Companies House Powers Boosted 💪 What Company Directors Need to Know

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 #ECCTA2023 gives Companies House new powers to clean up the company register, share data with law enforcement, and enforce tougher penalties for non-compliance.

Have you had these emails from Companies House?

• “Verify your identity for Companies House now”

• “Changes to accounts filing – important update”

Both are legit — and require action by every Company Director.

What’s Changing (and When)

Starting Autumn 2025

🔐 ID verification is required for all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs). If you haven’t already done it, check out my post: Verify your identity for Companies House.

From April 2027

🧾 Digital-only filing – Companies House will scrap its DIY Accounts templates.

📣 Micro and small companies to file their Profit & Loss account* – this is the big one.

For some, posting your P&L online is a bit like sharing your payslip on Instagram 😱 It’s a major privacy shift.

Although #ECCTA2023 gives Companies House the power to choose whether or not to make your P&L public, their current plan is to make it mandatory from April 2027 — as confirmed in their latest email.

*A glimmer of hope?

July 2025 Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP expressed doubts about the move. I posted about this on LinkedIn. However, he's since been replaced by Peter Kyle MP.

23 Sep 2025 at industry expo Accountex Manchester, Sarah Whitehead from Companies House indicated that making Profit & Loss reports public is "under active consideration".

Updates first published on LinkedIn — follow me there for updates as this unfolds.

FAQs

• Do I need bookkeeping software now? No. Small, non-VAT registered Limited Companies remain in a small club that are so far not affected by Making Tax Digital (a separate HMRC initiative currently affecting most sole-traders and Partnerships).

  
  

• Will my P&L be visible to the public? Yes — under current plans from April 2027.

  
  

• Will it be behind a paywall? No — anyone can search and view it for free.

  
  

• I value my privacy — what can I do? There are options, the pros/cons of which need careful consideration. If you’re concerned – reach out for personalised advice.

TIMELINE OF ECCTA2023

• Sep 2022 Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Bill, was first introduced (in response to sanctions being imposed due to the Russia/Ukraine war)

• 26 Oct 2023 Royal Assent (passed into law)

The powers granted by ECCTA have/are being rolled out as follows:

• 2024 (in force):

  • New Companies House powers (query, reject, remove info).

  • “Appropriate” registered office & email address required.

    
    

• From Autumn 2025:

  • ID verification (IDV) system launches.

  • New directors/PSCs must verify from 18 November 2025 onwards.

  • Existing directors/PSCs given 12 months to comply (will need to be ID verified to submit next Confirmation Statement CS01).

    
    

• From April 2027:

  • Filing only via software (no paper/PDF).

  • Micro/small entities must file profit & loss report to the public register

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