Money Laundering Regulations 2017

Client identity checks, done properly

Before any accountant on AccLedger starts paid work, they check who their client is, as UK law requires. It takes about 10 minutes, happens before you pay, and your documents are locked down from the moment you upload them.

What happens, step by step

  1. Agree the work and price

    You discuss what you need with your accountant in a private thread and agree a fixed price. Nothing is paid yet.

  2. Tell us who you are

    Your full name, date of birth and home address. For a limited company, also the company number, registered office and anyone who owns or controls more than 25%.

  3. Upload your documents

    A photo ID (passport, UK driving licence or national ID card), a bank statement or bill from the last 3 months, and a selfie holding your ID next to a one-time code we show you. The code proves the photo was taken for this check.

  4. Answer one public-position question

    Whether you, a close family member or a business associate hold or have held a prominent public role, such as a minister, MP or senior judge. Answering yes does not mean you are refused; it means the accountant takes a closer look.

  5. Automatic sanctions screening

    Every name is screened against the UK Sanctions List published by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. We download the latest list every day.

  6. Review by your accountant

    The accountant handling your job checks your documents against your details and approves, or asks you to fix something. Reviews usually take up to 1 working day.

  7. Accept the terms, then pay

    You accept the engagement terms for the job, and only then are you asked to pay. Work starts after payment.

How we protect your documents

Identity documents are the most sensitive data we hold, so they get stricter rules than anything else in AccLedger.

  • No direct access to files

    Identity documents cannot be opened by a file address, not by other users and not by our own administrators. Our storage rules allow uploads only.

  • Only your accountant, and every view logged

    Only the accountant doing your job can view your documents. Each view uses a link that expires after 5 minutes, and we record who opened which document and when.

  • Contact details stay private

    Your accountant sees what the law requires for the check. They never see your email address or phone number; all communication stays inside AccLedger.

  • Not shared between firms

    Checks are held separately for each accountant you work with. A different firm cannot see a check you completed for someone else.

  • Encrypted and access-controlled

    Documents are encrypted in transit and at rest on Google Cloud, and processed under UK GDPR. See our privacy policy for where data is stored.

  • Kept only as long as the law requires

    The Money Laundering Regulations require records to be kept for 5 years after the work ends. After that they are deleted.

Questions

Why do I need to do this?
The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 require every accountant and bookkeeper in the UK to verify a new client's identity before starting work. Any regulated accountant has to ask for this; AccLedger simply makes it quick and keeps it secure.
How long does it take?
About 10 minutes on your side, on a phone or computer. Have your photo ID and a recent bank statement or bill ready. Your accountant usually reviews within 1 working day.
Do I have to do it again for every job?
No. For later jobs with the same accountant, you confirm your details haven't changed and accept the terms for the new job. A full check is repeated every 12 months, or sooner if your ID expires.
Is this a credit check?
No. Nothing is searched against your credit file and nothing appears on it.
Who carries out the check?
The accountant who does the work. Independent firms on AccLedger confirm in their partner agreement that they are supervised for anti-money laundering by HMRC or a professional body such as ACCA, AAT, ICAEW or ICB. When you choose AccLedger Services, AccLedger carries out the check itself.
What if my check isn't approved?
Usually the accountant just asks you to fix something, such as a blurry photo or an old bill, and you resubmit. If the accountant decides they cannot take on the work, the job is cancelled and you are not charged. The regulations can prevent them from giving a reason.

More detail on how we handle personal data is in our privacy policy and terms of service.

Find an accountant

Agree the price first. Identity checks take about 10 minutes, before you pay.

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