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AML, data protection & regulators
AML Supervision, ICO and Professional Body Links for Accountants
Official links only, organised by task, with notes on who uses each one.
Official sources only · Links checked 23 September 2026 · Last updated 23 September 2026
Quick answer
Accountancy firms must be supervised for anti-money laundering by HMRC or a professional body such as ICAEW, ACCA or AAT, and most must pay the ICO data protection fee. Use the NCA for suspicious activity reports and GOV.UK for the UK sanctions list. AML supervision is expected to move to the FCA from around late 2028.
AML supervision and reporting
Record every client risk assessment and review date. Remindoo records AML checks manually; it does not screen clients.
| Task | Official link | Who uses it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register or update money laundering supervision with HMRC | Open Register or update money laundering supervision with HMRC (opens in new tab) | HMRC-supervised firms | — |
| NCA: Suspicious Activity Reports | Open NCA: Suspicious Activity Reports (opens in new tab) | MLROs | — |
| The UK sanctions list | Open The UK sanctions list (opens in new tab) | Firms | — |
Data protection
Renew the fee each year and keep the privacy notice current.
| Task | Official link | Who uses it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICO data protection fee | Open ICO data protection fee (opens in new tab) | Firms | — |
Professional bodies
Your professional body sets practising certificate and AML requirements.
| Task | Official link | Who uses it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICAEW regulation | Open ICAEW regulation (opens in new tab) | ICAEW members | — |
| ACCA practising certificates and licences | Open ACCA practising certificates and licences (opens in new tab) | ACCA members | — |
| AAT | Open AAT (opens in new tab) | AAT licensed members | — |
| Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) | Open Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) (opens in new tab) | CTA members | — |
| Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) | Open Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) (opens in new tab) | ATT members | — |
| Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) | Open Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) (opens in new tab) | Bookkeepers | — |
See it working with your own clients
Client references, payment reminders and deadlines in one place.
Keep all of this inside your practice management software
Store each client’s UTR, VAT number, PAYE reference, Accounts Office reference and Corporation Tax payment reference in custom fields on the client record. Create one payment instructions email template with tokens that fill in each client’s own reference, then send it to one client or in bulk before each deadline. Set automated reminders and recurring tasks for every payment date, and pull filing deadlines with Companies House sync. Remindoo doesn’t submit filings, take payments or connect to HMRC — it keeps the references and the reminders in one place.
See the Remindoo how-to guides and getting started.
Related templates
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Frequently asked questions
Who supervises accountants for AML?
Firms are supervised by a professional body such as ICAEW, ACCA or AAT, or by HMRC if they are not members of one. The government has announced that AML supervision will move to the FCA, expected in tranches from around late 2028.
Do accountants need to pay the ICO data protection fee?
Most firms that process personal data must pay the fee unless exempt. The ICO website has a self-assessment tool and the current tiers.
How do I register for HMRC AML supervision?
Firms not supervised by a professional body register through HMRC’s money laundering supervision service on GOV.UK, which also covers renewals and changes. Fitness and propriety checks apply.
Does Remindoo carry out ID or sanctions checks?
No. Remindoo records AML checks, risk assessments and scores on the client record manually. Remindoo also has built-in digital identity verification and AML screening, sent to clients by email, with continuous monitoring available and charged per check. Use a specialist provider for those and record the outcome in Remindoo.
How often should client AML risk assessments be reviewed?
Review on a risk basis — more often for higher-risk clients — and whenever circumstances change. Set a recurring task for each client’s review date so none are missed. Your supervisor’s guidance sets expectations.
Where do I submit a suspicious activity report?
Through the National Crime Agency’s SAR service. Your MLRO decides whether to report. Keep internal reports and decisions on file.
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Last updated 23 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice. Always follow the official GOV.UK page.
Why recording AML checks properly matters
UK accountants must follow the Money Laundering Regulations and their supervisor's guidance. If a check is not recorded, supervisors will generally treat it as not done.
Evidence for your supervisor
Dated ID checks and risk assessments on each client file are what a supervisor asks to see during a review.
Consistent risk scoring
A standard risk assessment means every client is judged the same way, whoever onboarded them.
Ongoing monitoring
Reminders for periodic reviews help keep checks current rather than done once and forgotten.
Faster onboarding
Built-in digital ID and AML checks in Remindoo reduce back-and-forth with new clients.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Complete identity checks and a risk assessment before starting chargeable work.
- Set review dates by risk level, with higher-risk clients reviewed more often.
- Record the reason for each risk rating, not just the rating.
- Check your supervisor's current guidance, as requirements can change.
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.”
