These Regulations, made under powers granted by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and the Companies Act 2006, bring specific provisions of the 2023 Act into force on 18th November 2025, focusing primarily on identity verification for proposed officers and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs).
The document details which sections commence on that date, while Parts 3 and 4 introduce crucial transitional rules governing how existing company directors and PSCs must comply with the new identity verification requirements when submitting subsequent confirmation statements or in response to review periods.
Arguments For
Facilitates the staggered implementation of significant corporate reforms by setting targeted commencement dates, allowing businesses time to adapt to new identity verification standards.
Establishes clear, forward-looking deadlines (like 18th November 2025) for the commencement of key identity verification requirements, providing certainty for corporate compliance.
Provides necessary transitional arrangements (Parts 3 and 4) to manage the shift for existing company officers and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs), ensuring continuity while moving towards the new statutory requirements.
Addresses the necessary administrative overhaul by mapping old reporting duties (pre-commencement) onto the new notification provisions within the Companies Act 2006, streamlining compliance during the transition.
Arguments Against
Further delaying the full commencement of identity verification measures for directors and PSCs may prolong periods where corporate transparency is not fully enforced as intended by the 2023 Act.
The staggered commencement dates (Part 2) and detailed transitional provisions (Parts 3 and 4) introduce complexity for businesses needing to track which rules apply when, potentially leading to compliance errors.
The transitional deadline for existing directors' identity verification (up to 12 months after commencement) allows a significant gap before the verification rules fully bite for legacy roles.
The Regulations require companies to cross-reference multiple sections of the 2006 Act as they stood before and after 17th November 2025 to determine their transitional obligations, increasing administrative burden.
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 4(3), 219(1) and (9)(a), 220(1) and (4)(a) of, and paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 2 to, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and sections 790LN(5) and 1292(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2006.
The Secretary of State is issuing these Regulations using legal authority derived from specific sections of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and the Companies Act 2006.
These powers relate to ordering the commencement of the new Act and making associated transitional provisions concerning corporate records.
Part 1 Introductory
This part introduces the regulations, providing context and definitions necessary for understanding the subsequent rules.
- Citation and interpretation (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025.
(2) In these Regulations— “the 2006 Act” means the Companies Act 2006; “the 2016 Regulations” means the Register of People with Significant Control Regulations 2016; “the 2023 Act” means the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
This section establishes the official short title for these regulations and defines key terms used throughout the document.
'The 2006 Act' refers to the primary legislation governing UK companies, the '2016 Regulations' relate to the People with Significant Control register, and 'the 2023 Act' refers to the legislation being commenced by these rules.
Part 2 Commencement
This section specifies which sections of the 2023 Act take legal effect and on what date.
- Commencement on 18th November 2025 (1) The following provisions of the 2023 Act come into force on 18th November 2025— (a) section 4 (proposed officers: identity verification) insofar as not already in force; (b) section 7 (persons with initial significant control: identity verification) except insofar as it inserts the provisions specified in paragraph (3); (c) section 31 (disqualification for persistent breaches of companies legislation: GB); (d) section 32 (disqualification for persistent breaches of companies legislation: NI); (e) section 33 (disqualification on summary conviction: GB); (f) section 34 (disqualification on summary conviction: NI); (g) section 43 (prohibition on director acting unless ID verified); (h) section 44 (prohibition on acting unless directorship notified); (i) section 51 and Schedule 2 (abolition of local registers etc) insofar as not already in force, except insofar as they insert the provisions specified in paragraph (4); (j) section 59 (confirmation statements) insofar as not already in force; (k) section 64 (identity verification of persons with significant control) except insofar as it inserts the provisions specified in paragraph (5); (l) section 69 (identity verification: material unavailable for public inspection) except insofar as it inserts the provisions specified in paragraph (6).
(3) The provisions mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) are the following provisions of the 2006 Act— (a) section 12B(1), (3) and (5) (option to provide ID verification information about PSCs) insofar as those subsections relate to registrable relevant legal entities; (b) the definition of “registrable relevant legal entity” in subsection (6) of that section.
(4) The provisions mentioned in paragraph (1)(i) are the following provisions of the 2006 Act— (a) section 167G(3)(d) to (f) and (4) (duty to notify registrar of change in directors); (b) section 167K(1)(c) (required information about a director: corporate directors and firms); (c) section 279K(1)(c) (required information about a secretary etc: corporate secretaries and firms); (d) section 790K(2)(ba) and (3)(ba) (required particulars); (e) section 790LB(2) and (3) (option to provide ID verification information in notice of change); (f) subsection (4) of section 790LB insofar as that subsection relates to section 790LO.
(5) The provisions mentioned in paragraph (1)(k) are the following provisions of the 2006 Act— (a) section 790LO (initial identity verification: registrable relevant legal entities); (b) section 790LP (initial identity verification in respect of registrable relevant legal entities: transitional cases); (c) section 790LR (registrable relevant legal entities: duty to maintain registered officer whose identity is verified); (d) section 790LS (registrable relevant legal entities: change of registered relevant officer); (e) section 790LT (offence of failing to comply with sections 790LM to 790LR) insofar as that section relates to sections 790LP, 790LR and to directions given under section 790LO.
(6) The provisions mentioned in paragraph (1)(l) are the following words in section 1087(1)(gd) of the 2006 Act (material not available for public inspection) insofar as they relate to registrable relevant legal entities— (a) “section 12B(2) to (4);”; (b) “section 790LB(1) to (3);”; (c) “section 790LO(2);”; (d) “section 790LS(1) to (3);”; (e) “section 1067A;”.
(7) In this regulation “registrable relevant legal entity” has the meaning given in section 790C(8) of the 2006 Act (key terms).
This regulation formally sets 18th November 2025 as the commencement date for several key provisions of the 2023 Act relating to wider corporate transparency.
These include identity verification for proposed (new) officers (Section 4) and initial PSCs (Section 7), certain disqualification powers (Sections 31-34), prohibitions on acting if ID is unverified (Sections 43, 44), abolition of local registers (Section 51/Schedule 2), confirmation statement changes (Section 59), and rules regarding public access to verified data (Section 69).
Subsections (3) through (6) detail which specific amendments within the Companies Act 2006 are triggered by the commencement of Sections 7, 51, 64, and 69, often relating the changes to 'registrable relevant legal entities' (RLEs) who must verify identity.
Part 3 Transitional provisions in relation to identity verification
This part addresses transitional arrangements specifically for ensuring identity verification requirements are met for individuals and entities already in place before the commencement date.
- Interpretation In this Part “company” has the meaning given in section 1 of the 2006 Act (companies).
This term definition clarifies that for the purposes of this transitional Part, 'company' refers to the definition set out in the Companies Act 2006.
- Transitional provision in connection with ID verification of existing directors (1) This regulation applies in relation to an individual who became a director of a company before 18th November 2025.
(2) That company must deliver to the registrar an identity verification statement in respect of that individual at the same time as the company delivers its next confirmation statement during the transitional period.
(3) If the company fails to deliver a confirmation statement during the transitional period, the company must deliver to the registrar an identity verification statement in respect of the individual referred to in paragraph (1) at the same time as the company delivers its next confirmation statement.
(4) The duty— (a) in paragraph (2) does not apply if the individual is not a director of the company at the time mentioned in that paragraph; (b) in paragraph (3) does not apply if the individual is not a director of the company at the time mentioned in that paragraph.
(5) Section 853A(1)(b)(i) of the 2006 Act (duty to deliver confirmation statements) has effect as if it included a reference to the duties imposed by paragraphs (2) and (3).
(6) Where, on 18th November 2025, the delivery period within which the confirmation statement referred to in paragraph (2) is required to be delivered has yet to begin, or has already begun but is not yet expired, section 167M(1) of the 2006 Act (prohibition on director acting unless ID verified) does not apply to the individual, and section 167M(2) of the 2006 Act does not apply to the company with respect to that individual, until— (a) the day after the day on which the company complies with the duty in section 853A(1); or (b) if the company does not so comply, the day after the last day of the delivery period.
(7) Where, on 18th November 2025, the company has an overdue confirmation statement, section 167M(1) of the 2006 Act does not apply to the individual, and section 167M(2) of the 2006 Act does not apply to the company with respect to that individual, until the earlier of— (a) the day after the day on which the company complies with paragraph (2); or (b) the end of the day on 2nd December 2025.
(8) For the purposes of paragraph (7), the company has an overdue confirmation statement if it has failed to deliver a confirmation statement by the end of its last delivery period with an end date before 18th November 2025 and on 18th November 2025 the company has still not delivered that confirmation statement.
(9) In this regulation— “delivery period” means the period mentioned in section 853A(1) of the 2006 Act; “identity verification statement” means a statement in respect of an individual confirming that their identity is verified within the meaning of section 1110A of the 2006 Act (meaning of “identity is verified”); “transitional period” means the period of 12 months beginning with 18th November 2025.
This rule governs existing directors appointed before 18th November 2025, mandating that their company must submit an identity verification statement for them.
This submission must occur when the company files its next confirmation statement within the 12-month 'transitional period' following the commencement date, or immediately if the confirmation statement is overdue.
The duty to deliver the verification statement is tied to the individual still being a director at the time of filing, and this transitional compliance window delays the enforcement of prohibitions (under new Section 167M) against both the director and the company until verification is completed or the relevant deadline passes.
- Initial identity verification for registrable persons: transitional cases (1) This regulation applies to a person (“the relevant person”) who is a registrable person in relation to a company (“the relevant company”) at any time on 18th November 2025.
(2) If, immediately before 18th November 2025, the relevant person— (a) is not a director of the relevant company; or (b) is— (i) a director of the relevant company; and (ii) a registrable person in respect of that company whose required particulars are protected, the appointed day for the purposes of section 790LN of the 2006 Act (initial identity verification for registrable persons: transitional cases) in respect of the relevant person is the date specified in the second column of the following table which corresponds to the month of that person’s date of birth as specified in the first column of that table—
[Table specifying appointed days based on birth month, ranging from 1st January 2026 to 1st December 2025, with December having the earliest appointed day of 1st December 2025.]
(3) If, immediately before 18th November 2025, the relevant person is a— (a) director of the relevant company; and (b) registrable person in respect of that company whose required particulars are not protected, the appointed day is the day after the last day of the relevant review period.
(4) In this regulation— “protected” means not available for public inspection because under regulation 33 of the 2016 Regulations the registrar is required to omit the relevant person’s secured information from the material on the register; “relevant review period” means the first review period of the relevant company in which the last day of that review period falls in the period of one year beginning with 18th November 2025; “review period” has the meaning given in section 853A of the 2006 Act (duty to deliver confirmation statements); “secured information” has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the 2016 Regulations.
This complex rule sets the 'appointed day' for initial identity verification for existing Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) who are already registered when the new rules start on 18th November 2025.
For PSCs who are not directors, or whose details are already protected from public view under older rules, the deadline is staggered based on their birth month, running from December 2025 through to January 2026.
For PSCs who are directors but whose details were not protected, the deadline is linked to their company's next review period following 18th November 2025.
Part 4 Transitional provision in relation to new notification provisions
This part provides transitional guidance for how existing obligations to notify changes (under older law) map onto the new notification requirements established by the 2023 Act.
Chapter 1 Directors and secretaries
This chapter specifically deals with the transitional treatment of changes concerning existing company directors and secretaries.
- Notification of changes concerning directors or secretaries to the registrar (1) This regulation applies where immediately before 18th November 2025 a company was under a duty to give a notice under a provision of the 2006 Act listed in the first column of the table in paragraph (4) but had not given it.
(2) The company must instead give a relevant corresponding notice under the provision of the 2006 Act listed in the corresponding entry in the second column of that table, subject to the modification in paragraph 3.
(3) The provision of the 2006 Act in the second column has effect as if it required the company to give the relevant corresponding notice during the period of 14 days beginning with 18th November 2025.
(4) The table is as follows—
[Table mapping pre-17th Nov 2025 notification duties (e.g., Sections 167(1)(a), 276(1)(a)) to the corresponding new duty provisions (e.g., Sections 167G, 279G) effective after the commencement date.]
(5) The references in this regulation to sections 167, 167D, 276 and 279D of the 2006 Act are references to those provisions as they had effect on 17th November 2025.
If a company had an outstanding duty before 18th November 2025 to report changes regarding directors or secretaries under the old rules of the Companies Act 2006, they must instead comply using the new corresponding notification provisions.
Crucially, this duty must be fulfilled within 14 days starting from 18th November 2025, bridging the gap between the old and new corporate filing requirements.
Chapter 2 People with significant control
This chapter addresses the transitional arrangements for fulfilling notification duties related to Persons with Significant Control (PSCs).
- Notification of changes concerning people with significant control to the registrar (1) This regulation applies where immediately before 18th November 2025 a company— (a) was under a duty to give a notice under section 790VA(2) of the 2006 Act as a result of making a relevant PSC register change but had not given it; or (b) would have been under that duty had it complied with its duty to make a relevant PSC register change.
(2) Subject to the modification in paragraph (3), the company must give a relevant notice under the provision of the 2006 Act listed in the second column of the table in paragraph (5) which corresponds to the entry for the provision that required the company to make a relevant PSC register change listed in the first column of that table.
(3) The provision of the 2006 Act in the second column has effect as if it required the company to give the relevant notice during the period of 14 days beginning with 18th November 2025.
(4) In this regulation— “PSC register” means the register referred to in section 790M(1) of the 2006 Act (duty to keep register); “relevant PSC register change” means a change to a PSC register required under a provision specified in the first column of the table.
(5) The table is as follows—
[Table mapping pre-18th Nov 2025 PSC register change duties (under the old rules, including those from the 2016 Regulations) to the corresponding new notice provisions (e.g., Section 790LA(1), 790LF(1)) effective after the commencement date.]
(6) The references in this regulation to sections 790E, 790M and 790VA of the 2006 Act and provisions of the 2016 Regulations are references to those provisions as they had effect on 17th November 2025.
If a company failed to report a 'relevant PSC register change' under the law existing just before 18th November 2025, it must use the new corresponding notification provisions in the 2006 Act.
This catch-up filing period is restricted to 14 days starting on 18th November 2025.
The table cross-references pre-existing PSC duties (including those from the 2016 Regulations) to the new statutory duties for notifying changes to the registrar.