Compulsory ACSP registration and presenter checks pushed back to November 2027 at the earliest
Companies House moved the start of its presenter rules back by a year, to no earlier than November 2027. From then, third-party agents filing for companies must be registered Authorised Corporate Service Providers, and other presenters must have verified their identity. It will give at least six months' notice. Until then, only agents that verify clients' identities for Companies House need to register.
Companies House changed the timetable for its presenter measures under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 in August 2026. In January 2026 it had said they would start no earlier than November 2026.
What changed
- The presenter requirements now start no earlier than November 2027, 12 months later than the previous indication.
- Once they apply, third-party agents filing on behalf of companies must be registered as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs), and anyone else presenting documents must have verified their identity.
- Companies House will give at least six months' notice before the requirements take effect.
- It said it needed more time for the large-scale changes across all its statutory filing services.
What applies now
Registering as an ACSP is open but not yet compulsory for filing. Companies House guidance says that, for now, only agents that plan to verify clients' identities for Companies House need to register. Director and PSC identity verification, compulsory since 18 November 2025, is unaffected.
Who is affected
Accountants, company formation agents, law firms and other agents that file at Companies House, and in-house teams that file for their own companies.
What to do
Agents can register early. Plan for the six-month notice and keep track of which presenters will need verification.