It is now possible for individuals and firms (including limited companies and LLPs) to apply to Companies House to be an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Should you now be applying? The short answer, in my view, is “No”.
When did applications open?
Applications opened on 18 March 2025, and perhaps more importantly it is expected that from 8 April 2025 ACSPs will be able to verify the identity of an individual (such as a director of a client company) to the satisfaction of Companies House.
Why not apply now?
With any new IT system there are likely to be teething problems. The system for approving an ACSP involves accessing information from Companies House, from UK.GOV One Login, and from the relevant AML Supervisory Body (and there are more than 20 different supervisory bodies with different systems). So there are plenty of opportunities for the IT system to not function entirely smoothly and as intended.
It is more than likely that Companies House are continuing to work on improvements to their systems in relation to the ACSP application process.
Furthermore, until 8 April 2025 being an ACSP (and paying the £55 filing fee) will confer absolutely nothing in terms of additional functionality and benefit.
When might be the best time to apply?
I would certainly wait a month or two to allow the systems to bed in. Even then you may prefer to wait until we are closer to the time when we will need to be registered.
When will we need to be registered as an ACSP?
That depends.
- If you wish to have the capability to verify the ID of individuals (such as directors of client companies) to the satisfaction of Companies House, then you will want to register as an ACSP before that ID verification first becomes mandatory (which is expected to be in Autumn 2025) [UPDATE: ID verification for company directors will become mandatory to enable filing of Confirmation Statements with a made up date on or after 18 November 2025];
- If you wish to have the capability to file documents (such as accounts and Confirmation Statements) at Companies House on behalf of clients, then you will want to register as an ACSP before it becomes mandatory that such submissions are made by an ACSP (which is expected to be from Spring 2026 but may be later).
How does this impact upon my firm’s AML supervision?
Every ACSP is required to be a business which is regulated by the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and has an AML Supervisory Body under those regulations. For accountancy firms, bookkeepers, tax advisers, auditors, and trust and company service providers that supervisory body will be one of the professional bodies or HMRC (or in a small number of cases the Financial Conduct Authority).
If you are concerned that your firm’s AML compliance is inadequate, out of date, or even non-existent, get in touch now using the link below and we can work together to fix this. The hardest part is getting started.
