Companies House updates: revised timelines for transition plans

Companies House has issued two important updates affecting the rollout of upcoming corporate filing changes. These announcements adjust previously published timelines and will be relevant to anyone responsible for company filings, particularly those looking to plan ahead and understand how the changes may influence their internal compliance processes over the coming months.

Presenter identity verification – timeline extended

On 19 January, Companies House announced that it will no longer introduce the presenter registration measures in Spring 2026. It has now moved the earliest implementation date to November 2026.

Therefore, anyone filing documents with Companies House on behalf of a company will not yet need to be registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) or complete their own identity verification requirement (IDV).

The delay allows Companies House to prioritise the 12 month transition period for directors, PSC’s and members of limited liability partnerships (LLP) who must complete IDV now and to ensure the new framework is clear, proportionate and practical when it is introduced for those who regularly submit filings on behalf of clients.

Firms can register as an ACSP at any time, and many have already done so to support IDV checks. However, once the presenter rules take effect, firms that are not ACSPs will no longer be able to file on behalf of clients.

Don’t worry, Carpenter Box will be registered accordingly and in good time to make sure we continue seamless support for our clients!

Accounts filing reforms – implementation under review

In a separate announcement, Companies House stated in its 28th January update that it will not implement new filing of accounts requirements, introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act as previously announced.  Originally scheduled for April 2027, any reforms are paused with no date on a final decision.  Any changes that are enacted, however, will come with at least 21 months’ notice.

Companies House has stated that these measures are being reviewed in response to stakeholder feedback. The aim is to ensure the reforms effectively support efforts to tackle economic crime while avoiding unnecessary burdens on businesses – concerns over increased compliance costs, disproportionate requirements and unnecessary regulations have all been raised.

Keeping your business informed

The latest announcements highlight the continued assessment of how these reforms will operate in practice.

The direction of travel is clear: greater transparency and more accurate data across the Companies House registrar. But with timelines moving, businesses should look at this perhaps as a valuable window to prepare thoughtfully rather than reactively.

We will keep a close eye on further developments and share updates as more information becomes available.

If you have any further questions on these updates, please contact us or reach out to our Company Secretarial team at cosec@carpenterbox.com.