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Guide · Internal
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act for Accountants
Register reform, identity verification and a new corporate offence — what a practice has to do about each.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · 60-day free trial · Last updated 27 September 2026
Quick answer
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act reforms Companies House, introduces identity verification for directors and PSCs, creates authorised corporate service provider registration, and brings in a failure to prevent fraud offence. Practices need verification tracking, tighter filing processes and documented fraud prevention procedures.
What are the main changes for practices?
Identity verification for directors and PSCs, ACSP registration for firms that file or verify, stronger Companies House powers, and a failure to prevent fraud offence.
Each has a different operational consequence. Verification is a client-tracking exercise. ACSP registration is a decision about how you file. The fraud offence is a policies-and-procedures exercise. Confirm the current commencement dates on GOV.UK, as the Act has been implemented in stages.
How does it affect filing?
Firms filing on behalf of clients may need to be registered, and Companies House has stronger powers to query and reject information.
Practically, expect more scrutiny of what you file and less tolerance of inconsistent data. Clean client records — correct addresses, officer details and PSC information — matter more than they did.
What about the failure to prevent fraud offence?
Organisations in scope can be liable where an associated person commits fraud for their benefit, unless reasonable prevention procedures were in place.
The defence is reasonable procedures, which means written, communicated and monitored — not informal good intentions. Check the published guidance and whether your firm is in scope based on the size criteria.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act for Accountants: step by step
- 1
Map the impact
Identify which parts of the Act affect your firm and clients.
- 2
Plan verification
Build the director and PSC list and a tracking process.
- 3
Decide on ACSP registration
Weigh filing and verification needs against the obligations.
- 4
Clean your client data
Correct officer, address and PSC records before filing.
- 5
Document fraud prevention
Write, communicate and monitor reasonable procedures.
- 6
Train the team
Record training on the new requirements.
See it working with your own clients
A 30-minute walkthrough using your services, deadlines and templates.
How do you do it in Remindoo?
- Sync Companies House data. Keep company, officer and filing information accurate.
- Track verification status. Record where each director and PSC has got to.
- Store policies centrally. Keep procedures and training records accessible to the team.
- Use AML features. Run risk assessments and built-in digital ID checks for due diligence.
- Create recurring reviews. Schedule annual policy and register reviews as jobs.
- Report on the gaps. Filter clients where verification or data is incomplete.
Companies House sync
Import company details and filing deadlines.
See featureAML risk scoring and digital ID checks
Risk assessments plus built-in digital KYC, AML and proof-of-address checks.
See featureCustom fields and data tokens
Capture and reuse the data your firm needs.
See featureRecurring tasks
Repeat work is created automatically on schedule.
See featureCentralised client information
Services, documents and notes in one record.
See featureWhat are the common mistakes?
- Treating it as purely a Companies House matter
- No written fraud prevention procedures
- Stale officer and PSC data
- No verification tracking per person
- Assuming all provisions are already in force
“Managing deadlines and tasks is much easier.”
Frequently asked questions
When do the ECCTA provisions apply?
The Act is being implemented in stages. Check GOV.UK for the commencement dates of each provision.
Do all accountancy firms need ACSP registration?
It depends on whether you file or verify on clients' behalf. Check the current Companies House guidance before deciding.
Is my firm in scope for the fraud offence?
Scope depends on organisation size criteria. Check the published guidance and take advice where the position is unclear.
What counts as reasonable prevention procedures?
Written, risk-based procedures that are communicated and monitored. The Government has published guidance on what is expected.
Does this replace AML obligations?
No. Money Laundering Regulations obligations continue alongside the Act's requirements.
How does Remindoo help?
It keeps register data synced, tracks verification status, stores policies and training records, and runs built-in AML risk assessments and digital ID checks.
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Sources
Last updated 27 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice.
Why recording every task matters in an accountancy practice
Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.
Avoid penalties
HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.
Nothing depends on memory
Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.
Consistent quality
Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.
Visibility for managers
Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
- Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
- Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
