This guide is maintained as a current resource for September 2026 and covers only the laws of England and Wales. Information is for general guidance, not legal advice. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Are you compliant? Learn who qualifies as a person with significant control, the information you must report to Companies House, and how to avoid costly penalties.
The Register of People with Significant Control (PSC) is a statutory requirement that modern company law imposes on most private companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) in England and Wales. Its purpose is to increase transparency about who ultimately owns or controls a company by identifying significant owners or controllers and recording key information about them. This article explains what the PSC register is, why it exists, who must be included, what information must be recorded, how the register is maintained at Companies House, what legal duties and deadlines apply, the consequences of non‑compliance, and answers to common questions relevant to directors, shareholders, advisers and members of the public.
1. Purpose of the PSC Register
The PSC register was introduced on 6 April 2016 under reforms to the Companies Act 2006 and related regulations. Its core aim is to reveal the ultimate beneficial owners of private companies and LLPs, closing gaps that previously enabled owners to conceal control behind nominee shareholders or complex structures. This transparency supports investor confidence, assists law enforcement bodies in tackling financial crime, and aligns UK corporate governance with international standards on ownership disclosure.
2. What Is a Person with Significant Control (PSC)?
A person with significant control is an individual who ultimately owns or influences a company in a meaningful way. The statutory criteria are found in schedule 1A to the Companies Act 2006. An individual is a PSC if any of the following apply:
- They hold more than 25 % of the company's shares.
- They hold more than 25 % of the company's voting rights.
- They have the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors.
- They have the right to exercise, or do exercise, significant influence or control over the company.
- They exercise significant control over the activities of a trust or firm that itself meets one of the above criteria in relation to the company.
Indirect control - for example, through another company or arrangement - can also result in a PSC obligation. Directors and company officers must assess ownership and arrangements carefully to identify all PSCs.
3. The Register and Companies House
Unlike older requirements to maintain an internal register at the company's registered office, changes since March 2024 mean most companies now submit PSC information directly to Companies House, which holds a central public register. The historic internal register must still be retained, but updates are now event‑driven rather than tied to annual filing cycles.
The PSC information that Companies House makes publicly accessible includes:
- Full name of the PSC;
- Month and year of birth;
- Nationality and service address;
- The nature of control (for example shareholding or voting right category);
- The date they became a PSC.
The PSC's usual residential address is collected but is generally not displayed on the public register.
4. Information Required for the PSC Register
Before sending PSC details to Companies House, a company must confirm the information directly with the individual identified as a PSC. The key information to collect and submit includes:
- Name, date of birth, nationality and usual residential address;
- Service address, used for public filings;
- The date they became a PSC;
- Which control conditions are met (e.g. percentage of shares or voting rights).
Companies must also update the PSC register within 14 days of becoming aware of any change in a PSC's details or status. Similarly, if a company no longer has anyone meeting the PSC conditions, this must also be reported within 14 days.
5. Verification and New Identification Rules
From 18 November 2025, PSCs, like company directors, are required to verify their identity with Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Once verified, each PSC receives a personal code that the company must submit with their PSC information. Failure to verify or supply the necessary code within the deadline can result in a public note and potential penalties.
6. Steps for Companies to Comply
Identifying PSCs
- Review the company's share register, articles of association and voting arrangements.
- Consider whether any individual can appoint or remove directors or has significant influence.
- For complex ownership structures (e.g. trusts or holding companies), assess indirect control elements.
Confirming and Reporting
- Contact each potential PSC to confirm details.
- Collect required information and verify identity where required.
- File the PSC details with Companies House within 14 days of confirmation.
Ongoing Maintenance
- Update Companies House within 14 days of any changes to PSC information.
- Annual confirmation statements must reflect current PSC details if no changes have been filed in the preceding 12 months.
7. Legal Duties and Penalties for Non‑Compliance
Companies and individuals have statutory obligations to ensure PSC information is accurate and promptly reported. Failure to provide accurate or timely PSC details, or to comply with reasonable requests for information from the company, can be a criminal offence, carrying fines or imprisonment. The law imposes these duties on company officers and on PSCs themselves to provide accurate information.
Where a person fails to provide required information, a company may issue a restrictions notice to compel compliance; misuse of this power or incorrect filings can also have legal consequences.
8. Practical Risks and Considerations
Indirect Control and Complex Structures
Identifying beneficial owners in layered structures (with intermediary companies, trusts or arrangements that affect voting) can be legally and administratively challenging. Legal advice and careful review of constitutive documents may be necessary.
Privacy and Protection Applications
Individuals who could be at serious risk of violence or intimidation due to being listed publicly may apply for protection from disclosure, restricting certain details from public view. Such applications must meet specific criteria and are handled by Companies House.
International Owners
Foreign individuals controlling UK companies also fall within the PSC regime; companies must identify and report them, with appropriate information submitted and verified for compliance.
9. Common Questions
Who must have a PSC register?
Most private limited companies and LLPs must maintain and submit PSC information to Companies House, unless no individual meets the control thresholds.
Can a company have no PSCs?
Yes. If no individual meets the statutory conditions, the company must file a statement to that effect with Companies House.
Is the PSC register public?
Yes, the central PSC register held at Companies House is publicly accessible, though sensitive elements such as full residential addresses are restricted from public view.
Summary
The Register of People with Significant Control is a cornerstone of modern company transparency and anti‑abuse regulation in England and Wales. It ensures that those who ultimately own or control companies cannot hide behind nominee arrangements or opaque structures. Companies must identify PSCs, collect and confirm key personal and control details, and file this information with Companies House within strict deadlines. From late 2025, PSCs will also need to verify their identity, strengthening the integrity of the register. Failure to comply can lead to criminal sanctions. Directors and officers should understand their obligations, keep records up to date, and seek professional support where complex ownership or control structures arise, ensuring legal compliance and confidence in corporate disclosure.
