What Is the ACSP Scheme and Do I Need to Verify My ID with Companies House?

 And like many small business owners, your first thought might be:

“What does this mean for me?”
“Do I have to do anything?”
“Wait, what even is ACSP?”

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll break down what the new ACSP Companies House ID verification process is, who it affects, and how to make sure you’re compliant without the stress.

🧾 What is ACSP?

ACSP stands for Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

It’s part of a wider set of changes being rolled out by Companies House to improve transparency, prevent fraud, and raise professional standards in business registration.

In short:

Only professionals who are supervised under anti-money laundering (AML) regulations,

like us 👋

will be allowed to file on behalf of clients.

That includes everything from filing a Confirmation Statement to updating your company directors.

🧍‍♂️ Do I need to verify my ID with Companies House?

If you are:

• A company director

• A Person with Significant Control (PSC)

• Or someone who files documents on behalf of a company

…then yes, you’ll need to have your ID verified.

This is part of Companies House’s new security checks to ensure that only verified, legitimate people are listed as company officers or controllers.

🧪 What’s actually changing?

Here’s what the new ACSP rules mean in plain English:

• 🔍 ID verification will become mandatory for directors and PSCs

• 🧑‍💼 Only ACSP-registered firms (like BarrettStacey👋) can submit filings on behalf of clients

• 📬 You will receive a unique Companies House code once your ID is verified

• 💼 These rules will apply to new company formations and eventually to existing companies, too

This is all being phased in gradually, but it’s smart to get ahead of it now, especially if you’re already working with an Accountant or Bookkeeper.

✅ What do I need to do?

If you’re a BarrettStacey client:

You’re in safe hands.

We’re already AML-supervised and ACSP-ready. In fact, we’ve already built this ID verification step into your client onboarding and compliance checks.

✔️ You don’t need to pay anything extra

✔️ Emma’s probably already chased you for ID!

✔️ You’ll be notified once your ID is verified

✔️ You’ll receive your personal code via email

✔️ Just double-check your preferred email is correct in your [Client Portal]

If you’re unsure whether we’ve got your up-to-date ID, just ping us on WhatsApp and we’ll confirm.

If you’re not yet a client:

We’re happy to help.

We can:

• Verify your ID

• Handle your Companies House filings

• Make sure you’re compliant with no faff

Whether you’re switching accountants or just want someone to handle the red tape, we’re ready. All you’ll need to do is become a client for our Annual Accounts service, or better still, if you are a small limited company, why not let us take the stress away from you with our affordable core compliance package.

👀 What happens if I don’t verify?

The government hasn’t confirmed all enforcement measures yet, but it’s expected that:

• Companies House may reject filings

• You could face delays or penalties

• Your company could be flagged as non-compliant publicly

That’s why it’s a smart move to sort this out early, especially with your Confirmation Statement or any changes coming up.

👋 Need help with ACSP or ID verification?

We make sure our clients don’t get caught out by changes like this. You’ll always have:

• Fully compliant filings

• Transparent, friendly communication

• No jargon, no surprises, and no stress

Whether you’re already with us or thinking about switching, we’re ready to help.

Please feel free to reach out to our team.

📧 ask@barrettstacey.co.uk
📞 0117 290 1204

Or share this post with a business owner who’s feeling confused by Companies House changes. 

FAQs: ACSP and ID Verification

Q: What is an ACSP?

A: ACSP stands for Authorised Corporate Service Provider. It refers to AML-supervised professionals who are authorised to submit filings to Companies House on behalf of clients.

Q: Who needs to verify their ID?

A: Company directors, People with Significant Control (PSCs), and anyone submitting filings to Companies House will need to verify their ID.

Q: Do I need to do anything if I already work with BarrettStacey?

A: No, ID verification is included in our compliance checks. We’ll let you know if we need anything from you.

Q: Will I be charged for ID verification?

A: No. It’s already included in our service; we don’t charge extra.

Q: When does this take effect?

A: It’s being rolled out in 2025/26. We’ll keep you updated as deadlines approach.