How to Complete the Persons with Significant Control Register

Completing the Persons with Significant Control (PSC) register is a legal requirement for every UK limited company. The first sentence of this guide directly answers the core question: you must identify anyone who owns more than 25 percent of shares or voting rights, or who otherwise exercises significant influence or control, and file their details with Companies House.

This process protects transparency in UK business ownership. For early-stage founders and e-commerce sellers setting up or running a limited company, understanding and maintaining an accurate PSC register avoids unnecessary compliance problems and keeps your records up to date.

Who Qualifies as a Person with Significant Control

A PSC is any individual or relevant legal entity that meets one or more of the following conditions. The most common is ownership of more than 25 percent of shares or voting rights in the company. This threshold can be met through direct holdings or indirect control via another company or trust.

Other qualifying criteria include the ability to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors, or exercising significant influence or control over the company. Significant influence covers situations where a person can direct key decisions even without majority shares, for example through veto rights in a shareholders' agreement. Relevant legal entities, such as another UK limited company that itself has PSC requirements, can also be registered instead of individuals in some ownership chains.

Founders should review their share structure carefully. If shares are split equally between two people, both may qualify. In e-commerce startups it is common for one founder to hold a larger stake while another provides operational expertise; both could still meet the voting-rights test depending on the articles of association.

Information That Must Be Filed

For each individual PSC you must provide their full name, date of birth, nationality, usual residential address, and the date they became a PSC. A service address for correspondence (which can be the company's registered office) is also required. You must state which of the five conditions for being a PSC applies and, where relevant, the exact percentage bands of shares and voting rights held: over 25% but not more than 50%, over 50% but less than 75%, or 75% or more.

If a relevant legal entity is the PSC, file its corporate name, registered number, registered office address, and the nature of its control. Companies House provides specific forms and online fields that guide you through the exact data points needed. Incomplete entries will be rejected, so gather everything before starting the filing process.

Practical tip: keep a separate secure file with copies of identification documents and share certificates. This makes annual confirmations or updates far quicker and reduces the risk of errors that could trigger compliance queries.

Step-by-Step Process to Register PSCs at Companies House

First confirm the company is already incorporated. Log into your Companies House account and navigate to the filing section for your company. Select the option to add or update PSC information. The online service walks you through each field and explains what is mandatory.

Identify every person or entity that meets the criteria using your share register, articles of association and any side agreements.
Collect the required personal or corporate details from each qualifying party; explain why you need the information and how it will be used to satisfy their legal obligations.
Enter the data carefully, choosing the correct nature-of-control statements from the official list.
Review the summary screen before submitting; any mistakes here require a separate filing to correct.
Once filed, download the confirmation receipt and add the update date to your internal compliance calendar.

If you have no PSCs, which is rare, you must still file a statement confirming that the company has taken reasonable steps to find out but none exist. Most early-stage limited companies have at least one founder who meets the shareholding test.

Ongoing Notification and Update Duties

Your responsibilities do not end after the initial filing. You must notify Companies House of any changes within 14 days of becoming aware of them. Common triggers include a founder selling shares that moves their holding across a percentage band, a new investor joining, or a PSC gaining or losing the right to appoint directors.

Each year, when you file the confirmation statement, you must confirm that the PSC information is still correct or provide updates. Keeping accurate company records internally is essential; many founders maintain a PSC register at the same location as their statutory books. Changes in a PSC's residential address or name must also be reported promptly.

For e-commerce sellers who bring in family members or silent investors later, revisit the PSC assessment immediately. A small equity grant to a key supplier or employee could create a new registrable person if it crosses the 25 percent threshold or gives them blocking rights on important decisions.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

One frequent mistake is assuming only directors are PSCs. A non-director shareholder with the right shareholding must be listed, and a director with no shares may still qualify through significant influence. Another error is failing to look through corporate structures; if your company is owned by another UK company, you may need to register that company as a relevant legal entity and ensure its own PSC details are current.

Overlooking indirect control via trusts or overseas entities can also create problems. While the exact rules for overseas entities evolve, the basic principle remains that you must take reasonable steps to identify anyone who ultimately meets the conditions. Document the steps you took if you cannot find certain information; Companies House expects evidence of diligence rather than perfection in difficult cases.

Keep communication open with co-founders and investors. Explain that providing PSC details is a standard legal duty and not a privacy intrusion. Most people understand once it is framed as protecting the integrity of UK companies.

Why Accurate PSC Records Matter for Early-Stage Companies

Accurate PSC filings support trust when seeking grants, opening business bank accounts or entering contracts with larger retailers. They also reduce the chance of automatic penalties or personal liability for directors if Companies House finds the register misleading. For e-commerce founders planning to scale, clean compliance records make due diligence in future funding rounds or exits smoother.

Taking time to understand the requirements early prevents last-minute scrambles before important deadlines. Many founders review their PSC position whenever they update their cap table or amend their articles. This habit keeps the register current without significant extra effort.

Organisations such as Loomworks that support early-stage founders can provide general reminders about administrative tasks, but the legal duty and final decisions always rest with the company officers.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep my home address private on the PSC register?

You can apply to protect your usual residential address from public view by filing a secure address with Companies House. The service address you provide will appear publicly instead. Check current GOV.UK guidance because the exact process and eligibility can change.

What happens if my company has no persons with significant control?

You must file a statement confirming that the company has no PSC. This is unusual for most private limited companies. You still need to demonstrate that reasonable steps were taken to identify whether any exist. The statement must be updated each year in the confirmation statement.

How often do I need to update the PSC register?

You must notify Companies House within 14 days of any change. You also confirm the information is correct or provide updates when filing your annual confirmation statement. Keeping an internal PSC register helps you track changes quickly.

Does a 20% shareholder count as a PSC?

Normally no, unless they meet one of the other conditions such as the right to appoint directors or exercise significant influence over the company. The 25% share or voting rights threshold is the most common route, but always check your articles and agreements carefully.

Can an overseas investor be listed as a PSC?

Yes. You must provide the same information as for UK residents. Additional identification requirements may apply for overseas entities. Always refer to the latest Companies House guidance because rules for foreign ownership transparency can change.