Ask Companies House for information about a trust
How to submit a request to Companies House to get trust information for an overseas entity, and what details we will share.
What a ‘request for trust information’ means
The process to request trust information allows people to access information about trusts on the Register of Overseas Entities, in certain circumstances only.
What ‘trust information on the Register of Overseas Entities’ means
Overseas entities need to provide information about their beneficial owners. If an individual or legal entity is a registrable beneficial owner because they are a trustee of a trust, the overseas entity must also provide certain information about that trust.
When we will share information about a trust
We may share information about a trust linked to an overseas entity if we receive an application to request trust information.
In some cases, we may not have full trust information for a requested overseas entity. This means we can only share the partial information that is available.
How to apply
There are 2 options to apply for trust information.
You can apply to request trust information for:
- a single overseas entity
- more than one overseas entity, or where a trust member is age 17 and under
You must use the correct online form to submit your request. It costs £55 for each overseas entity.
When you apply, you agree that we may pass on this information to our law enforcement partners.
Option 1: Apply to access trust information for a single overseas entity
Use this form to request information about a trust (or trusts) associated with a single overseas entity.
This online form will be available from Sunday 31 August 2025.
It costs £55 for each overseas entity.
You’ll need to tell us the overseas entity name and ID. You can find these details on the Companies House register.
You’ll also need:
- the name of the trusts
- a credit or debit card
If you’re asking for trust data on behalf of your employer, we’ll also ask for your:
- job title
- employer’s name
- employer’s address
If you do not provide the name of the trusts, your application will be rejected.
If your application is complete, we’ll only share trust information for the overseas entity if it does not contain any details relating to a minor (a trust member age 17 and under).
If the trust information you have requested contains information relating to a minor, we’ll let you know that we cannot share this information unless you can demonstrate a ‘legitimate interest’. You’ll need to reapply using option 2.
Option 2: Apply to access trust information for more than one overseas entity, or where a trust member is age 17 and under
Use this form to request information about a trust (or trusts) associated with more than one overseas entity, or where the trust contains information regarding somebody age 17 and under. You must be able to demonstrate a ‘legitimate interest’ in obtaining this trust information.
This online form will be available from Sunday 31 August 2025.
It costs £55 for each overseas entity.
You’ll need to tell us the overseas entity name and ID. You can find these details on the Companies House register.
You’ll also need:
- the name of the trusts
- a credit or debit card
If you’re asking for trust data on behalf of your employer, we’ll also ask for your
- job title
- employer’s name
- employer’s address
If you do not provide the name of the trusts, your application will be rejected. We may contact you if we need more information to process your application.
Demonstrating a ‘legitimate interest’
We’ll also ask how you’re planning to use the trust information. For example, investigating money laundering or tax evasion.
You must provide:
- information to show that you are investigating money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing or breaching of sanctions imposed by regulations under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018
- a detailed written account explaining why you suspect that any trust is involved in money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing or breaching of sanctions imposed by regulations under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018
- a statement that you are requesting the trust information to progress the investigation
- a statement of how you are planning to use any trust information released to you
You may also provide evidence in your written account to support your application (for example, extracts from documents or website links).
If we’re satisfied you have demonstrated a legitimate interest in obtaining this trust information, we will share the trust information for the overseas entities you have listed.
After you have submitted your request
We’ll send you a confirmation email with your submission reference.
We’ll email you within 5 working days to let you know if your application has been reviewed. It can take up to 8 weeks for your application to be processed.
Conditions of disclosure
We may impose conditions on any trust information we share with you. These conditions may restrict how you can use or disclose the trust information. It is an offence if you do not comply with any condition we may impose.
When we will not share trust information
We may not share trust information if:
- the application form is incomplete, or legitimate interest is not demonstrated
- disclosure may adversely affect an ongoing criminal investigation or national security
- you (or your employer) previously did not comply with any conditions of disclosure we imposed
- the trust is a pension scheme
Individual trust information that is exempt from sharing
We will not share:
- the day of the month from an individual’s date of birth
- an individual’s home address (unless the individual has used their home address as their correspondence address)
- any information relating to an individual who has successfully applied for their details to be protected
What information we will share
We will only share information about a trust that is linked to the overseas entity named on the application.
Information about the trust
Where available, we will share the:
- name of the trust
- date the trust was created
- date the trust ceased to be involved with the overseas entity (if relevant)
- former beneficial owners who were registrable beneficial owners because they were trustees of the trust (if relevant)
Information about individuals
Where available, we will share the individual’s:
- name
- month and year of birth
- date they became involved in the trust (if relevant)
- date they ceased to be involved in the trust (if relevant)
- nationality
- correspondence address (also known as service address)
- role in the trust (for example, beneficiary, settlor, grantor or interested person)
It is not a legal requirement for an overseas entity to provide the dates that a grantor, settlor or beneficiary became involved in a trust.
Information about organisations
Where available, we will share the organisation’s:
- name
- date they become involved in the trust (if relevant)
- date they ceased to be involved in the trust (if relevant)
- legal form
- governing law
- registry name (the public register it appears on) (if relevant)
- jurisdiction (if relevant)
- registration number (if relevant)
- principal or registered office address
- correspondence address (also known as service address)
- role in the trust (for example, a beneficiary, settlor, grantor or interested person)
It is not a legal requirement for an overseas entity to provide the dates that a grantor, settlor or beneficiary became involved in a trust.
If only partial information is available for an overseas entity
In some cases, it may not be possible for an overseas entity to provide full details of its beneficial owners. Under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022, the overseas entity may supply as much information as it has been able to obtain.
This means we may not have full trust information for the requested overseas entity, but we will share the partial information that is available.