Hi

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act changes the role and purpose of Companies House and will introduce a number of changes over the next few years. The new measures include:

Improving the quality of data 

Greater powers for Companies House to query information, stronger checks on company names, new rules for registered office addresses, and new lawful purpose statements.

Identity verification

Anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK will need to verify their identity.

Changes to accounts

Transitioning towards filing accounts by software only, and changes to small company accounts filing options.  

Confirmation statement changes

New requirements to provide a registered email address and to confirm that the future activities of the company will be lawful.  

Protecting your information

Individuals will be able to apply to suppress personal information from historical documents, and apply to have personal information protected from public view because of risk of harm.  

Investigation, enforcement and data sharing

More effective investigation and enforcement powers for Companies House, and new powers to share data with law enforcement agencies and other government departments.  

Companies House has published a new website with further details of these changes.

Noel Guilford