New requirements for registering a business and making a filing with Companies House are underway. These requirements have already commenced with those who verify their clients’ identities, who must now be authorised to do so. Soon, the requirements will also apply to Firms that file with Companies House on behalf of their clients.  

As the requirements become fully implemented, authorisation will be mandatory to file information with Companies House. It will be an offence to fail to comply with the legal obligations to register as an agent and follow the outlined requirements.

These changes are being introduced to ensure that Companies House knows who is filing information on the public register and to help ensure the data held is accurate, transparent, and not being used for fraudulent purposes.

You can apply for authorisation by following this link:

Register as a Companies House authorised agent.

Note: You will also need a 6-digit Company Authentication code. If you do not have one, you can obtain it by clicking this link: 

Company authentication codes for online filing.

Once authorised, your Firm will gain access to an account from where all details can be managed.

As part of the ACSP registration process, Companies House will request the AML Supervisory Body membership number, which all Firms should already have if they are involved in the provision of in-scope services.

The UK Government has set out the requirements for authorised agents as follows:

1. The agent must always be registered with at least one Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body.
2. The agent must notify Companies House of any changes to the information it holds about the agent. They must do this within 14 days.
3. If requested, the agent must provide additional information:
   • About the agent’s filings with Companies House
   • About identity checks, if the agent verifies someone’s identity for Companies House
   • To prove the agent is complying with their legal responsibilities
4. The agent must keep records of any identity checks for 7 years if they have verified someone’s identity for Companies House.

For Sole Traders, the Principal can register as an agent. For all other types of businesses, all officers (Directors/Partners) are responsible and must ensure the business is registered. The application must be made by someone in a senior role within the business. For example, you must be a director if you’re registering a limited company.

The final changes are expected to be implemented in Spring 2026. However, if your Firm is involved in identity verification, registration is already mandatory.

Our Compliance Services

At the Regulation & Compliance Office, we can offer a number of outsourced support solutions, including:

• Regulation & Compliance Service – Our Regulation and Compliance Service, Inc. Risk Management Assessment and AML Risk, provides a cost-effective but essential solution for law firms to ensure they achieve a compliant environment. We work with firms of all types, from sole practitioners through to partnerships, Limited Companies and ABSs. We recognise that it is essential to recognise how a firm implements compliance to tailor the solution to each firm’s working practices. This is why our service is completely bespoke to each firm we work with.
• Regulation & Compliance Outsource Guidance and Support Service – This service provides law firms with a cost-effective outsourced solution which sees the compliance managers of RACO take on the day-to-day guidance and support expected to be provided by COLPs, COFAs, Data Compliance Officers, MLROs and MLCOs. This addition to the Regulation and Compliance Service, including Risk Management and AML Risk, relieves Compliance Officers of most of the day-to-day burden of keeping up with regulatory requirements and ensures staff have access to compliance and risk advice when needed.

Contact Us Now

To ask any questions about the Regulation and Compliance Office and how we can support your Law Firm, please call us on 0203 985 8550, complete the online enquiry form, or email us info@regulationandcomplianceoffice.co.uk