Definition
An authorised corporate service provider (ACSP), also called a Companies House authorised agent, is a business or sole trader registered with Companies House to verify people’s identities and, as the new rules roll out, to file on behalf of clients. To register, the agent must be supervised by a UK anti-money laundering (AML) supervisory body, so ACSPs are typically accountants, solicitors and company formation agents.
What an ACSP does
- Verifies the identity of directors and people with significant control who do not use GOV.UK One Login, checking documents from an approved list. The agent may charge for this.
- Keeps records of those identity checks for 7 years.
- Files for clients. Companies House plans to require every agent that files on behalf of a company to be an ACSP, and to verify everyone who files, no earlier than November 2027, with at least 6 months’ notice.
Does your accountant need to be one?
Only if the accountant verifies your identity for you now, or keeps filing for you once the requirement starts. You can ask whether they are registered or check Companies House’s published list of ACSPs. Verification through an ACSP works from any country. The guide on verifying through an authorised agent compares that route with One Login.
Related questions
- What is an ACSP, and does my accountant need to be one? A registered, AML-supervised agent; your accountant needs to be one to verify you now and to file for you once the requirement starts.
- Do I need to verify my identity with Companies House? Yes, if you are a director or PSC, either through One Login or an ACSP.
Related terms
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Identity verification
Identity verification is the legal requirement, in force since 18 November 2025, for company directors and people with significant control (PSCs)…
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Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA)
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) is the UK law reforming Companies House and the information companies must file.
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GOV.UK One Login
GOV.UK One Login is the government's single sign-in account for online services, protected by two-factor authentication.
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Companies House
Companies House is the UK's registrar of companies, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade.
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