There are major changes coming to Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill. The Government has described the Bill as "the most fundamental change to the purpose and role of Companies House, since its creation”. The far-reaching changes will turn Companies House from a ‘passive recipient of information’ to a more active gatekeeper in the fight against financial crime.

The changes will impact all UK registered companies, but time to prepare is short, with the Bill working its way through Parliament right now and looking set to quickly become law. This crucial half-day course will guide you through the details of the changes, their implications for companies and most importantly, exactly what actions you will need to take now and in the future.

The course will cover the:

• Obligation to verify the identities of directors and PSCs
• Abolition of certain statutory registers, such as the register of directors
• Requirement to file more detailed shareholder information
• Restrictions on who can be a Director
• Abolition of abridged accounts for small companies
• Restrictions on company addresses and company names
• New powers of Companies House, allowing them to:
  • Cross-check and reject information filed by other public and private bodies
  • Impose civil penalties for failure to comply with Companies Act obligations
  • Require information to be filed digitally, including accounts
  • Restrict a company from shortening its accounting reference period
  • Reject or remove information if it appears suspicious, fraudulent or ‘impacts the integrity of the register’