It’s been one year since the launch of the Register of Overseas Entities in the UK. Jersey-headquartered financial services company Crestbridge breaks down the impact of the legislation and the risks for entities not yet in compliance.

–Register of Overseas Entities – one year on–

1 August 2023 marked the first anniversary of the Register of Overseas Entities (the “ROE”) being launched, and recent data published by Companies House confirmed there are more than 28,000 Overseas Entities registered on the ROE.[1]

Following registration, Overseas Entities are required to file an Update Statement annually to confirm the information held by Companies House is correct and up to date. The first Update Statement is due no later than one year + 14 days after the Overseas Entity was first registered on the ROE – therefore Overseas Entities are fast approaching their first filing deadline.

–Filing Update Statements–

Companies House launched their online service for Update Statements on 2 August 2023. Overseas entities or their agents will be able to file Update Statements on the online service, except in cases where a Trust forms part of the ownership structure. For Trust connected ownership, a paper-based form will continue to be required for both new registration and the annual Update Statement.

Where information has changed since the Overseas Entity was registered, a UK-regulated agent must complete verification checks to confirm the information is accurate. Where there have not been any changes, there is no requirement for additional verification.

–Penalties–

It is a criminal offence not to file the Update Statement and Overseas Entities (and/or their Managing Officers) may face prosecution or financial penalties.

Overseas Entity ID numbers will also become invalid where an Overseas Entity does not file the Update Statement in time and will not become valid again until the Overseas Entity brings their record up to date. This means Overseas Entities will not be able to buy, sell, transfer, lease or raise charges against property or land in the UK if they miss their filing deadline.

–How Crestbridge can help–

We offer a comprehensive, time-efficient solution to ensure compliance with the initial registration and verification requirements and the ongoing filing of Update Statements. This includes:

– Clear fees with no hidden costs
– Qualified professionals to manage the process
– UK-regulated agent providing expert, efficient verification
– Tracking of key dates to ensure you never miss a deadline

To find out more about how Crestbridge can support you and your business with the requirements surrounding this new legislation, please download our service brochure here. If you would discuss any aspect of this service in more detail, please contact us at eca@crestbridge.com.

[1] Register of Overseas Entities: where we are now – Companies House