The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act: a new era for Companies House

Holly Chadwick, Solicitor

In a recent blog posted on 8 October 2025, Companies House explored the impact of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) which came into effect in March 2024 and marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of the organisation’s role. The reforms are designed to strengthen the UK’s corporate framework and tackle economic crime head-on.

Before ECCTA: A System Built on Trust

Historically, Companies House operated as a passive registry. Company formation was largely trust-based, with minimal checks on the accuracy of submitted information creating vulnerabilities that were exploited by criminals. Shell companies, fraudulent names, and the ability for criminal enterprises to obscure ownership details were all too common.

After ECCTA: A Proactive Gatekeeper

ECCTA has transformed Companies House into a more active and empowered body and in their blog, Companies House have identified how the key changes introduced by ECCTA have been seen in action, including:

• Company name abuse – Companies House can now reject names at incorporation, require changes and annotate or remove records.
• False information and identity – Companies House now proactively remove false entries and applies sanctions to false information on the register.

In line with this, from 18 November 2025, directors and people with significant control (PSC) will be legally required to verify their identity. Companies House estimates that 6 to 7 million people will need to verify their identity by mid-November 2026.

• Stricter Address Requirements – Companies must provide appropriate office addresses and PO boxes are no longer acceptable.

These reforms are already making a difference. Companies House can now reject misleading company names and remove fraudulent entries swiftly, helping to protect legitimate businesses from impersonation and reputational harm.

Real-World Examples

Removal of false information

• Between 4 March 2024 and 3 March 2025, Companies House queried and removed false or misleading information affecting 100,400 companies and rejected over 10,200 suspicious applications.
• Since March 2024, Companies House have removed false entries across 82,600 registered office addresses, 66,900 officer addresses and 55,100 PSC addresses.

What This Means for You

For companies, their directors and PSCs and anyone dealing with UK companies , these changes offer greater protection and transparency. While the requirements for incorporation and filing are now more rigorous, they contribute to a more trustworthy and secure business environment in the UK.

To ensure you are ready for all of the changes ECCTA has brought and is in bringing in over time (the overhaul of Companies House being just one aspect) then you should consider, for example:

• reviewing governance policies and compliance in light of the changes and new rules and requirements
• educating directors and PSCs about the changes;
• auditing existing Companies House filings;
• implementing anti-fraud procedures in line with new requirements; and
• monitoring updates from Companies House and legal advisors.

Companies House is no longer just a repository—it’s a frontline defender against corporate abuse. These reforms signal a new era of accountability and integrity in UK company law.