Sweden gives Bolagsverket new powers to check identities and strike out incorrect officers
Amendments to the Swedish Companies Act (aktiebolagslagen) in force from 1 January 2025 let the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) require a person filing a registration, or a registered company representative, to appear in person or by video to prove identity or authority. Bolagsverket can also remove incorrect information about a company's representatives from the register.
The Riksdag passed amendments to the Swedish Companies Act (aktiebolagslagen 2005:551) under proposition 2024/25:8. They were issued as SFS 2024:1117 on 28 November 2024 and took effect on 1 January 2025. They aim to stop the companies register being used for fraud.
What changed
- Identity checks: where needed to confirm identity or authority to represent a company, the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) can order the person filing a registration, or the person being registered, to appear in person. It can decide the appearance takes place by video. If the order is not followed, the filing is dismissed.
- Incorrect officers: if the register shows incorrect information about a company's representatives (board members, managing director or other signatories), Bolagsverket must remove it, after giving the company a chance to respond. It can also require the representative to appear to prove identity or authority.
- Registration despite a challenge period ending: a general meeting resolution can be registered once it can no longer be challenged in court.
- These decisions can be appealed to the administrative courts.
- The same reform package (Bolag och brott, proposition 2024/25:8) also raised late-filing fees for annual reports and required all economic associations to file their annual reports with Bolagsverket.
Who is affected
Swedish limited companies (aktiebolag), their board members and managing directors, and agents who file registrations with Bolagsverket.
What to do
Make sure registered officer details are correct and current, and expect Bolagsverket to ask for identity confirmation on some filings.