Person with Significant Control (PSC)

PSC (Person with Significant Control)

An individual or entity that holds significant influence or control over a UK company, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Since April 2016, UK companies are required to maintain a register of Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) and report this information to Companies House. A PSC is someone who holds more than 25% of shares or voting rights, has the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise exercises significant influence or control.

The PSC regime was introduced to increase corporate transparency and combat money laundering, tax evasion, and terrorist financing. The UK was one of the first countries to implement a public beneficial ownership register.

Companies must file their PSC information on their annual confirmation statement. Failure to maintain an accurate PSC register is a criminal offence, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for directors.

BORSCH.AI integrates PSC data from Companies House covering over 7.3 million PSC records, enabling ownership chain analysis, network mapping, and beneficial ownership verification across the UK company register.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies as a PSC?

An individual who holds more than 25% of shares, more than 25% of voting rights, the right to appoint/remove a majority of directors, or who otherwise exercises significant influence over the company.

Do all companies need to report PSCs?

Most UK companies must maintain a PSC register. Exceptions include companies listed on certain regulated markets (as their ownership is already disclosed through other mechanisms).

What happens if a company doesn't file PSC information?

Failure to comply is a criminal offence. Directors can face fines of up to £10,000 and/or imprisonment. The company may also face restrictions on share transfers.

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Data sourced from 53 official UK government and regulatory bodies including Companies House, FCA, HMRC, and Land Registry. Updated daily.