Companies House reforms: what’s changed and what’s still to come?

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) has transformed Companies House from a largely passive recipient of corporate filings into an active gatekeeper of the UK’s public register.

Several significant changes are already in force, with further reforms on the horizon. In this article, we outline what has happened so far and what businesses should be aware of next.

Recent changes

We previously covered the new identity verification requirements for directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and LLP members in this article.

Additional changes under the ECCTA have also affected the statutory registers of UK companies.

Since 18 November 2025, companies are no longer required to maintain their own internal statutory registers of directors, directors’ residential addresses, secretaries or PSCs. Instead, all changes to appointments, terminations or personal details must be filed directly with Companies House.

From 26 January 2026, companies can no longer elect to hold their register of members on the public register at Companies House. Companies that previously made this election are now required to bring their register of members back in-house.

Underpinning these changes is the enhanced role of Companies House itself. It now has powers under the ECCTA to query, reject or remove information from the register where there are concerns about accuracy or legitimacy — a fundamental shift from its previously passive role.

Looking ahead: upcoming reforms

Shareholder transparency

One of the most significant areas of reform still to come relates to shareholder transparency. Under the current system, shareholder information at Companies House can be fragmented and difficult to interpret, often spread across multiple filings with no consistent approach to identification.

The ECCTA reforms aim to address this by:

• Requiring companies to record the full legal names of all shareholders in their register of members
• Giving companies new powers to compel shareholders to provide this information
• Requiring non-traded companies to submit a one-off complete shareholder list to Companies House (with traded companies providing details of shareholders holding more than 5% of shares).

The government published its analysis on 1 March 2026, followed by a Companies House consultation on how these requirements should be implemented.

The consultation acknowledged that practical challenges will remain, particularly around identifying individuals with common names and keeping data current where ownership changes frequently. It explored a number of possible solutions, including:

• Requiring additional identifying information from shareholders (such as dates of birth for individuals, or jurisdiction of incorporation and registration numbers for corporate shareholders)
• Mandating an updated full shareholder list via the annual confirmation statement where changes have occurred
• Considering the practical difficulties companies may face when communicating with shareholders or requesting additional personal information.

The feedback window has now closed, and further detail is expected in the coming months. For anyone involved in compliance, due diligence, fraud prevention or corporate governance, these reforms are likely to have a direct impact on how shareholder data is gathered and maintained.

Presenter verification

Another ECCTA reform progressing through implementation is presenter verification. This will require individuals submitting filings to Companies House to verify their identity.

For company officers, verification is already ongoing and relatively straightforward. However, it becomes more complex for employees or agents — such as solicitors or accountants — who file on a company’s behalf without being directors or officers.

A key issue raised during recent stakeholder engagement is how these individuals will demonstrate their authority to file on behalf of their employer or client — a point that remains under active review. This reform is likely to have a particular impact on company formation agents and professional advisers.

What should companies do now?

In light of the changes already in force, and those still to come, companies and their officers should consider the following steps:

• Review your corporate records: ensure your company’s filings at Companies House are accurate and up to date, particularly given the recent security incident at Companies House. Check directors’ details, registered office addresses and PSC information are all correctly recorded
• Ensure your register of members is in order: check and confirm that you hold a full and accurate register of members at your registered office or SAIL address
• Prepare for shareholder transparency requirements: while the final detail of the new shareholder transparency obligations is still being finalised, it’s sensible to review shareholder records now to identify any information gaps
• Consider the impact of presenter verification: if agents or employees (other than directors) submit filings on your behalf, review how the new verification requirements will apply and whether appropriate authority and processes are in place
• Review your compliance procedures: more broadly, ensure your compliance procedures are equipped to meet new filing obligations promptly and avoid penalties.

The ECCTA reforms represent the most significant overhaul of the Companies House framework in a generation. While the changes so far have been largely administrative, those still to come may impose more substantive obligations on companies and their advisers. Staying ahead of these developments will be key.