Theoretically, the PSC register reduces tax evasion, and so increases HMRC’s receipts. It will be harder to use UK businesses for money laundering. Thus crime will fall which reduces public spending on the criminal justice system.

PSC register applies to all companies and LLPs
Every business is caught, although some limited exceptions include quoted companies. It applies, if you manage a:

Limited company;
Unlimited company;
Certain public company;
LLP limited liability partnership.

How is “significant control” measured for the PSC register
A person (this means an individual, a company, a trust, a partnership or any other entity) is regarded as having “significant control” if it directly or indirectly:

Holds more than 25% of the nominal share capital; or
Controls more than 25% of the votes at a general meeting; or
Controls the appointment or removal of a majority of the board; or
Exercises, or had the right to exercise, control or significantly influence:

The company
Any trust or firm which meets any of 1 – 4. 

A person will have “control” if it has the power to direct the business’s policies or activities. So, a person exercising “significant influence” must be able to ensure that particular policies or activities are executed. It is often necessary to review shareholder agreements, investment agreements and practices to determine significant control.

Information to be captured
The PSC register must include the names of the individuals with significant control, as well as:

Their service address;
Their country, or state, or part of the UK in which the individual is resident;
Their nationality;
Their date of birth;
The date on which the individual obtained significant control; and
The nature of the individual’s control over the business. 

It is necessary to determine the people who count as “persons with significant control”. Companies House and HMRC will scrutinse company structures to determine who really makes decisions. This will often mean that shareholders or LLP members have to provide full disclosure. Failure to disclose can give rise to penalties and criminal action as explained below so attention is required.

Businesses with registered legal entities owners can face challenges. The beneficial owners may not be the same, i.e. the nominee shareholder, where the beneficial owner decides and the legal owner communicates the decision. Here the beneficial owner is caught by the “indirect” inclusion. This also applies to overseas parents or shares held in trust.

Business must update the register if they “know or might reasonably be expected to know that a change to the persons with significant control has occurred”. UK businesses must include the PSC register information in their Confirmation Statements filed at Companies House.

We find that the sale or acquisition of a business can be delayed if the PSC is not complete and up to-date.

PSC register: criminal penalties for non-compliance
Non-compliance incurs criminal penalties. Penalities extend to the defaulting company’s

Officers;
Relevant individuals or entities;
e.g. shareholders or members who have not submitted the information requested.
What’s more, persons with significant control can have their voting rights removed, if they don’t comply with the company’s request for information.

Identity of directors
All UK directors must be natural persons. No UK Company may appoint corporate directors. Hence it will be easier to identify who actually runs the company. All existing corporate directors will automatically cease to be directors one year after this measure comes into effect.

Companies have limited liability whereas individuals do not. Directors now required to act personally, may want increased indemnities or insurance.

Directors duties apply to shadow directors
Shadow directors are now subject to the general duties that apply to directors: ‘where and to the extent they are capable of so complying’.

Now a company could litigate against the shadow director who breaches those duties. Future regulations will clarify shadow directors’ duties, as some duties will not apply to shadow directors.

Board members or observers appointed by investors can get caught as shadow directors so care is required.

Central register option for private companies
Private companies can chose to stop preserving their own company books in relation to:

Persons with significant control;
Directors’ addresses;
Secretaries’;
Directors; and
Register of members.
Instead, they can file comparable information at Companies House on the central register.

Protection of date of birth details
Companies House no longer shows the full date of birth. Hopefully, this reduces identity theft. It also mean it harder to hide a private company’s power base.