A Companies House Person with Significant Control (PSC) search allows you to identify the individuals or legal entities that own or effectively control a UK company. This publicly accessible register provides transparency into beneficial ownership, helping stakeholders, investors, and the public understand who holds real power within a business.
Understanding the PSC Register
The PSC register was introduced in 2016 to increase transparency in UK business ownership. Before its implementation, it was often difficult to determine who truly owned or controlled a company due to complex layers of holding companies, nominee arrangements, and offshore structures. By requiring companies to publicly disclose their “beneficial owners,” the register helps combat money laundering and tax evasion while giving the public a clear view of corporate governance.
The register is maintained by Companies House and is available to anyone, free of charge, with no registration or login required.
What Defines a Person with Significant Control (PSC)?
A PSC is generally defined as anyone who meets at least one of five specific conditions of control. If a person or entity meets any of these criteria, they must be registered:
- Share Ownership: Holds more than 25% of the shares in the company.
- Voting Rights: Holds more than 25% of the voting rights in the company.
- Board Control: Holds the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors.
- Significant Influence or Control: Exercises, or has the right to exercise, significant influence or control over the company.
- Trust or Firm Control: Exercises significant influence or control over the activities of a trust or firm that itself meets any of the first four conditions.
How to Perform a PSC Search
Searching for PSC information is a straightforward process using the official UK government website.
- Access the Service: Navigate to the official Companies House “Find and update company information” service.
- Search for the Company: Enter the name or company number of the business you wish to investigate into the search bar.
- View Company Details: Once you select the correct company from the results, you will be taken to the company overview page.
- Navigate to the PSC Tab: Look for the “People” tab (sometimes labeled as “People with significant control”). Here, you will see a list of all individuals or relevant legal entities (RLEs) currently registered as having significant control.
- Review the Record: Each entry will detail the nature of the control (e.g., “ownership of shares – 25% to 50%”) and provide information about when they became a PSC.
Individual PSCs vs. Relevant Legal Entities (RLEs)
When viewing the PSC register, you may encounter two different types of entries:
- Individual PSCs: These are actual people who directly own or control the company. The record will display their name, nationality, country of residence, and month and year of birth.
- Relevant Legal Entities (RLEs): An RLE is a corporate body or other legal entity that meets the conditions of significant control. If you see an RLE listed, it means the company is part of a corporate structure. To find the ultimate beneficial owner, you may need to look up the PSC register for that RLE itself, potentially repeating the process until you reach an individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if a company has no PSC?
A company may have no registrable PSC if no single individual or entity holds more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or otherwise exerts control. In this case, the company must file a statement confirming that it has no registrable person with significant control.
Is residential address information public on the PSC register?
No, residential addresses are not published on the public PSC register. Companies House holds this information separately to protect the privacy and safety of the individuals involved. Only a “service address” (often the company’s registered office or an accountant’s address) is publicly visible.
Can I be removed from the PSC register?
You can only be removed from the PSC register if you no longer meet any of the five conditions of control, such as selling your shares or stepping down from a controlling role. If your circumstances change, the company is responsible for updating the register within 14 days and notifying Companies House within another 14 days.
What is the difference between a shareholder and a PSC?
While a shareholder owns shares, a PSC is specifically someone who exercises “significant control.” Often, a major shareholder is also a PSC, but it is possible to be a PSC without holding shares—for example, if you have the power to appoint or remove directors or exert significant influence through a shareholder agreement.
Are all companies required to maintain a PSC register?
Most UK-incorporated companies, including private limited companies, public limited companies (PLCs), and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), must maintain a PSC register. However, specific types of entities, such as certain publicly traded companies that are already subject to other transparency rules, may be exempt or follow different disclosure requirements.
Is there a cost to access PSC data?
No, accessing the PSC register via the official Companies House “Find and update company information” service is entirely free of charge. You do not need to create an account or provide payment details to view these records.