register a company
 

Checking Your Identification

The Anti Money Laundering Regulations

Provide Identification Before Using Our Service

 

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Checking your identification before services start

All customers purchasing a registered office service, virtual address or company formation will need to be identified.

In simple terms, we need to identify our clients before they can start using our services.

Under the Money Laundering Regulations (MLR) we are legally required to know our client. This is often referred to as Anti-Money Laundering (AML). We will ask for identification documents, conduct searches on their identity and may request additional documents are provided.

Please do not begin using our address until you have received communication from us confirming that we have successfully checked your identity. On receipt of the activation email you can start using our address.

Company formations may be delayed while we endeavour to check the identity of all directors, shareholders and PSCs electronically. If we email you requesting identification documents please provide these as soon as possible so that we can process the formation.

 

What documents will we request?

You can find detailed information on the AML documents here as it will depend on your circumstances

We normally request the following documents for anyone connected to the business using our service (e.g. all directors, shareholders, PSCs, members, partners, owners etc.)

 Photo Identification – A copy of a passport or photo driving licence (with at least 6 months validity).

 Address Identification – A copy of a utility bill, council tax letter or bank statement (issued in the last 3 months). We DO NOT accept mobile phone bills, tax statements or invoices. The document should confirm you pay for a ‘utility or service’ at the residential address. Driving licence is not proof of address.

 Registration Form – We need a signed copy of our registration form.

These documents can be email to us. On receipt we will carry out a ‘soft search’ on your credit file to check the name and address details are correct. This soft search will not affect your credit history and is simply used to verify your details.

Company Documents

Company Formation Documents

What if we cannot verify your documents?

If we cannot verify your information, or you do not want us to check your identification using a soft search, you will need to provide the original documents for us to check and copy.

Overseas customers and those involved in complex corporate structures will be asked to provide notarised copies of identification documents. Please see the identification pages for more information.

 NO ID = NO SERVICE

If you cannot, or will not, provide the correct or sufficient identification we cannot provide our service. Do not begin using our address until we have confirmed you may do so.

It is essential that we ‘know our client’ to protect the address for all of our customers and to adhere to AML requirements. Thank you for your assistance with this.

Identifying our customers is vital.

Thank you for supporting us with our identification checks. This protects our address for all of our customers. If you do not want to provide documents to confirm who you are, then we do not want to provide services to you.

 

Please note Companies House processing times are an estimate only and not guaranteed.

Simple Formations is a trading name of Small Firms Services Limited. We have been trading since 1998 and are one of the UK's longest standing Company Formation Agents

We accept card payment by American Express, Mastercard and Visa

We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express

 
 
 
Small Firms Services Ltd Union House 111 New Union Street Coventry, CV1 2NT