New Rules for Companies House Agents in the UK

From 2024 onwards, and especially in 2025, the UK government has introduced major reforms affecting company formation agents, also known as Corporate Service Providers (CSPs).
These changes stem from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) and are now being implemented by Companies House and HMRC to strengthen the transparency and security of company registration processes in the UK.

Corporate Service Providers are at the heart of company formation in Britain — they handle incorporations, register directors, maintain company addresses, and act as intermediaries between clients and Companies House. The new regulations mean that every agent must now meet stricter registration, verification and anti-money laundering (AML) standards to continue operating legally.

Who Is a Corporate Service Provider (CSP)?

A Corporate Service Provider (CSP) is any business or individual offering professional services related to company formation and administration. This includes:

• registering new limited companies,
• submitting changes to directors, shareholders or registered offices,
• maintaining a registered address for clients,
• storing and filing company documents, and
• managing compliance filings with Companies House.

From 2025, such agents can only act for clients if they are officially registered and authorised under the new Companies House agent scheme.

Registration as an Authorised Agent

Companies House has created a dedicated Authorised Agent Register to monitor who can file on behalf of clients. To operate legally, a Corporate Service Provider must:

• register under the Companies House Authorised Agent Scheme,
• obtain a unique Agent ID number,
• confirm supervision by an approved AML body (such as HMRC, FCA or AAT),
• and keep their authorisation details up to date.

Agents who fail to register will no longer be able to submit company filings or incorporation requests. Every online submission must now be linked to a verified agent profile in Companies House systems.

Identity Verification – A Core Requirement

The new system introduces mandatory identity verification (ID verification) for all parties involved in company formation.
Authorised agents must verify:

• their own identity and that of their staff,
• the identity of their clients (company directors, shareholders, beneficial owners), and
• the identity of anyone controlling or managing a company.

Verification can be completed through the Companies House digital ID system or via an approved third-party verification service.
Filings made without valid verification will be rejected, and agents who consistently fail to meet this duty may face sanctions or loss of authorisation.

AML Obligations for Corporate Service Providers

The Economic Crime Act significantly strengthens anti-money laundering (AML) responsibilities for CSPs. Every agent must now:

• be registered and supervised by an official AML regulator,
• carry out customer due diligence (CDD) and know your customer (KYC) checks before providing services,
• conduct client risk assessments and document the results,
• report Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) when appropriate, and
• maintain staff training and AML compliance records.

These obligations align with the UK’s broader effort to combat economic crime and ensure that the company formation process cannot be exploited for money laundering or tax evasion.

Criminal and Civil Liability for Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with the new Companies House and AML requirements carries serious consequences.
Agents who submit false or incomplete information, fail to verify identities, or act without valid registration may face:

• financial penalties,
• removal from the authorised agent register,
• suspension of filing privileges,
• or, in severe cases, criminal prosecution.

Companies House now has the power to reject company incorporations or filings if the agent’s status is unverified or their AML supervision has expired. This represents a fundamental shift in how corporate services are monitored in the UK.

Transparency and Public Oversight

The goal of these reforms is to make the UK’s company register more transparent, trustworthy and resistant to abuse. From 2025:

• Companies House will publish a list of authorised agents,
• filings from unregistered intermediaries will automatically be rejected,
• and address and identity information will be cross-checked with AML databases.

This marks a decisive move toward ending anonymous or opaque company registrations — ensuring that beneficial owners (People with Significant Control) are properly identified and verified.

Preparing for Compliance – Steps for Agents

Existing Corporate Service Providers should immediately review and adapt their internal compliance frameworks. Key steps include:

1. Update AML policies to align with the Economic Crime Act 2023.
2. Register as an authorised agent and obtain an official Agent ID.
3. Implement ID verification systems for clients and employees.
4. Carry out internal compliance audits to ensure adherence to Companies House and HMRC standards.
5. Provide staff training on AML, KYC, and data protection obligations.

New agents entering the market in 2025 must complete registration with Companies House before offering incorporation services.

Benefits of Being an Authorised Agent

While compliance obligations have increased, registration as an authorised agent offers tangible benefits.
Approved agents enjoy:

• greater trust and credibility with clients and financial institutions,
• faster processing through Companies House digital systems,
• easier cooperation with banks for opening business accounts, and
• enhanced professional reputation within the corporate services sector.

Ultimately, being authorised is not only a legal necessity — it has become a mark of professionalism and reliability in the UK business environment.

Conclusion

The 2025 reforms mark a new era for the UK company formation industry. Corporate Service Providers are now required to meet high standards of transparency, due diligence and AML compliance.

Every CSP must be officially registered, maintain AML supervision, verify the identity of all clients, and follow strict reporting and documentation rules.

These changes aim to strengthen trust in the UK’s corporate register and prevent its misuse for criminal or fraudulent activity. For professionals in the field, compliance is not just an obligation — it’s an opportunity to build a stronger, more transparent business environment based on integrity and accountability.