Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) Registration: What Accountancy Practices Need to Know
Companies House made ACSP registration mandatory for accountants, legal professionals and agents under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act on 18 March 2025 .
So, what exactly is ACSP & how can Accountants, legal professionals and agents register for it? Let’s explore.
Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a new requirement that requires agent to verify their own identity before filing information or verifying others’ identities for HMRC. This applies to accountants operating as agents, person with significant controls and directors.
If you are an Accountant or Tax Advisor operating as a sole trader, partner in partnership or directors in limited liability partnerships, its essential to understand the legal requirements of ACSP and operate legally.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the process of registering as an authorised agent including the eligibility criteria, compliance responsibilities, implications of non-compliance and key dates and deadlines.
Who Needs to Register as an ACSP?
Agents who plan to verify the identity of the clients for the Companies House are required to register as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. However, on the future, all the accountants working as agent and person with significant controls who file with the Companies House will need to register.
PSCs are those personnel with major influence or control over the business such as:
- Ownership of 25% or more shares or voting rights
- Power to appoint or remove majority of BOD
- Ability to influence or control over company
Eligibility Criteria to Register as an ACSP?
For an Accountant to become an authorised agent under Companies House, you must fulfil the following requirements.
- An agent should be based on UK i.e. incorporated and doing significant business in UK
- Supervised by the relevant Anti-Money Laundering supervisory body
There are currently 25 Anti-Money Laundering Supervisory body in the UK, and you must be registered with at least one that regulates your industry.
Who Can Apply?
All forms of corporate bodies and unincorporated entities can apply for Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) status under the Companies House UK.
If you are an Accountant operating as a sole trader, you can also register yourself as an authorised agent.
For the business, the senior personnel such as directors, partners, general partners, or manager can apply for Companies House authorised agent status.
Step-By-Step Registration Process?
You can register for authorised agent via Companies House official website. You can follow the following four step plan to register on Companies House.
Step 1: Verify Your Identity
To use online service to register as an authorised agent, you need to sign in to the Companies House and verify your identity.
For this process, you need email address registered with Companies house.
Step 2: Share Information About the Business
After the verification, you are required to share general information regarding the business. The specific details depend on the type of business you are looking for registration.
You can take a reference to the table below for the specific documents and information required based on your business.
Note
- In case of LLPs and Limited Companies, if AML registration is made under different name, it needs to be updated before you apply.
- For other businesses, you will need to give your name if you’re registered with AML supervisory body with your own name.
Step 3: Share AML Registration Details
For ACSP status, the business must be registered with relevant UK AML.
You are required to share the names of the supervisory bodies the business is registered with and AML membership IDs or numbers.
You can check your practising certificate, supervisory body’s online register and communications from supervisory body for your membership number.
Step 4: Confirm Your Legal Responsibilities
As a registered agent, you have several legal responsibilities. This includes but are not limited to:
- Always be registered to at least one UK AML
- Report on any changes to agent information within 14 days
- Keep records of any identity checks for 7 years and provide information about filings if requested
You will need to confirm you understand and accept your legal responsibilities as an authorised agent.
Step 5: Pay the Application Fee
You need to review your application and make any changes if required.
Then, click the “Pay Now” button, which will redirect you to payment page.
Complete the payment process. Now, your application is submitted to Companies House. You will get the confirmation email to your email address.
It will take 2-3 working days and you will be notified of the acceptance or rejection of your application via email. They will also state the reasons for rejection if your application is rejected.
Once your application is accepted, you can access your agent service account and assist clients with filings with Companies House.
ACSP Account & Its Features
If you application is accepted, your business is registered as ACSPs, and you can access your account by logging in to Companies House.
ACSP account allows you to add and authorise people to file and verify people’s identities on behalf of the client for Companies House. Besides, you can also assign distinct roles namely account owners, administrators, and standard users.
More to this, you can update any changes in your details available to HMRC via this account.
You can also use ACSP account to update HMRC of any identity verification you have done on behalf of HMRC.
Legal Compliance Requirements for ACSP
Authorised Corporate Service Providers must comply with the following legal requirements.
- At all times, ACSP must be registered with at least one Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body
- The agent must inform Companies House regarding any changes to the information at Companies House within 14 days
- The agent must be able to provide further information regarding agent’s filings with Companies House, identity checks performed on the behalf of Companies House and compliance with legal requirements upon request from the Companies House
- If the agent has verified the identity of clients for the Companies House, they must keep records of checks for at least 7 years
Notes
- In case of sole trader, the individual under which its registered as authorised agent is responsible.
- In case of other businesses, senior officials such as directors, managers or partners are responsible.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Non-compliance with ACSP legal requirements would result in suspension or cessation of ACSP status. This would prevent you the agent from filing and verifying people’s identities for Companies House. Also, you may face penalties, imprisonment and probation as well.
Beside this, cessation, and suspension of ACSP status could damage the reputation among the clients as well.
Key Dates
Below are the key dates an Accountant must keep an eye on for the ACSP requirements.
- 18 March 2025: Individuals and Organisations were able to register as ACSP. Also, its mandatory to have ACSP status to verify client’s identity on behalf of Companies House.
- 8 April 2025: Individuals (Directors and Person with Significant Controls) can voluntarily verify their identity using gov.uk login or via an ACSP.
Conclusion
Authorised Corporate Service Provider is a new requirement that requires agents verifying information on the behalf of client, directors, and Person with significant control to verify their identity. As of now, ACSP registration is only mandatory for agent verifying identity of clients. However, in the future, all directors and PSCs would be required to verify their identity.
Are you registered as ACSP? If yes, comment below. If no, register today and stay competitive and compliant with HMRC regulations.
Are we required to register as ACSP if we are already registered as an authorised agent under Register of Overseas Entities?
The authorised agent status from Register of Overseas Entities is not transferred to Authorised Corporate Service Providers status. Thus, you are required to register under ACSP even though you are registered as authorised agent under Register of Overseas Entities act or similar others.
