Form EH04 UK: Elect to Keep PSC Register Centrally

What this document is

Form EH04 is the Companies House form used to elect that PSC information is kept on the central public register rather than on a register you hold privately at your company's offices. Once this election is made and accepted, the information you would ordinarily enter into your own PSC register is instead recorded directly at Companies House, and the duty to keep that information up to date is discharged by filing changes centrally rather than writing them into an internal book.

The trade-off is transparency. When your PSC information sits on the central register, almost all of it becomes openly searchable online, with the usual exception of the residential address. Before making the election, the company must give notice to every person whose details will appear centrally, so they understand what is happening.

Smaller companies with a simple ownership structure often find this route reduces admin. Companies that value keeping ownership details less visible on a single public search may prefer to hold the register themselves.

How to use this document

1. Confirm who your PSCs are. Before filing anything, make sure you have identified every person with significant control, typically someone holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or other significant influence or control. Gather their full name, date of birth, nationality, country of residence, service address, the date they became a PSC, and the nature of their control. 2. Give 14 days' notice to each PSC. You must write to every PSC (and anyone else whose details will appear centrally) telling them you intend to make this election. They have a short window to object. Do not file Form EH04 until that notice period has passed, because filing without proper notice can invalidate the election and cause problems later. 3. Complete Form EH04 accurately. The form asks for the company number, company name, and confirmation that the required notice has been given and no objection received. Double-check every detail against your existing records. A mismatch between what you file and what Companies House already holds is a common reason elections are rejected or queried. 4. Submit the form to Companies House. You can file Form EH04 on paper or, where available, through the Companies House online service. Keep a copy and a dated record of submission. Once accepted, the central register becomes the official record of your PSC information for as long as the election remains in force. 5. Keep filings current after the election. Making the election does not end your reporting duties, it changes where you report. Any change in PSC details, a new PSC, a departing PSC, or a change in the nature of control, must be notified to Companies House promptly so the central register stays accurate. Missing these updates can amount to a criminal offence.

Common questions