Understanding people with significant control

What a PSC record is for

Companies must identify and record the people or relevant legal entities with significant control. This is about real control, not only the name printed on a share certificate.

Work through the conditions

Use the current Companies House guidance to check each condition. These include ownership of shares, voting rights, the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise exercising significant influence or control. Indirect ownership and control through another entity can matter.

Do this now

1. Draw a simple ownership chart from the company up to the real people or registrable legal entities.
2. Record shares, voting rights and appointment rights separately.
3. Check agreements or informal arrangements that may create control beyond the percentages.
4. Ask each potential PSC to confirm the required particulars.
5. Record the result, update the company register and make the required Companies House filings.

What good looks like

The ownership chart, share records, PSC register and Companies House record agree. The company has a named person responsible for checking changes after new share issues, transfers, investments or amended agreements.

Common mistakes

• Assuming that only people above a simple percentage need consideration.
• Ignoring indirect control through another company or trust arrangement.
• Updating internal records but not the public filing, or the other way round.
• Waiting for the confirmation statement before dealing with a change.

When to get professional help

Get legal advice for layered ownership, trusts, nominee arrangements, overseas entities, disputed control or unclear influence. Do not guess: PSC failures can have serious consequences.

Keep in your roadmap

Save the signed ownership chart, confirmation evidence and next review date. Recheck whenever ownership or decision rights change.