Persons with Significant Control

In the UK, all companies and limited liability partnerships must maintain a register of Persons with Significant Control, also known as PSCs. This legal requirement helps increase corporate transparency by making it clear who ultimately owns or controls a company.

Maintaining a clear and accurate PSC register is not just a legal formality, it is a core part of your company’s compliance with UK corporate law. Our limited company accountants provide expert support in identifying PSCs, completing the required filings with Companies House, and ensuring your internal records stay fully up to date. Whether you are appointing new shareholders, restructuring ownership, or managing a more complex group of entities, we will help you meet your responsibilities with accuracy and confidence. We also monitor your confirmation statement deadlines to make sure all PSC changes are reflected correctly on the public register.

In this article, we explain what a PSC is, how to identify one, what your responsibilities are as a company director, and how to report PSCs to Companies House.

What Is a Person with Significant Control?

A Person with Significant Control is an individual or legal entity that has significant influence or control over a company. The PSC regime was introduced in 2016 to make ownership more transparent and reduce the risk of misuse of UK companies.

A PSC must be recorded in your internal company register and reported to Companies House. The details appear on the public record unless you apply for protection under exceptional circumstances.

Who Qualifies as a PSC?

A person or legal entity is considered a PSC if they meet one or more of the following conditions:

• They hold more than 25 percent of shares in the company

• They hold more than 25 percent of voting rights

• They have the right to appoint or remove the majority of directors

• They have the right to exercise significant influence or control over the company

• They have significant influence or control over a trust or firm that meets any of the above conditions

For example, if you are the sole shareholder and director of a company, you will almost certainly be the PSC.

What Information Must Be Recorded?

Once a PSC is identified, you must collect and record the following details:

• Full name

• Date of birth

• Nationality

• Country of residence

• Service address and usual residential address

• The nature of control (e.g. ownership of shares, voting rights)

These details must be entered into your company’s PSC register and updated whenever changes occur.

How to Report a PSC to Companies House

You must report PSC information when:

• You register a new company

• You identify a new PSC

• An existing PSC’s details change

• Someone ceases to be a PSC

Use the following forms depending on the situation:

• PSC01: Add a new PSC

• PSC02 to PSC04: Change existing PSC details

• PSC07: Notify that a person is no longer a PSC

These forms can be submitted online through Companies House WebFiling.

What If You Cannot Identify a PSC?

If you are unable to confirm who controls your company, you must still take reasonable steps to identify any PSCs and record your progress. While the register cannot be left blank, you can note that the PSC has not yet been confirmed, using the correct wording required by Companies House.

You must continue your efforts and update the register once the PSC is identified.

Are There Penalties for Failing to Report?

Yes. Failing to maintain a PSC register or not reporting changes to Companies House can result in:

• Fines and prosecution for the company and its officers

• Rejection of confirmation statements and other filings

• Legal action taken by enforcement agencies

Keeping your PSC register accurate and up to date is a legal obligation and part of your wider duties as a company director.

You might also be interested in what is a confirmation statement.

Final Thoughts

Understanding and managing your company’s Persons with Significant Control is not optional. It is a legal duty designed to promote transparency, reduce fraud, and support the integrity of UK business. If you are unsure whether someone qualifies as a PSC or need help keeping your records up to date, professional advice can help ensure full compliance without confusion.

For smaller companies and sole directors, managing PSC requirements can easily be overlooked or misunderstood, especially if ownership and control are simple. Our small company accountant service is designed to keep things clear and compliant without unnecessary admin. We explain exactly what needs to be filed, update your PSC register when changes happen, and file all necessary forms with Companies House on your behalf. Whether you are forming a new company or making updates to an existing one, we will help you stay on top of your legal obligations with minimal hassle.

Unsure what to file, when to file it or how to stay compliant? Our Companies House Help hub walks you through it all.

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