You may have encountered the term ACSP in a Companies House email or seen it on a formation agent’s website. Although the acronym might sound technical, an ACSP’s role is relatively straightforward.
Key takeaways
- An ACSP is a Companies House-authorised agent that can provide certain services for clients, including identity verification.
- People who need to verify their identity can use an ACSP instead of going through Companies House’s GOV.UK One Login verification route.
- From no earlier than November 2027, third-party agents must register as ACSPs to file for clients.
What is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider?
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a person or organisation authorised by Companies House to provide certain services. ACSPs can verify identities and file information with Companies House on their clients’ behalf.
You might see ACSPs referred to as Companies House authorised agents or simply authorised agents.
An ACSP acts as an intermediary between a business and Companies House. Using an ACSP for identity verification or filing doesn’t remove your legal responsibilities, but it can simplify your admin.
- Companies House reform – introduction of ID verification
- What is Companies House?
- Why should I use a company formation agent to set up a company?
What does an ACSP do for Companies House?
An ACSP carries out two main jobs related to Companies House:
- Verifying identities
- Filing on behalf of clients
Verifying identities
An ACSP can verify the identity of people who need to complete Companies House identity verification, including:
- Company directors
- Persons with significant control (PSCs)
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) members
The ACSP carries out the required checks and tells Companies House.
Filing on behalf of clients
ACSPs can file information with Companies House for their clients, including:
- Company incorporations (i.e. registering new limited companies or LLPs)
- Annual confirmation statements
- Officer changes
Who can be an ACSP?
An ACSP can be a business or a person that meets Companies House requirements.
Some of the types of organisations and individuals that may be registered as an ACSP include:
- Company formation agents, like Rapid Formations
- Accountants
- Solicitors
- Chartered secretaries
- Governance professionals
However, not every professional in these roles is an ACSP. Registering as an ACSP is a separate process.
Before an applicant applies to become an ACSP, an appropriate body must supervise the applicant under UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. This AML supervision is a requirement for ACSP registration.
To register as an ACSP, you need to pay a one-off £63 registration fee.
Why were ACSPs introduced?
ACSPs were introduced as part of reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which gave Companies House new powers to strengthen company information and identity checks.
The reforms should make it harder for people to use companies for fraudulent purposes. They also aim to improve the accuracy of the public register. A more reliable register can increase the public’s confidence in company and director information.
Is an ACSP the same as a company formation agent or accountant?
No, a company formation agent or accountant isn’t automatically an ACSP. ACSP status is a separate Companies House authorisation.
A company formation agent helps people set up companies. This includes registering businesses with Companies House. Currently, company formation agents can do this without ACSP status.
Accountants are professionals who help individuals and businesses manage their financial records. They might file annual accounts for their business clients. For now, they don’t need ACSP status.
However, change is coming. From no sooner than November 2027, all third parties filing for a company (including at incorporation) must be an ACSP. Practically, this means all formation agents will need to become ACSPs. Accountants who file for businesses with Companies House will also need to be ACSPs.
ACSP vs company formation agent vs accountant – a comparison
| ACSP | Company formation agent | Accountant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it means | Companies House-authorised agent | A professional or business that helps clients form companies | A professional or business that provides accounting services |
| Always an ACSP? | N/A | No | No |
| Can verify identities for Companies House? | Yes, if providing this service | Only if registered as an ACSP | Only if registered as an ACSP |
| Can file on behalf of clients? | Yes, where the ACSP is authorised to provide the relevant filing service | From no earlier than November 2027, company formation agents must register as ACSPs to file for clients | From no earlier than November 2027, accountants must register as ACSPs to file for clients |
How ACSP identity verification works
If you use an ACSP for Companies House identity verification, the process generally involves three steps.
Step 1: Choose an ACSP
Find an ACSP that offers Companies House identity verification as a service. If you’re also setting up a limited company, you could choose a formation provider that lets you register your company and complete your identity verification as part of the same service.
Step 2: Provide your ID documents
You’ll need to provide the ACSP with the identity documents required by Companies House.
If the ACSP uses ID document validation technology (IDVT), you need to provide one of the following acceptable documents:
- A biometric or machine-readable passport or Irish passport card
- A UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or EU photocard driving licence, full or provisional
- An identity card with biometric information from the EU, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
- A UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
- A UK biometric residence card (BRC)
- A UK Frontier Worker permit
- An eVisa
If an ACSP is verifying your identity without IDVT, you must provide them with two permitted documents. These must be either two photographic documents or one photographic document and one non-photo document.
Step 3: Wait for the ACSP to complete the checks
The ACSP will review your documents and complete the required identity checks. They will then confirm your identity with Companies House.
Once identity verification is complete, you’ll receive an 11-character personal code. This code relates to you as an individual, not your company. You’ll use this code to connect your verified identity to your Companies House records. You can also share it with an ACSP or another trusted person filing for you.
Do you need to use an ACSP?
No, you don’t need to use an ACSP to complete Companies House identity verification. However, there are several benefits to using an ACSP to handle the admin processes, including:
- Reducing the risk of errors
- Saving you time
- Making verification simpler for non-residents
ACSPs can also help you maintain accurate and verified information on the Companies House register.
There are two available identity verification routes:
- ACSP
- GOV.UK One Login
ACSP vs GOV.UK One Login for identity verification – a comparison
| ACSP | GOV.UK One Login | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | An ACSP may charge you for identity verification. | Free. |
| Who completes the verification? | The ACSP will verify you | You complete the verification through the GOV.UK service and wait for Companies House to verify your identity. |
| Can you use this route as an overseas founder? | Yes, you can use an ACSP if you’re based outside of the UK. | If you live outside of the UK and have a valid biometric passport and a compatible smartphone app, you may be able to use this service. If not, the ACSP route is often required. |
| Can verification form part of another service? | Yes, where offered by the provider. | No. |
An ACSP can be useful if you want identity verification as part of another service, like expert company formation. An ACSP also provides an alternative if you can’t easily complete the GOV.UK verification process.
How to make sure an ACSP is genuine
If you’re going to use an ACSP, it’s important to ensure that they’re legitimate.
1. View the GOV.UK list
Companies House publishes a list of registered ACSPs. The list is opt-in, so an ACSP’s absence from it doesn’t necessarily mean the provider isn’t legitimate. However, providers that appear on the list are certainly registered as ACSPs.
2. Ask who supervises them for AML purposes
Ask the provider which body supervises them under the UK Anti-Money Laundering regulations. This gives you another way to check that they meet the requirements for ACSP registration. You can view the Supervised Business Register to find out if a business has registered with HMRC under these regulations.
3. Check ceased or suspended status
Companies House also publishes a list of ceased or suspended ACSPs. You can view this to find out if the provider is no longer an ACSP or has been suspended.
What an ACSP can mean for your new company
If you’re forming a company, using an ACSP gives you the option of having your Companies House identity verification handled by an authorised provider. This can be particularly useful if you want verification to form part of your company formation service, or if you’re forming a UK company from overseas.
If you use Rapid Formations as your company formation agent, we can handle your relevant ID checks as part of the registration process. You can compare Rapid Formations’ company formation packages.
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