SERVICES
What They Mean for Your Business
From 8 April 2025, company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) in the United Kingdom (UK) can opt to verify their identity with Companies House.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on business regulations lately, you might have spotted a new acronym floating about: ACSP. It stands for Authorised Corporate Service Provider, and whilst it sounds rather formal, it’s actually something that could make your life as a business owner considerably easier.
So what’s the story behind ACSPs, and why should you care? Let’s have a proper chat about it.
Think of an ACSP as your officially approved go-between with Companies House. These are businesses that have been given the green light by the government to form companies and submit various bits of information on behalf of clients like you.
The change came about through the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 — quite a mouthful, that one. Essentially, the government decided it was time to tighten things up and make it harder for dodgy characters to hide behind shell companies. From 2024 onwards, only authorised providers can handle certain tasks, like registering new companies or updating company records.
It’s all about trust, really. ACSPs are there to make sure everything going to Companies House is accurate, properly verified, and ticks all the right boxes.
Right, let’s get into the practical side of things. ACSPs handle quite a few essential tasks that keep your company running smoothly and legally.
Whether you’re forming a limited company, a public limited company, or a limited liability partnership, an ACSP can sort it all out. They’ll take care of the paperwork — your articles of association, director details, registered office address, shareholder information, the works.
Here’s where things have changed a bit: identity verification now has to happen before your company can be registered. Your ACSP manages this whole process, making sure everything’s done properly and meets the new legal standards. No cutting corners.
Every UK company needs to keep Companies House in the loop with accurate information. This includes your confirmation statements (they used to be called annual returns), any changes to directors, share updates, or if you move your registered office.
Having an ACSP handle these filings means you’re far less likely to miss deadlines or make mistakes that could land you with penalties. They know exactly what needs doing and when.
This is quite important for transparency. ACSPs verify and report details about People with Significant Control — PSCs for short. These are individuals who own or control more than 25% of your company.
The whole point is to prevent hidden ownership structures and strengthen safeguards against money laundering. It’s part of the government’s commitment to keeping UK business above board.
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Identity verification now applies to company directors, PSCs, company secretaries, and anyone submitting filings. Your ACSP can verify these details through document uploads, biometric checks (like passport scans), or direct verification with Companies House.
If someone fails verification, their filing gets rejected — simple as that. Having an experienced ACSP manage this process saves you a fair bit of hassle and potential headaches.
Here’s the thing: ACSPs aren’t just paper-pushers. They’re legally accountable for what they submit, which means they’re taking on real responsibility.
To become authorised, they must be supervised under the UK’s anti-money laundering regulations by bodies like HMRC, ICAEW, or the FCA. They also need to register with Companies House and maintain detailed records. If they spot anything suspicious, they’re required to report it.
In other words, you’re working with a regulated professional who’s trained and monitored. That’s rather reassuring, isn’t it?
When you’re forming a company or making updates, you’ve got two options:
(1) use an ACSP (such as an accountant or company formation agent)
(2) go directly to Companies House and complete all the identity verification yourself.
For most business owners — especially if you’re juggling a thousand other things — using an ACSP is simply the more sensible choice. It ensures you’re meeting all the compliance requirements without having to become an expert yourself.
Let’s be honest about why partnering with an ACSP makes sense:
Whilst you can still register directly through Companies House, most business owners find that using an ACSP is far more convenient, particularly if you’ve got a complex company structure or multiple directors involved.
We’re an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, which means we’re officially recognised by Companies House and regulated under AML legislation.
We help businesses throughout Scotland navigate these changes without breaking a sweat — from company formation and registration right through to confirmation statements, updates, and compliance checks.
Our team is already fully prepared for the ACSP framework, so you can trust us to manage your filings accurately and efficiently, all whilst staying in full compliance with UK law.
Let us handle the administrative side of things whilst you focus on what really matters: running and growing your business with confidence.
If you want to find out more about how the new Authorised Corporate Service Provider situation affects your business contact us and we can give you the advice you need and explain how Callan Accountancy is ideally placed to help you run your business with maximum efficiency.
Callan Accountancy has a team of experienced professionals dedicated to carrying out VAT returns. We stay up-to-date with the latest VAT regulations and changes, ensuring your returns are accurate and in compliance with current laws.
At Callan we use cutting-edge accounting software and automation tools to streamline the VAT return process. This not only reduces the potential for errors but also saves you time and money and we can work quicker and more efficiently.
Our approach is client-centric. We offer personalised consultations to understand our clients specific business needs and challenges. We then tailor our VAT return services to each clients unique circumstances, ensuring they get the most accurate and beneficial results.
Yes. Callan Accountancy has extensive experience in dealing with international VAT matters and complex transactions. We can navigate the intricacies of cross-border VAT regulations and ensure that you are fully compliant. We take the burden of compliance off your shoulders, so you can focus on your core business activities.
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