What is an authorised corporate service provider?
Using an unverified agent to file company documents now risks immediate rejection from Companies House.
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a UK-based business or professional that operates under Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervision and holds authorisation to file information with Companies House on behalf of clients.
Introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, the ACSP scheme creates a new class of trusted agents who must conduct mandatory identity verification checks before submitting documents. The Act fundamentally changes how Companies House verifies identities, shifting the responsibility for initial verification to approved ACSPs to help combat financial crime.
Third-Party Agents Filing for Clients Must Register as ACSPs
You must register as an ACSP if you are a UK-based limited company or sole trader that files information or documents at Companies House on behalf of clients.
The main groups that must register as ACSPs include:
- Accountants and accountancy firms
- Solicitors and law firms
- Company formation agents
- Trust and Company Service Providers
- Company secretarial firms
Directors and PSCs Filing For Their Own Company Are Exempt
You do not need to register as an ACSP if you are a director, secretary, or people with significant control (PSC) who only files information for your own company or companies. However, you must still complete the mandatory identity verification process for your role as a director or PSC. The ACSP requirement applies specifically to third-party agents acting on behalf of clients.
How to Verify Your Agent’s ACSP Status
Verify an agent’s status by using the official Authorised Corporate Service Provider register on the GOV.UK website. Companies House maintains this list as a public record to ensure agents who file documents for clients are supervised for Anti-Money Laundering purposes.
Once there, look up the full name of an agent of interest, their corresponding supervisory body (e.g., HMRC, ACCA, ICAEW), and the town and postcode of their registered office.
Key Benefits of Using a Registered ACSP
Protect Your Reputation with an AML-Supervised Agent
A UK AML supervisory body (e.g., HMRC, Law Society) supervises every ACSP. This protects your business reputation because the agent must operate within a regulated framework that:
- Conducts mandatory identity checks using the GOV.UK One Login system.
- Signals a commitment to regulatory compliance, which can strengthen relationships with banks and financial institutions
- Monitors for suspicious financial activity.
Only Registered ACSPs Can Legally File Your Company Documents
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act gives only ACSPs the authority to file documents with Companies House. An agent without ACSP status cannot complete your registration or file confirmation statements, leading to delays or striking-off notices.
Penalties for Using Unregistered Agents
From , Companies House will reject any documents that an unregistered accountant or company formation agent tries to file on your company’s behalf. “A rejection from Companies House blocks your confirmation statement or director appointments, putting your company at risk of non-compliance, late filing penalties, and even being struck off the register.
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