On Mar. 17, 2025, UK GVT updated page to say that service for notifying Companies House regarding verifying someone's identity is available from Apr. 8, 2025.
In Mar. 2025, UK GVT announced launch of a service that allows third-party corporate service providers to apply to register as ACSP and verify identities, see #230069.
On Feb. 19, UK GVT issued guides for corporate services providers.
Follows UK GVT Oct. 2024 reported on corporate transparency and crime, #230069.
Follows UK GVT, UKP Oct. 2023 crime, transparency law given RA, see #189368.
New Requirement for ACSPs
UK GVT set out new requirement for ACSPs, aka Companies House authorized agents, that will provide information to UK GVT on those filing information on public register.
An authorized agent as defined by UK GVT can be a business (limited company or partnership), or this can also be a person who files on behalf of others (sole trader).
Agents wishing to register must be supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body, including company formation agents, solicitors, and accountants.
Authorized Agent
UK GVT requires for now that only agents that plan to verify the identity of clients for Companies House need to register, but this requirement will change in future.
In future, all agents filing with Companies House on behalf of clients will need to register, and to apply they must be senior, such as a director in a limited company.
While, sole traders have the ability to register themselves as an authorized agent.
UK GVT will create an online account for registered authorized agents accordingly.
Legal Requirements
An agent must always be registered with at least one AML supervisory body, and must inform UK GVT of changes to any of the information it holds about the agent.
This must be done within 14 days, and UK GVT may request that the agent provide more information about the agent's filings with Companies House, among other things.
Verification of Identity
UK GVT has provided separate guidance on identify verification standard.
This is about identity checks, and if the agent verifies someone’s identity for Companies House to prove the agent is complying with their legal responsibilities.
Identity checks records must be held by the agent for 7 years, if they have verified someone’s identity for Companies House, and further guidance is provided by UK GVT.
To support checking of identity documents, UK GVT published Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT)(HTML), and has published supplementary guidance.
Supplementary guidance refers to public sector data sharing for prevention and detection of crime, and UK GVT published a Memorandum of Understandingtemplate.
Effectiveness
From Mar. 25, 2025, UK GVT's service can be used when verifying someone's identity for Companies House, and records of identity checks must be retained for 7 years.
As an authorised agent will be able to file on behalf of clients as an authorized agent from spring 2026.
Feb. 24, 2025 Authorized Agent Postponed
On Feb. 24, 2025, UK GVT said launch of the service to register as a Companies House authorized agent was postponed; webpage to be updated when new date is confirmed.
Mar. 17, 2025 Verifying Someone's ID
On Mar. 17, 2025, UK GVT updated page to say that service for notifying Companies House regarding verifying someone's identity is available from Apr. 8, 2025.
In Mar. 2025, UK GVT announced launch of a service that allows third-party corporate service providers to apply to register as ACSP and verify identities, see #230069.
