A PSC Register is an official record of individuals or legal entities holding significant control over a company.
The register identifies persons who hold more than 25% of shares, more than 25% of voting rights, the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or significant influence via other arrangements. Companies must collect verified details, record dates of control, and file PSC statements with Companies House. Accurate PSC registers support transparency and legal compliance for directors and investors.
How do companies create and maintain a PSC Register?
Create and maintain a PSC Register by identifying controllers, verifying identity, recording details, and updating entries within required timeframes.
Start by identifying potential controllers through share ledgers, voting agreements, and contractual arrangements. Verify each controller using government-issued ID and proof of address. Record full name, service address, date of birth (month and year only), nature of control, and the date they became a controller. Update the register within 14 days of any change, then file the PSC statement with Companies House within another 14 days.
Which companies must keep a PSC Register?
All UK private limited companies and most public companies must keep a PSC Register under the People with Significant Control regime.
Exemptions apply to certain listed companies and those subject to equivalent overseas registers. Dormant companies still maintain compliance by confirming no PSCs or retaining previous records. Failure to keep the register exposes directors to penalties and Companies House enforcement actions.
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What information must a PSC Register include?
A PSC Register must include verified identity, service address, month and year of birth, nature of control, and the date control began.
Nature of control must use prescribed categories: over 25% shares, over 25% voting rights, right to appoint/remove majority of directors, significant influence or control, or rights via trust. For corporate controllers, include the company name, registered office, registration number, and legal form. Keep supporting evidence, such as ID scans and share transfer documents, in the company records.
How are PSC entries verified and evidenced?
Verify PSCs using government-issued ID, proof of address, and corporate registration documents; retain evidence for at least five years.
For individuals, accept a passport, driving licence, or national ID plus a utility bill or bank statement dated within three months. For corporate controllers, obtain a certified extract from the relevant registry and an official letter confirming authorised signatories. Store evidence securely and link it to each register entry for audit and compliance checks.
What are the filing deadlines and penalties?
File changes to the PSC Register internally within 14 days and file the PSC statement at Companies House within 14 days after that; penalties apply for late or inaccurate filings.
If a PSC entry changes, update the internal register within 14 days. Then submit the confirmation statement or PSC statement to Companies House within a further 14 days. Companies House can fine companies for late filings, and directors face personal liability for persistent failure. Persistent non-compliance can trigger criminal sanctions or the removal of officers.
How does the PSC Register interact with Companies House records?
Companies file PSC information to Companies House, where it becomes part of the public record unless a protective regime applies.
Companies House publishes PSC details on public registers, increasing transparency for suppliers, banks, and investors. Controllers can apply for a protective registration in rare cases, such as safety risks. Companies must follow Companies House guidance when preparing and submitting PSC statements to ensure published data matches the company’s internal register.
When is professional support advisable for PSC Registers?
Engage professional company secretarial services when ownership structures are complex, non-UK entities are involved, or multiple control tests apply.
Complex structures include layered corporate ownership, trusts, nominee arrangements, and cross-border holdings. Professionals apply statutory tests, trace indirect control, draft accurate nature-of-control statements, and manage filings. That reduces risk of incorrect declarations, enforcement action, and investor disputes.
How does From My Company support PSC Register compliance?
From My Company provides PSC Register services that identify controllers, verify documentation, maintain registers, and file accurate statements with Companies House.
Their process includes controller identification, identity verification, secure evidence storage, register updates within statutory deadlines, and filing of PSC statements. From My Company integrates compliance checks to reduce filing errors and to document audit trails for future inspections.
A PSC Register enforces transparency by naming those who control a company. Accurate identification, verification, and timely filings prevent fines and legal exposure. From My Company delivers the technical expertise to register controllers, manage evidence, and file with Companies House, ensuring compliance and clear ownership records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PSC Register and why do UK companies need it?
A PSC Register is an official record of people or entities with significant control over a UK company, required under the People with Significant Control regime. From My company helps businesses maintain this register to meet legal obligations and ensure transparency for Companies House.
Who must be included in a company’s PSC Register?
Anyone holding over 25% of shares, over 25% of voting rights, the right to appoint or remove majority directors, or significant influence must be recorded. From My company’s PSC Register service identifies these controllers and verifies their details accurately.
How often must a PSC Register be updated and filed?
Companies must update the internal PSC Register within 14 days of any change and file the updated information with Companies House within another 14 days. From My company ensures timely PSC Register updates and filings to avoid penalties.
What details are required for each person in the PSC Register?
Each PSC entry requires full name, service address, date of birth, nationality, country of residence, nature of control, and the date control began. From My company collects and verifies all required PSC Register details per UK compliance standards.
Can a company have no PSCs in its PSC Register?
A PSC Register cannot be empty; if no PSC exists, companies must state why investigations are ongoing or confirm no registrable person was found. From My company assists with PSC Register statements that comply with Companies House requirements even when no PSC is identified.
