PSC vs UBO: What's the Difference?

Compliance teams use two overlapping terms for the real owners of a company: PSC (Person with Significant Control) and UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner). They describe the same idea from different frameworks.

PSC — the UK statutory term

"Person with Significant Control" is the specific term used in UK company law and on the Companies House register. It is defined by the five statutory conditions, with the headline test being ownership or control of more than 25% of shares or voting rights.

UBO — the AML term

"Ultimate Beneficial Owner" is the term used in anti-money-laundering regulation and international standards. Under the Money Laundering Regulations, a beneficial owner is typically an individual who ultimately owns or controls more than 25% of an entity — closely aligned with the PSC threshold.

How they map in practice

For most UK companies, the PSCs recorded at Companies House are the same people you would identify as UBOs in a KYC file. The PSC register is therefore a practical starting point for UBO verification — but AML rules require you to verify beneficial ownership independently, not rely on the register alone, and to keep it under review.

Keeping UBO data fresh

UBO information is only useful if it is current. Because PSC filings change as ownership changes, monitoring them is an efficient way to keep UBO records up to date across a portfolio of counterparties.

Last updated: 2026-08-30 · Source: UK Companies House public register · Not legal advice — always verify against official sources before acting.