Central Register of Beneficial Ownership open for business

The Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Companies and Industrial & Provident Societies (the central register) is now open and is accepting registration of beneficial ownership details.

The central register was established by the European Union (Anti-Money Laundering: Beneficial Ownership of Corporate Entities) Regulations 2019 (Regulations) which came into force on 22 March 2019. Existing companies and industrial and provident societies will have until 22 November 2019 to submit their beneficial ownership information. Companies and industrial and provident societies incorporated after 22 June 2019 must make their filing within 5 months of incorporation.

Originally, the central register was due to open on 22 June. We understand that the opening was delayed in order to deal with an issue raised by several practitioners, including Beauchamps, relating to a requirement to obtain and file the PPS number of all beneficial owners, including foreign beneficial owners who would not ordinarily hold an Irish PPS number. Now foreign beneficial owners who do not have an Irish PPS number will have to complete a declaration of identity.

See here our original article on this topic.

Beauchamps can help with all your beneficial ownership register requirements– please contact our experts, Máire Cunningham, Mark Pery Knox Gore or your usual Beauchamps contact.

Companies for whom Beauchamps already provides company secretarial services should contact our company secretarial practice lead Stephanie Reidy (s.reidy@beauchamps.ie) who will be happy to assist with fulfilling your company's obligations in respect of these Regulations.