat economic crime, and improve the reliability of Companies House data. These reforms impact anyone setting up, running, owning, or controlling a UK-registered company. Below, we explore the key changes outlined on the Changes to UK Company Law website, with dedicated sections for each major reform and additional links to related guidance.
The Act strengthens trust in the UK’s corporate registers, supporting economic growth and tackling economic crime. It introduces the most significant reforms to Companies House since 1844, enhancing the Registrar’s powers and imposing stricter requirements to ensure accurate data. These changes foster a transparent and reliable corporate environment for businesses and the public. Learn more about why these changes matter.
Implemented in phases from 4 March 2024, the Act includes:
From 4 March 2024: Enhanced Registrar powers to query information, stricter company name checks, and requirements for companies to confirm lawful activities and provide a registered email address.
From Spring 2025: Mandatory identity verification for directors, people with significant control (PSCs), and filers, with options to suppress personal information from historical documents.
From Autumn 2025: Companies no longer need to maintain certain registers (e.g., directors, PSCs), but must submit this information to Companies House. The central register option for officer information ends.
From Spring 2026: Limited partnerships must file via Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs), provide shareholder details, and face corporate director restrictions.
A detailed timeline is available here.
The Act applies to all Companies House-registered entities, including private limited companies, public limited companies (PLCs), limited liability partnerships (LLPs), limited partnerships (LPs), community interest companies (CICs), and overseas companies. Directors, PSCs, and third-party filers (e.g., accountants, agents) must comply with new rules, such as identity verification and ACSP registration. Find out more about who is affected.
Accounts filing is shifting to software-only processes to improve efficiency and combat economic crime. Small and micro-entity companies must now file profit and loss accounts, with details in forthcoming secondary legislation. Small companies (not micro-entities) will file a directors’ report. Abridged accounts are discontinued, and audit-exempt companies must include a directors’ statement on the balance sheet confirming exemption eligibility. Read more about changes to accounts.
From 4 March 2024, all companies, including dormant ones, must provide a registered email address in their annual confirmation statement, used for Companies House communications (not publicly disclosed). New companies provide this at incorporation, while existing companies must comply with their next confirmation statement from 5 March 2024. Non-compliance may incur penalties. Learn about confirmation statement changes.
From 8 April 2025, directors, PSCs, and LLP members must verify their identity via GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP, ensuring individuals are who they claim to enhance register trust. A transition period applies for existing companies. Explore identity verification details.
From 18 March 2025, third-party filers must register as ACSPs with Companies House, requiring Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervision, identity verification, and a £55 fee. Registered ACSPs receive a digital account and unique identity number for filings. Find out how to become an ACSP.
From Autumn 2025, companies are relieved from maintaining registers for directors, directors’ residential addresses, secretaries, or PSCs, but must submit and update this information with Companies House. The option to hold officer information on the central register will end, though shareholder registers remain mandatory. Read more about company register changes.
From Spring 2026, limited partnerships must file through ACSPs, provide a UK registered office address in their country of registration, and submit a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code and additional transparency data, pending secondary legislation. Learn about limited partnership changes.
The Act enhances the Registrar’s powers to query, challenge, and remove inaccurate information, ensuring reliable registers. New statutory objectives mandate proper document delivery and accurate, non-misleading data to combat economic crime and boost economic confidence. Discover how data quality is improving.
From Spring 2026, corporate directors will be restricted to UK entities with legal personality, whose directors are verified natural persons. Enhanced shareholder information requirements will further transparency. Read about transparency improvements.
From 27 January 2025, individuals can apply to suppress personal information, such as home addresses used as registered office addresses, from historical documents. From Summer 2025, suppression extends to residential addresses and the day of birth for pre-October 2015 documents. Learn about protecting personal information.
Since 1 August 2022, overseas entities dealing with UK property must register with Companies House, disclosing beneficial owners or managing officers. This public register, under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022, ensures transparency, with strict penalties for non-compliance. Explore the Register of Overseas Entities.
From 1 May 2024, Companies House increased fees to fund new expenditures and recover costs, supporting the Act’s reforms. A comprehensive fee list is available here. Read about fee changes.
For detailed guidance on registering, filing, and compliance, visit the Companies House guidance on GOV.UK. The Find and Update Company Information service provides free access to public data. Contact the Companies House press office (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm) for updates. Access more information.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 is revolutionizing UK company law with measures to enhance transparency, combat economic crime, and ensure data reliability. From identity verification to software-only filing and privacy protections, these reforms impact all companies and stakeholders. Stay informed and compliant by visiting the Changes to UK Company Law website and related resources.
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