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PSC01 Form UK: Notify Companies House of a PSC

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Part ofCompanies House Forms UK

Written by Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)
Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice.
Updated June 2026 · England & Wales
When a company identifies an individual who holds significant control over its affairs, that information has to reach Companies House. Form PSC01 is the paper route for passing those details across when an individual person with significant control (PSC) needs to be registered. The requirement sits within the People with Significant Control regime introduced by the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015, now embedded in Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006. Every UK company, LLP and Scottish partnership within scope must keep a PSC register and report changes within set timeframes. This page walks through what PSC01 is for, when you need to use it, the information you'll be asked to supply, and the pitfalls that tend to catch directors out. If you want someone to talk through your specific situation before you file, a call with one of our experienced legal advisers is available at the foot of the page.

What this document is

Form PSC01 is the Companies House form used to notify the registrar that an individual with significant control has been entered onto a company's PSC register. It is the reporting step that follows the internal duty to identify and record PSCs on the company's own register.

The form draws its authority from sections 790VA and 790ZA of the Companies Act 2006, which require companies to tell the registrar when the register is first populated, when entries are altered, or when additional matters prescribed by regulation are noted. A PSC is generally an individual who holds more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, can appoint or remove the majority of the board, or otherwise exercises significant influence or control over the company.

PSC01 is specifically for natural persons. Separate forms cover relevant legal entities (PSC02) and changes, corrections or cessations. The filing must be made within 14 days of the company updating its PSC register, not 14 days from when the underlying event happened.

How to use this document

  1. Confirm the individual meets a PSC condition. Before anything is filed, the company must work through the five specified conditions in Schedule 1A of the Companies Act 2006. These cover shareholdings above 25%, voting rights above 25%, the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, significant influence or control, and control through a trust or firm. Only individuals meeting at least one condition should be entered.
  2. Update the company's internal PSC register first. The statutory sequence matters. The company updates its own PSC register with the required particulars, then notifies Companies House. The 14-day clock for PSC01 runs from the date the internal register is updated, so keep a clear record of that date because you'll need it on the form.
  3. Gather the required particulars for the individual. You will need the PSC's full name, any former names used for business purposes in the last 20 years, service address, country or state of usual residence, nationality, date of birth, usual residential address (protected from public disclosure), the date they became a PSC, and which of the control conditions are met, including the relevant percentage band for shares or voting rights.
  4. Complete and submit PSC01. The form can be filed on paper using PSC01 or electronically through the Companies House online service, which most filers now prefer. Paper filings must be signed by a director, secretary or other authorised person. Electronic filings use the company's authentication code. There is no filing fee for PSC01 itself.
  5. File within 14 days and keep evidence. The notification must reach Companies House within 14 days of the entry being made in the company's PSC register. Late filing is a criminal offence committed by the company and every officer in default. Keep copies of the completed form, proof of posting or electronic acknowledgement, and the PSC's confirmation of the particulars.

Common questions

If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £89.

Common questions

Q Who counts as a person with significant control?
A PSC is an individual who meets one or more of the five conditions set out in Schedule 1A of the Companies Act 2006. In broad terms this means holding more than 25% of shares, controlling more than 25% of voting rights, having the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, exercising significant influence or control, or doing so through a trust or firm that itself meets one of those tests.
Q When should PSC01 be filed?
PSC01 must be delivered to Companies House within 14 days of the company entering the PSC's details on its own PSC register. The internal register should itself be updated promptly once the company has confirmed the individual's particulars. Missing the deadline exposes the company and its officers to prosecution, so diarise both dates as soon as a new PSC is identified.
Q Is there a fee to file PSC01?
Companies House does not currently charge a filing fee for PSC01, whether filed on paper or online. Check gov.uk for the current position before filing, as fees across Companies House services have been reviewed in recent years. If you are using an agent or formation provider to file on your behalf, they may charge a handling fee separate from any Companies House charge.
Q What happens if the form is filed late or not at all?
Failure to notify Companies House of PSC register changes is a criminal offence committed by the company and every officer in default, including shadow directors. On summary conviction a fine can be imposed, with an additional daily default fine for continued non-compliance. Beyond the criminal risk, late or missing filings create public record inconsistencies that can delay banking, due diligence and transactions.
Q Do I use PSC01 for a corporate shareholder?
No. PSC01 is only for individuals. If the entity with significant control is a Relevant Legal Entity (RLE), for example a UK parent company with its own PSC register, you use PSC02 instead. There are separate forms for changes to an existing PSC's details (PSC04 for individuals), for someone ceasing to be a PSC (PSC07), and for statements where information is pending or cannot be obtained.
Q Is the PSC's residential address made public?
No. The usual residential address is held on a protected part of the register and is not disclosed to the public in the ordinary course. The service address, which can be the company's registered office or another address chosen by the individual, is the one that appears on the public register. Day and month of birth are suppressed publicly, with only the month and year shown.
Q What if we cannot confirm the PSC's details in time?
Companies have a duty to take reasonable steps to identify PSCs and obtain their particulars. Where information is outstanding, the regime allows specific statements to be entered on the register, for example that investigations are ongoing or that the PSC has failed to respond to notices. These statements are themselves notifiable to Companies House using the appropriate form, rather than leaving the register silent.
If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £89.

Sources

This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.

Brad Askew, Solicitor (non-practising)

Written & reviewed by

Brad Askew Solicitor (non-practising)

Brad is on the roll of solicitors of England & Wales but does not hold a practising certificate and does not provide legal advice. LegalDocuments.co.uk is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice.

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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.