Recommendation 20

The identity checks that Companies House is now responsible for are not intended to verify the address or place of business.57 Companies House told us that address verification, which it says would be an additional burden on businesses, is not part of ECCTA. It said there was a balance between preventing economic crime and creating an environment for economic growth by minimising burdens on businesses.58 Companies House explained that it will still be possible for individuals to falsely register at addresses because it has no legal powers to check whether addresses exist or request any information on addresses.59 Companies House acknowledged that the ability to check addresses would enable it to better tackle evasion and fraud.60 Controls for VAT registrations