What is a person with significant control?

A PSC is an individual who meets any of five conditions — most commonly owning more than 25% of the shares, holding more than 25% of the voting rights, or having the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board. Anyone who otherwise exercises significant influence or control over the company is also a PSC.

Does a single-director company have a PSC?

Almost always yes — if you own and run your own company, you're its PSC (you hold 100% of the shares and votes). You must still identify and register yourself as the PSC; it isn't automatic just because you're the sole director and shareholder.

Where is PSC information recorded?

In the company's own PSC register and on the public Companies House record. Most PSC details are public — name, month and year of birth, nationality, and the nature of control — though the full date of birth and home address are protected. PSC information is confirmed on every confirmation statement.

What if there's no PSC or I can't identify one?

Some companies genuinely have no PSC, or control sits with a legal entity rather than a person. There are specific official wordings you must file for each situation — 'the company has no PSC', 'still investigating', and so on. Filing nothing is not an option; the register must always say something.

Do PSCs have to verify their identity now?

Yes — under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, PSCs (like directors) must verify their identity with Companies House. This is being phased in during the transition period. We flag what applies to you when we review your company. Call 0114 327 1480.

People with Significant Control (PSC) Explained

People with significant control register for a UK company, in navy and gold

The five conditions

Someone is a PSC of a company if they meet any one of these:

Holds more than 25% of the shares
Holds more than 25% of the voting rights
Holds the right to appoint or remove a majority of the directors
Otherwise has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control
Exercises significant influence or control over a trust or firm that itself meets one of the first four conditions

For the typical owner-managed company it’s condition 1 or 2 — the owner holds most or all of the shares. But an investor with a shareholders’ agreement, or a silent backer who really calls the shots, can be a PSC under conditions 3–4 even without the shares.

What has to be recorded

The company keeps its own PSC register (it can elect to keep it centrally at Companies House)
PSC details go on the public Companies House record
Public details: name, month and year of birth, nationality, country of residence, and the nature of control (e.g. “ownership of 75%+ of shares”)
Protected details: full date of birth and residential address are not shown publicly

PSCs and your confirmation statement

PSC information is confirmed every year on the confirmation statement, and any change during the year (a new shareholder crossing 25%, a share transfer) must be updated at Companies House — usually within 14 days of the change and a further 14 to update the central register. Getting PSCs wrong is one of the more common compliance slips we correct.

How the confirmation statement works

When nobody obvious is in control

If a company has no PSC, or control rests with a corporate entity rather than a person, you can’t just leave the register blank — Companies House requires a specific official wording for each scenario (no PSC, still identifying, details not yet confirmed, and so on). Choosing the right statement matters; the register must never be silent.

Not sure who your PSCs are?

Share structures with multiple owners, family shares or investors can make the PSC position less obvious than it looks. We check and file it correctly as part of confirmation statement work. Call 0114 327 1480.

Confirmation statement filing

People with significant control (PSCs) explained