By
August 31, 2026
Can a UK Company Have More Than One PSC?
Yes. A UK company can have more than one Person with Significant Control (PSC). Every individual who meets at least one of the legal PSC conditions must normally be identified and reported to Companies House.
A company may have:
The number of PSCs depends on how the company is owned and controlled.
Multiple PSCs commonly arise when several people each own more than 25% of the company’s shares or voting rights.
An individual may qualify as a PSC if they:
Each person needs to meet only one condition to qualify.
Yes. If two shareholders each own 50% of a UK company, both will normally be PSCs.
Each person owns more than 25% of the shares and will usually control more than 25% of the voting rights. The company must report both individuals and record the applicable nature of control for each.
A company has 100 ordinary shares:
Both shareholders normally qualify under:
This remains the case even if only one shareholder is also a director.
Yes. Three shareholders could all qualify if each owns more than 25%.
For example:
All three own more than 25%, so all three will normally be PSCs.
Because four separate people cannot each own more than 25% of the same shares, no more than three individuals can normally qualify through the share ownership test alone. However, additional people could qualify through voting rights, board appointment powers or significant influence.
The shareholders with 60% and 30% will normally be PSCs because both own more than 25%.
The shareholder with 10% will not qualify through share ownership alone. However, they could still be a PSC if they have:
The company must examine the rights attached to the shares and any agreements between the owners.
Exactly 25% does not satisfy the share ownership condition because the threshold is more than 25%.
If four independent shareholders each own exactly 25% and control exactly 25% of the voting rights, none will qualify under the first two conditions alone.
However, one or more shareholders could still be PSCs if they:
If nobody meets any PSC condition, the company must submit the appropriate statement confirming that it has no registrable PSC.
Yes. The PSCs do not need to qualify for the same reason.
For example:
All three could be PSCs, even though each meets a different condition.
The company must report the correct nature of control for each person individually.
Yes. Share ownership is not required if the person meets another PSC condition.
Someone without shares could qualify because they:
This means that counting shareholders is not always enough to identify every PSC.
Yes. Several directors can also be PSCs, provided each director meets at least one PSC condition.
Being a director alone does not automatically make someone a PSC. The director must also own or control sufficient shares or voting rights, hold relevant appointment powers, or otherwise exercise significant influence or control.
For example, in a company owned equally by two directors, both directors will normally also be PSCs.
Potentially, yes.
Where another company owns or controls the UK company, that corporate shareholder may qualify as a relevant legal entity, or RLE. The ownership chain must be examined to identify the first registrable person or legal entity.
Depending on the structure, the company’s PSC information may include:
Corporate groups and overseas ownership structures can be complex, so professional advice may be appropriate.
Yes. The required information must be collected, confirmed and reported for every registrable PSC.
For each individual, the company generally needs:
Most of this information appears on the public Companies House register. Residential addresses and complete dates of birth are not normally shown publicly.
Yes. Each individual PSC must comply with the applicable Companies House identity-verification requirements.
After verification, the person receives a Companies House personal code. Each PSC must provide their code within the period that applies to their circumstances.
If someone is both a director and a PSC of the same company, their verified identity must be connected separately to each role.
A new PSC may arise when:
The company must identify the new PSC, confirm the required information and report the change to Companies House within the applicable deadline.
It should not wait until its next confirmation statement.
A person may cease to be a PSC if:
The company must report the date on which the person ceased to be a PSC.
Before removing someone, the company should check whether that person still qualifies under another condition. For example, a shareholder might reduce their ownership to 20% but retain the right to appoint most directors.
There is no general rule limiting a company to one or two PSCs. Every individual who meets a condition must be considered.
Only up to three people can ordinarily each hold more than 25% of the same shares. However, further individuals could qualify through other forms of control.
The company’s PSC record should reflect its actual ownership and control rather than an expected or preferred number of entries.
Yes. A 50/50 company will normally have two PSCs.
Yes. For example, shareholders owning 40%, 30% and 30% will normally all qualify.
It is possible, although four people cannot each own more than 25% of the same shares. One or more would need to qualify through another form of control.
Yes. If each spouse independently meets at least one condition, both should be registered.
Yes. There is no restriction preventing two or more PSCs from holding equal interests.
No. Every shareholder or other person who meets a PSC condition must be considered, not just the person with the largest holding.
Yes. If nobody meets any of the five conditions, the company must report that it has no registrable PSC. Its PSC information cannot be left blank.
A UK company can have multiple PSCs. Each person who owns or controls the company at a qualifying level must be identified and reported separately.
Two 50% owners will normally both be PSCs, as will shareholders holding 40%, 30% and 30%. Additional individuals may qualify through voting rights, board appointment powers or significant influence even if they own few or no shares.
For current requirements, consult the official Companies House guidance on People with Significant Control.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal or professional advice.
