PSC07 Form UK: Notify a Ceased PSC at Companies House
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When somebody stops being a Person with Significant Control over your company, Companies House needs to know. The mechanism for telling them is Form PSC07. It sounds administrative, and in many ways it is, but getting the timing and the detail right matters because the PSC regime sits at the heart of the UK's corporate transparency rules.
Whether the change has happened because shares have been transferred, voting rights have shifted, a trust arrangement has ended, or a director has lost their controlling influence, the clock starts ticking the moment the company becomes aware. This page walks through what PSC07 is for, when it applies, how it fits alongside your internal PSC register, and the practical points most company secretaries ask about when a PSC relationship comes to an end.
What this document is
Form PSC07 is the Companies House filing used to give notice that an individual, a Relevant Legal Entity (RLE), or an Other Registrable Person (ORP) has ceased to be a Person with Significant Control of a UK company. It exists because of the transparency duties introduced under the Companies Act 2006 and expanded in later regulations, which require most UK companies and LLPs to keep a PSC register and to keep the public record at Companies House aligned with it.
The form captures the identity of the person or entity coming off the register and the date on which they ceased to meet the PSC conditions. It is not used to correct errors in previously filed information, and it is not appropriate where the individual concerned has applied, or is applying, for their details to be protected from public disclosure.
In those situations, a different route applies. PSC07 is specifically about signalling an end point: this person or entity no longer exerts the level of control that triggered PSC status in the first place.
How to use this document
- Confirm the cessation has actually happened. Before filing anything, check that the individual or entity genuinely no longer meets any of the PSC conditions, such as holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise exercising significant influence or control. A partial reduction may change the percentage band rather than end PSC status entirely.
- Update your internal PSC register first. The company's own PSC register should be updated as soon as the cessation is confirmed. This internal step is a legal duty in its own right and sits alongside the Companies House filing. Record the exact date the person ceased to be a PSC, because that date needs to match what you submit on the form.
- Gather the information PSC07 requires. You will need the company name and registered number, the full name of the person or entity ceasing to be a PSC, and the effective date of cessation. For RLEs and ORPs, additional identifying details apply. Double-check the spelling and date against your register to avoid a rejected filing.
- File PSC07 within the statutory window. The filing must reach Companies House within 14 days of the company updating its own PSC register, which itself must be updated within 14 days of becoming aware of the change. In practice this gives a combined window, but the safer approach is to treat the whole process as a single 14-day task and file promptly.
- Check the public record and keep evidence. Once the filing has been accepted, review the company's public record on the Companies House service to confirm the change has been reflected. Keep a dated copy of the submission and any correspondence, along with the board minute or written resolution that evidenced the cessation, in the company's statutory books.
Common questions
Q Who counts as a Person with Significant Control?
A PSC is generally an individual who holds more than 25% of a company's shares or voting rights, has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board, or otherwise exercises significant influence or control over the company or a trust or firm connected to it. The rules also capture Relevant Legal Entities and Other Registrable Persons where they meet equivalent conditions. Companies should assess each condition separately.
Q When exactly does someone 'cease' to be a PSC?
Cessation happens when the person or entity no longer satisfies any of the PSC conditions. Common triggers include a share transfer that drops their holding below the threshold, changes to voting arrangements, resignation from a role that gave them control, the ending of a relevant trust arrangement, or a restructuring that removes their influence. The cessation date is the date the change actually took effect, not the date the company discovered it.
Q What is the deadline for filing PSC07?
The company must update its own PSC register within 14 days of becoming aware of the cessation, and then notify Companies House within a further 14 days. Missing the deadline can put the company and its officers at risk of enforcement action. If there has been a delay, it is usually better to file as soon as possible rather than wait, and to record the reason for any lateness in your internal records.
Q Can PSC07 be used if the individual has protected PSC details?
No. Where a PSC has applied for, or already benefits from, protection from having their information disclosed on the public register, PSC07 is not the correct route. A different process applies so that sensitive details are not exposed. If this situation may apply, pause before filing and check the specific protection regime on gov.uk, because filing the wrong form could inadvertently reveal protected information.
Q What happens if a company fails to file PSC07?
Failing to keep the PSC information at Companies House up to date is an offence under the Companies Act 2006 and can expose the company and its officers to civil or criminal consequences. Beyond the legal risk, an out-of-date register can create problems during due diligence, banking reviews, or corporate transactions. You should check gov.uk for the current penalty position before assuming any specific amount.
Q Do we still need to file PSC07 if a PSC becomes a different kind of PSC?
Possibly not as a PSC07. If somebody remains a PSC but moves between percentage bands, for example dropping from 'more than 50%' to 'more than 25% but not more than 50%' of shares, that is a change of particulars rather than a cessation. A different PSC form is used in that case. PSC07 is specifically for situations where the person no longer meets any PSC condition at all.
Q Can PSC07 be filed online?
In most cases, yes. Companies House offers online filing through its WebFiling and Company Information services, which is typically quicker than a paper submission and reduces the risk of rejection for formatting errors. A paper version of the form is also available if online filing is not suitable. Whichever route you use, the content of the filing and the 14-day deadline are the same.
Sources
This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.
- Guidance · UK GovCompanies House Form PSC07 on gov.ukgov.uk
- LegislationCompanies Act 2006legislation.gov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovGuidance: People with significant control (PSC)gov.uk
- Guidance · Companies HouseCompanies House servicefind-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.