The Government’s ‘failure to prevent fraud’ offence came into force on 1 September 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). This marks a major shift in how corporate fraud is prosecuted, and there is a concern that many professional services firms may not yet appreciate the risks it may create for them.

Karen Eckstein Ltd frequently advises professional services firms on the contractual issues relating to AI, as well as commercial, operational and procedural issues (see below). They also include the changes proposed by ICAEW in proposed terms for all professionals, as they think that they represent best practice generally.

The 3 verification options for ACSP

Whilst most accountancy firms are aware of the new Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) regime and may have decided to register as an ACSP so that they can file documents at Companies House on behalf of their clients, we have noticed that many other professional service firms have not realised that they may be caught by the ACSP regime if they also file documents at Companies House. For example, insolvency practitioners, law firms, tax advisers, and many more may find