What is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)?

Due to the implementation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), the landscape of UK corporate governance is set to undergo the biggest change in years. For accountants and professional service providers, there are new responsibilities on the horizon, and strict regulatory requirements aimed at combating financial crime and enhancing transparency.

One of the most significant changes is the introduction of Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs), alongside new identity verification rules for directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs).

It’s essential that accountants start preparing now, and don’t wait until 18th November, to ensure plenty of time to test out policies, trial software, and ensure no regulatory slips happen under their watch.

What do these changes mean for accountants?

Essentially, Companies House has been given new powers that involve requiring more stringent compliance checks, aimed at reducing fraud and strengthening the integrity of the UK business environment. A large part of these changes centre on mandatory identity verification for directors, PSCs, and those filing information on the register. For accountants, these changes are particularly significant because not only do they reshape compliance requirements, but also elevate the profession’s role in safeguarding and regulatory compliance.

By reducing the risk of fraud and economic crime, the new rules help create a safer marketplace for clients and investors. Improved transparency of corporate ownership will require accountants to ensure that ultimate beneficial ownership information is accurately captured and reported, placing greater emphasis on due diligence and verification processes.

It’s likely that trusted accountants will sit at the forefront of helping directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) understand and fulfil their new obligations, with increased accountability in company admin another key element. This positions accountants not just as service providers, but as valuable compliance partners who play a key role in upholding corporate governance standards.

So whilst these changes do introduce some significant compliance hurdles and regulatory risks, they also play a vital role in a safer financial environment, whilst also giving accountants the opportunity to reinforce their role as even more essential to their clients.

Identity Verification: What’s happening from 18th November 2025

The major changes are happening from 18th November 2025, when all new directors and PSCs will need to have their identities verified before incorporation or appointment.

The UK Government states that:

• New directors will need to verify their identity to incorporate a company or be appointed to an existing company
• Existing directors will need to confirm they have verified their identity at the same time as they file their next annual confirmation statement, during a 12-month transition period
• Existing PSCs will need to verify their identity in line with an appointed day within 12 months of the commencement of mandatory identity verification on 18 November
• Every PSC has a 14-day window to submit a statement confirming they have verified their identity, along with their Companies House personal code.
• The start date of this 14-day window depends on their circumstances:
• • New PSCs (after 18 Nov 2025): Period starts from the date they register with Companies House.
  • Existing PSCs who are directors: Period starts from the company’s confirmation statement date.
  • Existing PSCs who are not directors: Period starts from the first day of their month of birth (as shown on the register). For example, if listed as March 1990, the period begins on 1 March 2026.

Identity verification requirements for limited partnerships, corporate directors, corporate LLP members, and officers of corporate PSCs will follow later.

The ACSP Requirement

From Spring 2025, third-party service providers (such as accountants) will need to register as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) if they want to:

• Verify client identities
• File information on behalf of clients

ACSP registration process:

• Applicants must be supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body (e.g., ICAEW, ACCA – 25 in total).
• Applicants will need to provide their supervisory body membership number.
• Sole traders and non-incorporated businesses will need to provide additional information, cross-checked with AML data.
• Once approved, ACSPs will be issued a digital account and unique identity number.

This identity number will be essential for uploading client identity details to Companies House. Clients who successfully complete the process will then receive a Companies House Personal Code, required for future submissions.

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"Identity verification will play a key role in improving the quality and reliability of our data and tackling misuse of the companies register.To support business and help people verify their identities, Companies House is contacting all companies with advice and guidance. This is part of a coordinated effort to help companies to comply.

We encourage people to verify as early as possible. More than 300,000 individuals have already done so during the current voluntary period, which started in April," said Louise Smyth CBE, Companies House CEO.

Timeline of important dates

• Spring 2025 – ACSP registration opened
• Autumn 2025 – Additional information required for incorporation and appointments
• 18 November 2025 – Identity verification becomes compulsory for new directors and PSCs
• Spring 2026 – Only ACSPs will be able to file information on behalf of companies

How can accountants prepare for the ACSP changes?

To stay ahead of these new regulations, accountants should:

• Familiarise themselves with the ACSP registration, including the Companies House application process. Don't leave it too late to apply.
• Plan ahead for customers and make sure to be on hand for questions about the changes and the deadlines.
• Stringently review their IDV process and ensure the current systems are fit for purpose when undertaking the new requirements

Companies House has encouraged early engagement to ensure a smooth transition. By preparing now, accountants can ensure both their own firms and their clients are fully compliant ahead of the 2025 deadlines.

The upcoming ACSP changes will transform the way accountants manage compliance and client verification. Your clients will be looking to you for answers around the new IDV rules and other sweeping changes. But don't worry, Red Flag Alert can help. Our Compliance solution streamlines identity verification, making the process much faster whilst also reducing risk. We can help make sure that accountants are fully prepared for all of the upcoming ECCTA changes and much more.