What Is an ACSP at Companies House? A Complete 2026 Guide

ACSP at Companies House

If you’ve been researching UK company formation, identity verification, or Companies House filings, you may have come across the term “ACSP” and wondered what it actually means. Authorised Corporate Service Providers, or ACSPs, are a category of regulated firms that play a significant role in how UK company law works under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA). Understanding what an ACSP is and does helps you make informed choices about who to work with for your UK company. At Form My Company, we’re an ACSP, and in this guide we explain exactly what that means, what ACSPs do, and why it matters for you.

What Is an ACSP?

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a firm authorised by Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) to perform specific regulated functions relating to UK companies. The ACSP framework was introduced as part of the wider ECCTA reforms designed to improve transparency, reduce fraud, and modernise how Companies House operates.

The two main functions ACSPs are authorised to perform are:

• Verifying identities. ACSPs can complete the mandatory identity verification for directors, PSCs, and LLP members, and confirm that verification to Companies House.
• Filing on behalf of clients at Companies House. ACSPs can submit statutory filings (like director appointments, confirmation statements, and other Companies House documents) as authorised agents.

In practice, this means an ACSP acts as a regulated bridge between UK company owners and Companies House. They can handle much of the compliance heavy lifting on your behalf, and Companies House treats their filings and verifications as coming from a recognised, regulated source.

Why ACSPs Were Introduced

The ACSP framework emerged from the ECCTA’s broader goal of tackling economic crime, disguised ownership, and misuse of UK corporate structures. Before the ECCTA:

• Anyone could file at Companies House. Individuals and firms without any regulatory oversight could submit filings.
• Identity verification was not required. Companies could be registered with fictitious director names.
• Corporate service providers operated without a specific Companies House framework. Standards varied widely.
• The ECCTA changed this by:
• Requiring identity verification. For all directors, PSCs, and LLP members from 18 November 2025.
• Creating the ACSP category. So that verification and filing could be done through regulated intermediaries with clear standards.
• Requiring ACSP registration. ACSPs must be registered with Companies House and subject to UK anti-money-laundering (AML) supervision.
• Creating the Failure to Prevent Fraud offence. Which places statutory duties on large organisations (including regulated service providers) around preventing misuse of structures.

The result is that ACSPs are part of a wider system designed to make UK corporate data more reliable, and to make the compliance experience for company owners easier and more supported.

What ACSPs Can Do for You

The practical services an ACSP can provide typically include:

• Identity verification. Completing the mandatory Companies House identity verification for directors, PSCs, and LLP members. As of November 2025, this is a legal requirement for anyone in these roles.
• Company formation filings. Handling incorporation with Companies House, including coordinating identity verification of directors and shareholders as part of formation.
• Director appointment and resignation filings. Handling AP01, TM01, and CH01 filings when directors join, leave, or change details.
• Confirmation statement filings. Handling the annual confirmation statement, including paying the £50 fee and coordinating any updates.
• Accounts filings. Filing dormant accounts (Form AA02) and coordinating with accountants for full accounts.
• PSC-related filings. Handling changes to the Persons with Significant Control register.
• Registered office and service address provision. Providing compliant UK addresses for the company and for individual directors.
• Ongoing compliance support. Tracking deadlines, providing reminders, and handling correspondence with Companies House.

Not every ACSP offers every service, but the framework allows them to act as a comprehensive compliance partner for UK companies.

Why ACSP Status Matters for the Provider You Choose

Since November 2025, working with an ACSP matters more than it used to. The reasons include:

• Access to identity verification. Identity verification is a legal requirement, and ACSPs are the regulated path (alongside direct verification through GOV.UK One Login). Providers who aren’t ACSPs can’t complete identity verification on your behalf.
• Direct filing authority. ACSPs have established filing relationships with Companies House, which can make submissions more efficient and reliable.
• Regulatory oversight. ACSPs operate under UK anti-money-laundering supervision, giving you an assurance about the provider’s standards.
• Failure to Prevent Fraud framework. ACSPs operate under this framework, which requires reasonable procedures to prevent misuse of corporate structures.
• Audit trail. ACSP filings and verifications carry clear records, which are useful for your own compliance file and any due diligence.
• Combined services. ACSPs can offer bundled packages that cover formation, verification, filings, and address services in one relationship, rather than requiring you to piece services together from multiple providers.

For overseas owners of UK companies especially, working with an ACSP means the same regulated provider can handle your ID verification, your registered office, your director’s service address, your confirmation statement, and your ongoing compliance.

The Difference Between an ACSP and a Traditional Company Formation Agent

Traditional company formation agents (unregulated firms that helped set up UK companies) have existed for decades. What’s changed with the ACSP framework is:

• Regulatory status. ACSPs are formally authorised by Companies House and subject to AML supervision. Traditional agents were not.
• Identity verification authority. ACSPs can complete Companies House identity verification. Traditional agents cannot.
• Filing efficiency. ACSPs have established Companies House filing relationships that facilitate direct submissions.
• Compliance framework. ACSPs operate under specific compliance obligations under the ECCTA.

Many former company formation agents have become ACSPs by meeting the authorisation requirements. Those that haven’t are limited in what they can now do for you.

Are All ACSPs the Same?

No. The ACSP framework sets minimum standards, but the range and quality of services can vary significantly. When choosing an ACSP, consider:

• Range of services. Does the ACSP offer everything you need (formation, verification, registered office, filing services), or only some of these?
• Experience with your situation. ACSPs vary in their experience with non-resident owners, complex ownership structures, or specific industries.
• Pricing. Fees vary significantly between ACSPs for similar services. Compare like-for-like.
• Communication. Some ACSPs are highly responsive; others are less so. For non-resident owners especially, communication matters.
• Bundling. ACSPs that bundle services in packages often deliver better value than providers that charge separately for each piece.
• Support. Whether the ACSP handles issues that come up (like Companies House queries or filing edge cases) or leaves you to resolve them alone.

Not every ACSP is right for every client. Choosing one that fits your specific situation matters.

How ACSPs Fit Into UK Company Compliance

To understand where ACSPs sit, it helps to see the wider compliance picture for a UK company:

• Formation and initial setup. Filing your incorporation with Companies House, handling director appointments, arranging a registered office, and completing initial identity verification.
• Ongoing annual compliance. Confirmation statements, annual accounts, PSC updates, director changes.
• Cross-cutting requirements. Identity verification, PSC register maintenance, statutory register upkeep.
• Related but separate obligations. HMRC filings (Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE), which are typically handled by an accountant rather than an ACSP.

An ACSP typically handles the Companies House side of this compliance. For tax matters, you’d usually work with a qualified UK accountant. For legal issues, a solicitor. Together, an ACSP, an accountant, and (where needed) a solicitor cover most of what a UK company owner needs.

ACSPs and Non-Resident Owners

For non-resident owners of UK companies, working with an ACSP is often particularly valuable:

• Remote identity verification. ACSPs handle verification remotely for directors and PSCs based abroad, using international ID documents. The direct GOV.UK One Login app is less reliable for some non-UK documents.
• UK registered office. ACSPs typically provide a compliant UK registered office address, which non-residents can’t provide from abroad themselves.
• Director’s service address. ACSPs provide UK service addresses that keep overseas home addresses off the public register.
• Time-zone-aware compliance tracking. Good ACSPs proactively track deadlines and reach out to non-resident owners in advance.
• One provider relationship. Rather than juggling multiple UK-based service providers, non-resident owners can have one ACSP handling formation, verification, addresses, and filings.

For non-resident owners especially, choosing a good ACSP significantly reduces the ongoing burden of UK compliance.

What to Look For in an ACSP

If you’re choosing an ACSP for your UK company, consider:

• Confirmation of ACSP status. Verify that the firm is genuinely authorised. Companies House can confirm ACSP status.
• Services offered. Match to what you actually need (formation only, ongoing compliance, verification services, addresses).
• Transparency of pricing. Clear fee structures with no hidden costs.
• Communication and responsiveness. Especially important for overseas owners.
• Experience with your specific situation. Non-residents, dormant companies, LLP structures, or specific industries may benefit from an ACSP with relevant experience.
• Bundling and package options. Often better value than piecemeal services.
• Client feedback and reputation. Reviews and recommendations from similar clients.
• Support for your ongoing compliance. Not just formation but confirmation statements, accounts, and other annual filings.

How Form My Company Works as an ACSP

Form My Company is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, meaning we’re formally authorised by Companies House and operate under UK anti-money-laundering supervision. As an ACSP, we can:

1. Handle UK company formation, including incorporation with Companies House
2. Complete Companies House identity verification for directors, PSCs, and LLP members
3. Provide compliant UK registered office and director’s service addresses
4. File confirmation statements, director changes, and other Companies House documents on your behalf
5. File dormant company accounts (Form AA02)
6. Coordinate with your accountant on wider compliance
7. Support non-resident owners running UK companies from abroad
8. Bundle services in packages that cover the essentials for UK-based and non-resident owners

For non-resident owners especially, our Non-Residents package brings together formation, registered office, director’s service address, identity verification, and confirmation statement filing in one relationship.

Work With an ACSP for Your UK Company Today

Understanding what an ACSP is and how the framework works helps you make informed choices about who to trust with your UK company compliance. With Form My Company, working with an ACSP is quick, transparent, and fully supported. Get in touch today and let us handle your UK company compliance as your regulated corporate services partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ACSP at Companies House?
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a firm authorised by Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) to perform specific regulated functions like identity verification and filing at Companies House. ACSPs operate under UK anti-money-laundering supervision.

Why do ACSPs matter?
Since November 2025, identity verification is legally required for directors, PSCs, and LLP members. ACSPs are the regulated route to complete this verification alongside direct verification through GOV.UK One Login. ACSPs also have established filing relationships with Companies House that make submissions more efficient.

What services can an ACSP provide?
Typical services include identity verification, company formation, director appointment and resignation filings, confirmation statement filings, dormant accounts filings, PSC register maintenance, and provision of registered office and service addresses.

How is an ACSP different from a traditional company formation agent?
ACSPs are formally authorised by Companies House and subject to anti-money-laundering regulation. Traditional formation agents (that haven’t become ACSPs) don’t have the same regulatory status and cannot complete Companies House identity verification.

Are all ACSPs the same?
No. The framework sets minimum standards, but the range and quality of services varies. When choosing an ACSP, consider services offered, pricing, communication, experience with your situation, and bundling options.

Do I need to work with an ACSP?
Not always, but often it makes sense. You can technically handle formation and filings yourself through Companies House WebFiling. But an ACSP handles the entire compliance picture, offers identity verification services, and provides useful services like a registered office. For overseas owners especially, working with an ACSP significantly reduces admin burden.

Is Form My Company an ACSP?
Yes. Form My Company is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, formally authorised by Companies House, and we handle formation, identity verification, filings, registered office services, and ongoing compliance for UK-based and non-resident clients.