A complete guide for UK company directors — who qualifies as a PSC, what information must be filed, and the important new identity verification rules introduced in November 2025.

If you run a UK limited company, limited liability partnership (LLP), or eligible Scottish partnership, you have a legal obligation to identify and report your People with Significant Control — more commonly known as PSCs. First introduced under the Companies Act 2006 (Part 21A), the PSC register was created to bring greater transparency to corporate ownership in the UK and to help law enforcement tackle money laundering and economic crime.

The rules have evolved considerably since 2016, and significant changes in November 2025 — brought in by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 — introduced mandatory identity verification for all PSCs. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, in plain English.

1. What is a Person with Significant Control?

A Person with Significant Control is an individual who ultimately owns or controls a company. PSCs are sometimes referred to as beneficial owners. The PSC register exists to make it publicly clear who is really in charge of a business, preventing anonymous or opaque ownership structures.

Every UK company, LLP, and eligible Scottish partnership must identify its PSCs and report this information to Companies House. A company can have more than one PSC. It is also possible — in certain circumstances — for a company to have no PSCs at all, though this must still be reported.

2. The Five Conditions for PSC Status

An individual qualifies as a PSC if they meet one or more of the following five conditions:

Condition (iv) — significant influence or control — can include individuals with absolute decision rights over key matters such as adopting the business plan, appointing the CEO, approving major borrowing, or altering profit-sharing arrangements, even where they hold no shares. See Companies House PSC summary guidance for worked examples.

3. What Information Must Be Recorded?

Before a PSC can be added to the register, a company officer must confirm all details directly with the individual. The register can never be left blank — if you cannot identify a PSC, or no PSC exists, you must still report this to Companies House.

4. How to File PSC Information with Companies House

PSC information must be filed with Companies House within 14 days of confirming the details with the individual. Updates to personal details, nature of control, or the addition of a new PSC must equally be reported within 14 days.

1. Review your register of members, articles of association, and any shareholders’ agreements to identify all individuals who may meet the PSC conditions.
2. Contact each potential PSC in writing to confirm their details and obtain the required information.
3. Record confirmed PSC details and file with Companies House via WebFiling or your accountant’s software.
4. Obtain and record each PSC’s Companies House personal code (required since November 2025).
5. Ensure your annual Confirmation Statement accurately reflects current PSC information.

5. The Move to a Central PSC Register

Prior to 18 November 2025, most companies were required to maintain their own local PSC register at their registered office, in addition to filing information with Companies House. From that date, under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, this requirement was abolished.

Companies House now holds the central PSC register for each company. It is still good practice — and legally prudent — to retain your historical internal register as part of your company’s records. Updates are now event-driven rather than tied solely to annual confirmation statement cycles.

6. New Identity Verification Requirements (From November 2025)

One of the most significant recent changes is the introduction of mandatory identity verification for all PSCs, which came into force on 18 November 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Further detail is available on GOV.UK’s identity verification guidance.

Identity verification can be completed in one of two ways:

• Directly through GOV.UK One Login — free and typically takes under three minutes using a passport or driving licence. Individuals generally only need to do this once.
• Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — such as a registered accountant or solicitor.

7. Reporting Changes and Penalties for Non-Compliance

Companies have an ongoing obligation to keep PSC information accurate. Any change — whether to a PSC’s personal details or their nature of control — must be reported to Companies House within 14 days of the company confirming the change.

If a PSC ceases to meet any of the five conditions, this must also be reported within 14 days. Companies must take reasonable steps to identify potential PSCs. Anyone who fails to respond to notices within one calendar month, or gives false information, commits a criminal offence and can face prosecution. See Companies House PSC guidance for details on the restrictions process.

8. Complex Ownership Structures and Registrable Legal Entities (RLEs)

Where a company is owned or controlled by another legal entity — for example, a holding company — a Registrable Relevant Legal Entity (RLE) may need to be reported instead of, or in addition to, individual PSCs. An RLE is the first legal entity in the ownership chain that meets the PSC conditions.

For example, if Person A owns 100% of Company B, and Company B owns 60% of Company C:

• Company B would be recorded as an RLE for Company C (it directly owns more than 25%).
• Person A would be recorded as a PSC of Company B (they hold 100% of the shares).
• Person A would not be separately listed as a PSC of Company C — Company B is the registrable entity in that relationship.

Trusts add further complexity. A trust is a legal arrangement rather than a legal entity and cannot itself be registered as an RLE. The person who exercises significant influence or control over the trust’s activities is the individual who must be assessed for PSC status.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Does a sole director who owns 100% of their company need to register as a PSC?

Yes. If you are the sole director and shareholder of your company, you will almost certainly meet at least one of the PSC conditions — most likely condition (i) (shareholding over 25%) and condition (iii) (right to appoint/remove directors). You must register yourself as a PSC.

Can a company have no PSCs?

Yes, in theory. For example, where a company’s shares are split equally among five or more unrelated shareholders (each holding 20%), and none exercises significant influence in any other way, there may be no PSC. However, you must still report this to Companies House — the register cannot simply be left blank.

Is PSC information publicly available?

Most PSC details are publicly visible on the Companies House register, including name, nationality, country of residence, nature of control, and the date they became a PSC. Full dates of birth and residential addresses are withheld. In rare cases involving a risk of harm, further details may be suppressed on application.

My company was incorporated before November 2025 — do I still need to comply with identity verification?

Yes. Existing PSCs are being phased in over a 12-month transition period. If you are already a PSC and a director, your 14-day verification window starts at your next confirmation statement date. If you are a PSC but not a director, it starts on the first day of your birth month as recorded at Companies House. New PSCs must verify immediately upon appointment.

Can my accountant verify my identity on my behalf?

Your accountant can verify your identity on your behalf if they are registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) with Companies House. FSL Accountancy Ltd is able to assist with this — get in touch to find out more.

How does the PSC register relate to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance?

The PSC register forms a key part of the UK’s beneficial ownership transparency framework. It is used by law enforcement agencies during money laundering investigations and is one of the reasons accountants in practice are required to carry out client identity checks under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Maintaining an accurate PSC register also supports your own firm’s AML compliance obligations.