Statutory guidance

People with significant control: 2026 company statutory guidance

How ‘significant influence or control’ should be interpreted for companies.

• From: Department for Business and Trade
• Published: 4 March 2026

Documents

Statutory guidance on the meaning of “significant influence or control” over companies in the context of the register of people with significant control (web version)

HTML

Statutory guidance on the meaning of “significant influence or control” over companies in the context of the register of people with significant control (PDF version)

PDF, 262 KB, 20 pages

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Statutory guidance on the meaning of “significant influence or control” over companies in the context of the register of people with significant control (large print version)

PDF, 251 KB, 30 pages

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Details

These requirements introduce legal duties. Those failing to comply could be committing a criminal offence and could be fined, imprisoned, or both.

The guide has been prepared by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) with the help of business, civil society and legal experts.

Published 4 March 2026