PSC02 Form UK: Notify a Relevant Legal Entity

What this document is

PSC02 is the Companies House form used to give notice that a Relevant Legal Entity has become registrable as a person with significant control over a UK company. It is the corporate equivalent of PSC01, which is used for individuals.

A Relevant Legal Entity is, broadly, another company or legal body that would itself count as a PSC if it were a person, and which is subject to its own disclosure rules (for example, it keeps its own PSC register or is listed on a qualifying market). Control is typically measured by reference to voting rights, shareholdings, the power to appoint or remove directors, or the ability to exercise significant influence over the company.

PSC02 captures the name of the RLE, its registered or principal office, its company number or equivalent identifier, the governing law under which it is registered, and the nature of its control over the filing company. It also records the date the RLE became registrable. The information filed feeds into the public register, so accuracy is important.

How to use this document

1. Confirm the entity is a Relevant Legal Entity. Not every corporate shareholder counts. The entity must meet one or more of the statutory control conditions and also be 'registrable', which generally means it keeps its own PSC register or is a listed company subject to equivalent transparency rules. If it fails either test, PSC02 is not the correct route.
2. Identify which control conditions apply. Work through the five statutory conditions: holding more than 25 percent of shares, holding more than 25 percent of voting rights, the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, the right to exercise significant influence or control, and control exercised through a trust or firm. Record each condition that applies, as this detail goes on the form.
3. Update the company's own PSC register first. The statutory sequence is to enter the RLE's details on the company's internal PSC register before notifying Companies House. The register entry and the PSC02 filing should match exactly, including the date the entity became a registrable RLE.
4. Complete and submit PSC02. You can file on paper or through the Companies House online service. You will need the company number, the RLE's full legal name, registered office, company number, governing law, legal form, and the applicable control conditions. Double check spellings and numbers against official documents before submitting.
5. File within the statutory deadline. Notification to Companies House must be made within 14 days of updating the company's PSC register, which itself must be updated promptly once the information is confirmed. Missing the window can expose the company and its officers to enforcement action, so diarise the deadline.

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