Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) –
Guidance for third-party providers of identity verification for UK registered
companies
All third-party providers of identity verification at Companies House will need to register their business as an ACSP before they can perform identity verification checks on their clients.
Standards to become an ACSP
ACSPs must be supervised within the UK by one of the relevant anti-money laundering (AML) supervisory bodies, such as HMRC or the Financial Conduct Authority. The full list of supervisory bodies can be found on the government website. As part of the ACSP registration process, Companies House will request the AML supervisory body membership number for the ACSP.
If an ACSP operates as a sole trader or is a company that is not registered with Companies House, it will still need to register as an ACSP but will be required to provide further details. This allows Companies House to cross-reference the information provided with the AML supervisory body’s data, given that Companies House does not hold any records for non-incorporated companies.
Companies House has new powers to ensure compliance of ACSPs. This includes the ability to suspend or cease an ACSP, if there is reason to believe that an ACSP is no longer fit and proper to provide identity verification services.
Registering to become an ACSP
From 25 February 2025, businesses can apply to become an ACSP using Companies House new online service.
The person registering a business as an ACSP will need to complete a registration process, which includes identity verification of that individual as part of the application. Certain information about the business will also need to be provided, such as the supervisory body membership number. This information will need to be kept up to date once the business is registered as an ACSP. There will also be a £55 registration fee payable to Companies House.
Once registered, the ACSP will be provided with a digital account and a unique identity number. This will allow the ACSP to file information and complete identity verification checks for their clients, as well as enable Companies House to identify that the information provided has come from an authorised source.
The person registering the business as an ACSP will be able to add other employees of that business to the ACSP account once it has been registered and approved. These employees will not be subject to identity verification but will be allowed to access services on behalf of the authorised agent, such as being able to carry out identity checks for clients.
Guidance will be published on the government website in early February 2025 to assist with the registration and requirements of ACSPs.
If you would like to find out more please contact our Corporate & Commercial team who would be happy to discuss the contents of this article and any relating matters you may have for your business.
Disclaimer: General Information Provided Only
Please note that the contents of this article are intended solely for general information purposes and should not be considered as legal advice. We cannot be held responsible for any loss resulting from actions or inactions taken based on this article.
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