If you source acquisition targets through Companies House data, the register is getting its biggest overhaul in decades.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) has been rolling out in stages since 2023, and 2026 brings the changes that matter most for deal sourcing professionals. Here's the short version.
Directors and PSCs must verify their identity
Since 18 November 2025, all new company directors and Persons of Significant Control have been required to verify their identity with Companies House. Existing directors and PSCs have until November 2026 to comply (Companies House, Nov 2025).
For acquirers, this is a net positive, cleaner ownership data, fewer shell entities, and more confidence that the listed director is who they claim to be.
Filing agents face new rules
Anyone filing documents to Companies House will need verified identity, delayed to "no earlier than November 2026." Third-party agents must register as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) (Changes to UK Company Law, gov.uk).
If you use filing agents for target research or entity formation, check your provider is registered, or planning to be.
Limited partnerships get more transparent
By end of 2026, LPs face a mandatory UK registered address, partner change notifications within 14 days, and annual confirmation statements (Harding Evans, June 2026).
If you target investment or asset-holding businesses structured as LPs, expect richer, more current data.
Corporate directors face restrictions
Corporate directors must now have an all-natural-person board, with those individuals ID-verified. Overseas companies can no longer act as corporate directors of UK companies. This could force restructuring for targets with complex ownership chains, worth flagging during due diligence.
Accounts filing changes are delayed
Software-only filing and the removal of abridged accounts were proposed for April 2027. Companies House has confirmed these remain under review. Companies will get at least 21 months' notice before implementation (Companies House transition plan, gov.uk).
The bottom line
Companies House data is getting cleaner, more verified, and more transparent. For anyone sourcing off-market UK acquisitions, that's not a complication, it's an advantage. Better data means more accurate targeting and fewer dead ends.
The register has always been the foundation of UK deal sourcing. These reforms make it a more reliable one.
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