Reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 are changing how companies file information and verify the people responsible for those filings. Companies House is moving beyond its traditional role as a company information register and taking greater control over who can submit filings and how their identities are confirmed.
One of the main changes is the introduction of Authorised Corporate Service Providers, or ACSPs. Under the new framework, anyone filing on behalf of a company will need to be either a registered ACSP or a verified employee of that company. Directors filing for themselves will also need to complete identity verification. That reduces the scope for companies to rely on informal filing arrangements involving advisers, bookkeepers, virtual assistants or other third parties. Businesses will increasingly need to confirm that anyone handling Companies House submissions meets the required status.
Law Debenture is already registered as an ACSP, placing its corporate services operation in a position to support companies adapting to the new framework. It provides identity verification for UK directors, people with significant control and LLP members across more than 120 jurisdictions, including clients who are not physically based in the UK.
The immediate issue is identity verification. Companies House opened voluntary identity verification in April 2025 and has since issued around 4.5 million verification codes to individual directors and people with significant control. However, only 47% of directors have included their codes in confirmation statement filings. On-time confirmation statement compliance has fallen to 55%.
The figures indicate that implementation is already creating practical problems. Some directors have encountered difficulties using GOV.UK One Login, while those without biometric passports can face additional barriers. This increases the importance of completing verification well before statutory filing deadlines.
The rules also make responsibility clearer. Each director and person with significant control must complete their own verification. Companies also need to review who currently submits filings on their behalf and establish whether those people will qualify as verified employees or registered ACSPs.
Further changes are scheduled for April 2028. From that point, all UK companies will be required to file annual accounts using commercial software in iXBRL format. Existing paper and web-based filing routes for accounts will close.
Law Debenture Corporation plc (LON:LWDB) provides a wider range of services including corporate and pension trusts, process agent services, treasury management, corporate services including for special purpose vehicles, structured finance administration and whistleblowing services.
