{"id":9208,"date":"2022-02-19T19:37:09","date_gmt":"2022-02-19T19:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/?p=9208"},"modified":"2025-03-19T13:52:32","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T13:52:32","slug":"people-with-significant-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/people-with-significant-control\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a person with significant control (PSC)?"},"content":{"rendered":"
A <\/span>p<\/span>erson with <\/span>s<\/span>ignificant <\/span>c<\/span>ontrol (PSC) is an individual <\/span>who owns a certain percentage of a company and\/or has the power to contr<\/span>ol or influence <\/span>pa<\/span>rticular aspects<\/span> of a business. PSCs are sometimes called <\/span>‘<\/span>beneficial <\/span>owners<\/span><\/span>‘, but this is not always the case<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> It’s usually\u00a0easy to <\/span>identify<\/span> PSCs<\/span>, bu<\/span>t som<\/span>etimes <\/span>it’s<\/span> not <\/span>imm<\/span>ediately<\/span> evident<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Limited companies and some other types of business structures are legally required to <\/span>determine<\/span> who their PSCs are, record the details of each person in the <\/span>firm’s<\/span> PSC register, and ensure this information is filed and kept up to date at Companies House.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n To be regarded as a PSC, a person must satisfy one or more of the following five conditions:<\/p>\n The first three conditions are<\/span> <\/span>relatively simple<\/span> to verify <\/span>and normally require only <\/span>checking <\/span>the <\/span>company’s<\/span> register of members<\/a> <\/span>and <\/span>articles of association<\/a><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>However, con<\/span>di<\/span>tions 4 and 5 cover a <\/span><\/span>broa<\/span>der <\/span><\/span>range of scenarios, so it can be more cha<\/span>llenging to <\/span>identify<\/span> individua<\/span>ls to whom these criteria apply.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Understanding the confirmation statement and PSC register<\/span><\/a>\n Can I hide the identity of a company shareholder?<\/span><\/a>\n How to register a PSC for a company<\/span><\/a>\n <\/p>\n In the context of PSCs, the term ‘significant influence or control’ refers to the type of power that a person has over a company’s activities.<\/p>\n Significant influence and control can manifest in a variety of ways. Examples include:<\/p>\n Further examples include:<\/p>\n A person may hold a right that constitutes significant influence or control without actively exercising that right. Conversely, a person may have the power to influence the decisions of the directors or shareholders without holding any official right. In both cases, the individual would typically be classified as a PSC under the fourth condition mentioned earlier in the article and should be registered accordingly.<\/p>\n Companies House released guidance to clarify the roles that, on their own, do not meet the fourth condition. These exemptions include:<\/p>\n These exemptions recognise that influence alone doesn’t always equate to control and ensure professional and regulatory roles aren’t mistakenly classed as PSCs.<\/p>\n Although a PSC is by its nature a natural person, it is sometimes possible for a company to be entered onto the PSC register. Companies that can be entered onto a PSC register are called a Relevant Legal Entity (RLE). To qualify as an RLE, a company must:<\/p>\n This means it is possible for a whole range of people to be added to a PSC register, including:<\/p>\n PSC legislation does not impose a minimum age requirement for a person with significant control.<\/p>\n Disqualified directors are prohibited from forming or running a company. They also cannot instruct a third party to form or run a company on their behalf and under their direction.<\/p>\n However, they may be allowed to own shares in a company, resulting in a grey area of the law regarding disqualified directors being PSCs in a company.<\/p>\n Unless the court has granted permission to act in such capacity, disqualified directors who own more than 25% of the shares in a company and\/or meet any of the other qualifying conditions of a PSC should exercise extreme caution to avoid breaching the terms of their disqualification order.<\/p>\n The following types of companies must identify any person with significant control and record their details in a PSC register:<\/p>\n Companies, SEs, and LLPs are required to keep their own PSC register. Eligible Scottish partnerships (ESPs and general Scottish partnerships with solely corporate partners) do not have to keep a PSC register. However, they must deliver PSC information to Companies House to be disclosed on the central register of companies.<\/p>\n You can find further information on PSC requirements in the PSC guidance from GOV.UK<\/a> and following legislation:<\/p>\n After identifying a PSC or multiple PSCs, their details must be recorded in the company’s statutory PSC register within 14 days of them becoming one.<\/p>\n This information must also be sent to Companies House, where it is recorded and disclosed on the central register of companies, which is available to the public online. This should be carried out within an additional 14 days of their entry onto the PSC register (in other words, within a maximum of 28 days of them becoming a PSC).<\/p>\n Any changes to the company’s PSCs should be immediately updated on the statutory PSC register and reported to Companies House. As a limited company director, it is your responsibility to ensure the PSC register is maintained and the relevant information delivered to Companies House. Failing to keep appropriate, accurate records or failing to provide this information to Companies House could lead to a fine or even imprisonment.<\/p>\n If your company does not have a PSC, you must state this in the PSC register. If you are unsure whether your company has a PSC, or cannot identify your PSC, you should contact Companies House.<\/p>\n The PSC register must include the PSC’s full name, date of birth, nationality, service address, home address (not disclosed publicly), country of residence, and the nature of their control over the company. You must also provide the date they became a PSC of the company and the date you entered them into your PSC register.<\/p>\n RLEs must provide their name, registration number, registered office address, legal form, the governing law they’re incorporated under, and where they are registered.<\/p>\n Understanding and correctly registering every person with significant control is essential for compliance and company transparency. By keeping your records accurate and updated, you can avoid potential penalties.<\/p>\n For businesses looking to simplify compliance, our Full Company Secretary Service<\/a> provides expert support, including up to 15 company changes per year, the preparation and filing of your annual Confirmation Statement, monthly legal guidance notes, and a dedicated account manager to maintain your company registers (including your register of people with significant control).<\/p>\n\n Key Takeaways<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n
\n
How to identify PSCs in a company<\/h3>\n
\n
What does ‘significant influence or control’ mean?<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
Exemptions from \u2018significant influence or control\u2019<\/h3>\n
\n
Who can be entered onto a PSC register?<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Can a disqualified director be registered as a PSC?<\/h3>\n
Which types of companies have PSCs?<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
Registering a person with significant control in a company<\/h3>\n
What if my company doesn’t have a person with significant control?<\/h4>\n
What information about an individual PSC should be entered into the PSC register?<\/h4>\n
Stay compliant and keep your PSC register up to date<\/h3>\n