Who Needs an ACSP? UK Company Director Guide
A new customer, a busy payroll week and three jobs to price is not the time most business owners want to think about Companies House identity verification. Yet it is now part of running a UK limited company. If you are asking who needs an ACSP, the short answer is: not every director or business must use one, but an Authorised Corporate Service Provider can be the practical route where you need identity verification handled professionally.
An ACSP is a business, such as an accountant, solicitor or company formation agent, that is authorised by Companies House to carry out identity verification for its clients. The role was introduced as part of wider reforms designed to make company records more reliable and harder for criminals to misuse.
For genuine owner-managed businesses, this is mainly another compliance job to plan for properly. The key is understanding whether you can verify directly with Companies House, when an ACSP is useful, and what happens if you leave it too late.
What an ACSP does
ACSP stands for Authorised Corporate Service Provider. To register as one, a firm must be supervised for anti-money laundering purposes by an approved UK supervisory body and meet Companies House requirements.
Its main role is to verify an individual's identity to the standard required by Companies House. After checks have been completed, the ACSP confirms the verification result to Companies House. It does not remove a director's responsibilities or take over the company. It gives you a compliant way to complete a required step with support from someone who understands company administration.
That distinction matters. A bookkeeper, accountant or formation agent may help prepare and submit filings, but only an ACSP can carry out identity verification for Companies House under this process. Always check that the firm is registered as an ACSP before relying on it for verification.
Who needs an ACSP for Companies House checks?
Strictly speaking, many people who need to verify their identity do not have to use an ACSP. They can usually complete verification directly through Companies House using the Government's online route, provided they can meet the requirements.
However, people who hold certain company roles must arrange identity verification. This includes new and existing company directors, people with significant control, often called PSCs, and relevant partners in LLPs. The rules also affect those setting up new companies and people filing information on behalf of a business in certain circumstances.
An ACSP is especially useful for the following groups.
Limited company directors
If you are a director of a small building company, a cab business, a consultancy or a family trading company, you need to ensure your identity verification is completed by the required deadline. This applies even where the company is dormant or has very little activity.
Direct verification may suit a director who is comfortable using digital services and has straightforward identification documents. Using an ACSP may be better if you want your accountant to guide you through the process, your documents or circumstances are less straightforward, or you want verification dealt with alongside your annual accounts and confirmation statement planning.
People with significant control
A PSC is generally someone who owns or controls more than 25% of a company’s shares or voting rights, can appoint or remove most directors, or otherwise exercises significant influence or control.
A person can be both a director and a PSC. In that case, identity verification still needs to be addressed for both roles, even though the practical process may not mean repeating the same checks unnecessarily. The important point is to make sure Companies House holds the correct verified status against the right person and role.
This catches many small companies where a husband and wife, family members or business partners own the shares. Do not assume that the person who normally deals with the accountant is the only one affected. Every relevant director and PSC needs attention.
New company founders
When you form a new company, identity verification is built into the incorporation process. Founders and proposed directors should deal with it before they are under pressure to open a business bank account, sign a lease or start trading.
Using an ACSP can make sense where several directors or shareholders are involved, particularly if they are busy on site, travelling for work or unfamiliar with Companies House procedures. It can also help ensure the company is set up with the right people recorded in the right roles from day one.
Overseas directors and PSCs
Identity verification applies regardless of nationality or where someone lives. Overseas directors and PSCs can face extra practical difficulties with documents, digital identity checks and timings.
An ACSP is not automatically required, but it can be a sensible choice. A regulated UK firm can explain what evidence is needed, carry out the necessary checks, and reduce the risk of a last-minute problem holding up an appointment or filing.
Businesses that use an agent for company work
If an accountant, solicitor or company secretarial agent deals with company filings for you, it is worth asking whether they are an ACSP and whether identity verification is included in their service. Do not assume that appointing an agent means everything is covered.
There are two separate questions: who is allowed to file information, and who is authorised to verify identities. Your agent needs the right authority for the task they are performing. Getting this clear early avoids duplicated work and confusing requests later.
When you may not need to use an ACSP
If you are a sole director and sole PSC, have suitable documents, and are happy completing the Companies House verification journey yourself, you may not need an ACSP. That can be the simplest and lowest-cost option.
The trade-off is that you are responsible for following the process correctly, keeping your confirmation details safe and making sure the verified identity is connected to your company records as required. The online route is not necessarily difficult, but it is another compliance task that needs completing on time.
Sole traders who do not operate through a limited company do not need identity verification merely because they file Self Assessment or work under CIS. The ACSP rules relate to Companies House entities and roles, not ordinary tax return obligations. A subcontractor operating as a sole trader, for example, may need help with CIS deductions and allowable expenses but have no ACSP requirement at all.
Landlords should also separate the two issues. A landlord with personally owned rental property does not need an ACSP simply for receiving rental income. A landlord operating through a limited company may have director and PSC verification duties.
Why the deadline matters
Companies House reforms are intended to improve the quality of the register and tackle fraud. For business owners, the immediate concern is more practical: failure to comply can prevent you from making required filings or appointments, create problems with company administration and potentially lead to enforcement action.
The precise timing depends on your role and whether the company is new or already on the register. Existing companies have transition arrangements, while new appointments and incorporations can have requirements at the point changes are made. These dates can change as rules are phased in, so do not rely on an old social media post or a colleague’s experience.
If you are approaching your confirmation statement date, appointing a new director, changing ownership or incorporating a company, check the position before submitting anything. This is particularly important for construction firms, drivers and other hands-on businesses where paperwork often has to fit around long working days.
Preparing for verification without the fuss
Whether you verify directly or use an ACSP, get the basics in order. Make sure your full legal name, date of birth and address details are consistent across your identification documents and company records. Check who is listed as a director and PSC before the filing deadline rather than trying to untangle ownership details at the last minute.
You should also be wary of anyone offering quick verification without proper checks. A legitimate ACSP will need to see evidence and may ask sensible questions about the company, ownership and your identity. That can feel like extra admin, but it is part of the protection the new system is intended to provide.
If your company has had informal changes over the years - shares transferred between relatives, a director who left but was never removed, or a business partner who is no longer involved - deal with those records properly. Identity verification will not fix inaccurate company information on its own.
Getting practical support
For many small companies, an ACSP is not something to worry about; it is simply a way to keep a new Companies House obligation organised. The right choice depends on your confidence with the direct route, how complex the ownership is and whether you already rely on a trusted professional for accounts, corporation tax and company filings.
If you have further questions on any of the topics covered here, call Short and Sons Accountants for a free no-obligation quote. A quick conversation can help you establish whether you need identity verification, whether using an ACSP is worthwhile, and what else should be checked before your next Companies House deadline.
Resource material
Companies House guidance: Identity verification for directors, people with significant control and those filing on behalf of companies
Companies House guidance: Authorised Corporate Service Providers
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
GOV.UK guidance on company directors, PSCs and confirmation statements
The best time to sort this is before a filing date turns it into an urgent problem. A few checks now can keep your company records accurate and let you get back to running the business.
