Key takeaways

  • An accountant must register as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify a client's identity for Companies House.
  • You can only apply if your firm is already supervised by a UK anti-money laundering supervisory body, such as ICAEW, ACCA or HMRC.
  • The Companies House ACSP registration fee is £63 for a digital application, from 1 February 2026.
  • The person applying must verify their own identity first and hold a senior role, such as director, partner or member, unless they are a sole trader.
  • Registered ACSPs must report changes within 14 days and keep identity check records for 7 years.
  • Companies House says third-party agents filing for companies will need to be ACSPs from no earlier than November 2027, with at least 6 months' notice.

To verify a client’s identity for Companies House, an accountant must first register as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), also called a Companies House authorised agent. You apply online, you must already be supervised for anti-money laundering (AML), and the fee is £63. The 12-month identity verification transition for existing directors and PSCs, which began on 18 November 2025, is now in its final weeks, so many firms are registering now to help clients finish.

Do you need to register as an ACSP?

You need to register now only if you plan to verify clients’ identities for Companies House. Companies House says that “for now, only agents that plan to verify the identity of clients for Companies House need to register”.

That will widen. The ECCTA outline transition plan, updated on 23 October 2026, says Companies House will require third-party agents filing on behalf of companies to be registered as ACSPs from no earlier than November 2027. It promises at least 6 months’ notice.

Which applies to you:

  • If you verify identities for clients, register now.
  • If you only file accounts and confirmation statements, you do not need to register yet, but you will before the filing restrictions start.
  • If your firm has no AML supervisor, you cannot apply until you are supervised. See AML registration for accountants.

Who can apply?

The applicant must be the sole trader or a person in a senior role in the business. Companies House sets these rules:

Business typeWho applies
Sole traderThe sole trader
Limited companyA director
LLP or partnershipA member or partner
Unincorporated bodyA member of the governing body

Colleagues can be added to the authorised agent account once it is registered. Each person signs in with their own GOV.UK One Login and must not share credentials.

What you need before you start

Gather three things before you open the service.

  1. Your own identity verification. You must verify your identity with Companies House first. If you have not, the service asks you to do it at the start. In most cases this is a one-off step.
  2. Your AML details. The name of each supervisory body and your membership number. Your supervisor may call it a firm ID, regulation ID or AML ID. It is on your practising certificate or the supervisor’s online register.
  3. Your business details. For a limited company or LLP: company number, authentication code, correspondence address and email. For a sole trader: name, any business name, date of birth, nationality, country of residence and correspondence details.

The name your AML supervisor holds must match the name you give. A limited company’s name must match the Companies House register.

How to apply: step by step

Companies House’s guide to applying sets out six steps.

  1. Check you are eligible to apply.
  2. Verify your identity for Companies House.
  3. Enter your business details.
  4. Enter your AML supervisory body names and membership numbers.
  5. Confirm you accept your responsibilities as an authorised agent.
  6. Submit the application.

The registration fee is £63 for a digital application, set on 1 February 2026. If your AML details do not match your supervisor’s records, Companies House rejects the application. Check them against the supervisor’s register before you start.

Will Companies House check you are fit and proper?

Yes. Since 11 August 2026 Companies House has published its fit and proper criteria under section 1098B of the Companies Act 2006. The registrar must refuse an application if it is not satisfied the applicant is fit and proper.

It looks at:

  • your AML supervision and competence
  • criminal convictions, bankruptcy and director disqualification
  • false or misleading filings and failure to respond to queries
  • your filing history with Companies House, and that of connected entities

No single factor means automatic refusal. Companies House weighs how serious an issue was, when it happened and whether it was put right.

What your firm must do once registered

Being registered brings legal duties. Companies House’s guide to being an ACSP lists four:

  • stay registered with at least one UK AML supervisory body at all times
  • tell Companies House about any change to your details within 14 days
  • provide information on request about filings and identity checks
  • keep records of identity checks for 7 years

Failing to comply is an offence. The sole trader, or every director or equivalent, can be fined or prosecuted. Companies House can also suspend you, giving you 28 days to supply information, or end your ACSP status. Either way your name is published.

When you verify a client, follow the identity verification standard. It has six steps, from collecting 12 months of address history to reporting the result online. This is separate from your AML customer due diligence.

What to do now

  1. Decide whether you will verify clients. If you will, register before the transition ends.
  2. Check your AML details on your supervisor’s register.
  3. Verify your own identity and note your personal code.
  4. Apply and add colleagues to the authorised agent account.
  5. Write a verification procedure that meets the six-step standard and the 7-year record rule.

For the client side, see ACSPs explained, how to verify your identity for Companies House and the Companies House ID verification deadline.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register as an ACSP?

The Companies House fee is £63 for a digital application. The fee rose on 1 February 2026.

Do I need to be an ACSP to file accounts for clients?

Not yet. Companies House plans to require it from no earlier than November 2027 and will give at least 6 months’ notice.

Can a sole practitioner register as an ACSP?

Yes. Sole traders can register themselves, as long as they are supervised by a UK AML supervisory body.

Is ACSP registration the same as HMRC tax adviser registration?

No. They are separate regimes. HMRC’s tax adviser registration deadline for its second window is 18 November 2026; see tax adviser registration.

How long must an ACSP keep identity check records?

Seven years from the date of the checks, including records of failed attempts.

Sources

Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.