Disclosure of beneficial ownership

This overview is a guide to the Corporate content within the Disclosure of beneficial ownership subtopic, with links to the appropriate materials. It covers key aspects of the overseas entities register and the people with significant control (PSC) regime based on the latest regulations and guidance.

The register of overseas entities that own UK property

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UK Government accelerated the passing of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (EC(TE)A 2022). EC(TE)A 2022 requires overseas entities to register with, and provide details of their beneficial owners to, UK Companies House before the overseas entity can be registered as the legal owner of UK land. EC(TE)A 2022 is largely based on the previous draft Registration of Overseas Entities Bill.

Being introduced alongside plans to reform and better resource Companies House and to increase the transparency of UK corporate entities (see Corporate transparency and register reform in Practice Note: Companies House filing procedures), the intention is to immediately dissuade those planning to buy UK property with illicit funds as well as to increase transparency and public trust in overseas

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