What’s an ACSP?

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a regulated business that has been approved to act as an intermediary between companies and Companies House.

From 18 March 2025 onwards, only ACSPs (or individuals filing on their own behalf) have been able to submit certain company information, including identity verification for directors and persons with significant control (PSCs).

The ACSP regime is part of the UK government’s wider reforms to improve transparency, prevent misuse of companies and reduce economic crime.

Why ACSPs were introduced

For years, Companies House operated largely as a passive registry. Information was accepted at face value, with limited verification. That made the UK attractive for criminals seeking to set up companies quickly and anonymously.

The ACSP framework changes that dynamic. It introduces a gatekeeper role, placing responsibility on regulated professionals to verify identities before information reaches the public register.

This sits alongside broader reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, all aimed at improving the reliability of UK company data.

Who can become an ACSP?

Only certain businesses are eligible to register as an ACSP. You must already be regulated for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision in the UK. This typically includes:

• Accountancy firms supervised by bodies such as ICAEW, ACCA, AIA or the IFA
• Law firms supervised by the SRA or another legal AML supervisor
• Trust and company service providers (TCSPs) supervised by HMRC

But being regulated is not enough on its own. The business must actively apply to Companies House and confirm it meets the ACSP requirements.

What is an ACSP allowed to do?

Once authorised, an ACSP can carry out specific activities on behalf of clients, including:

• filing company information with Companies House;
• submitting confirmation statements and incorporation documents;
• verifying the identities of directors, persons with significant control (PSCs) and relevant officers; and
• making filings for overseas entities where applicable.

Identity verification is at the heart of the ACSP regime. Directors, PSCs and anyone filing information must have their identity verified either:

• directly with Companies House, or
• through an ACSP.

Where an ACSP carries out verification, it must meet the prescribed standard. That means applying due diligence under the UK Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (as amended) (MLRs).

In practice, this links Companies House reform directly to your existing AML framework. Your customer due diligence, risk assessments and record-keeping now underpin the integrity of the public register.

ACSPs and AML responsibilities

Becoming an ACSP does not create a new AML regime. But it does raise the stakes. When you verify an identity as an ACSP, you are confirming that:

• the individual exists;
• their identity has been verified using reliable and independent sources; and
• the information being submitted is consistent with what you know about the client.

If something doesn’t make sense, you’re expected to challenge it. This is where your risk-based approach matters. Supervisors are likely to look closely at how ACSPs integrate this role into their existing AML policies, controls and procedures.

ACSP status does not:

• transfer AML liability to Companies House;
• reduce your existing AML obligations;
• guarantee that a client or structure is low risk; or
• replace professional judgement.

You remain responsible for your AML decisions. ACSP authorisation simply formalises your role as a trusted intermediary.

Final thoughts

The ACSP regime formalises what regulators have expected for years: that regulated professionals act as effective gatekeepers.

It strengthens the link between AML compliance and corporate transparency, and it places real weight on the quality of your due diligence and documentation.

For firms with solid AML frameworks, ACSP authorisation is less about change and more about visibility. It makes your role explicit, accountable and central to the integrity of the UK company register.

If you can clearly explain who your client is, verify them properly and evidence your decisions, the ACSP framework should sit comfortably within your existing approach to risk.