Supporting accountants through ECCTA with Inform Direct 

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) is reshaping company secretarial responsibilities for accountants and business advisers across the UK. With new identity verification requirements, Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) registration, and changes to Companies House filing on the horizon, firms face an ever-growing list of compliance tasks. 

Inform Direct, Bright’s Company Secretarial offering, is working closely with Companies House to ensure accountants have the tools they need to keep their clients’ compliant – without unnecessary admin weighing them down. 

Navigating the new identity verification requirements 

From 18 November 2025, compulsory identity verification will apply to directors, PSCs (people with significant control), and LLP members. This marks a significant shift in how company records are managed. 

Inform Direct has already introduced features to help accountants prepare, including: 

• Recording Companies House personal codes for directors and PSCs 

• Tools to identify and update personal codes across multiple companies 

• Portfolio reports to track outstanding verifications 

For accountants managing large client bases, these features simplify what could otherwise be an overwhelming process. 

Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) 

Since 18 March 2025, accountants have been able to register as ACSPs directly with Companies House. This status allows firms to carry out identity checks on clients and, from spring 2026, file documents on their behalf. 

Within Inform Direct, firms can securely record their ACSP details, ensuring a seamless experience when submitting filings. By storing this information centrally, accountants can save time and reduce the risk of errors when handling compliance obligations. 

Integrated identity verification 

To further support firms, Inform Direct has partnered with Credas, a trusted provider of biometric and address verification technology. Accountants can initiate identity checks directly from Inform Direct, offering clients a simple, user-friendly process. 

Results are tracked within the system, so firms always know the status of checks. Once complete, details can be submitted to Companies House under the firm’s ACSP account to generate the required personal code. 

This integration removes the hassle of juggling multiple platforms and gives accountants a streamlined, compliant way to meet ECCTA obligations. 

Preparing for future changes 

The 18 November 2025 deadline is only the start. Companies House has confirmed a series of further changes, including: 

• Updates to forms for new director appointments, PSC additions, and company formations (all requiring personal codes) 

• Confirmation statements that must include personal codes for every director 

• From Spring 2026, mandatory ACSP registration for those filing on behalf of clients 

• From 1 April 2027, a requirement for all accounts to be filed via commercial software 

By continually updating Inform Direct’s features, Bright ensures accountants can navigate these changes with confidence. 

Helping accountants stay ahead 

Our goal is simple: to give accountants the tools they need to stay compliant, reduce admin, and focus on supporting their clients. Whether it’s managing registers, filing forms, or integrating ID checks, Inform Direct is designed to make company secretarial work faster, easier, and more reliable. 

For a detailed breakdown of how Inform Direct is supporting accountants with ECCTA, read the full article here.