To be able to form a company using Inform Direct, an Anti-money laundering (AML) check must be carried out. You will only be able to continue this process if your residence is within the United Kingdom. A charge is applicable for the AML check, this will be shown in the pricing break down during the formation process.


If you wish to form companies on behalf of clients, please see here. This guide only applies if you will be a director or PSC of the company that you intend to form.


1. Once logged in, you will need to click Form New Company from the menu.




2. Enter the name of the company you wish to form to check if it is currently available. If your name is available, you will be able to proceed onto the next step.


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3. On proceeding to the next step a package must be selected to continue, you will also have the ability to add in any optional extras later in the formation process.


4. The AML directive step will require you to select which option is applicable from the options displayed below. You will also need to declare your country of residence. To use Inform Direct, this must be United Kingdom. 


Note: As noted at the start of this guide, this guide deals with the first option only: 'I'm forming a company, of which I am a director and/or PSC. If you are wishing to form a company in which you are not a Director or PSC, but you are instead a firm that is regulated by a professional body then please see What Do I Need to Do to Benefit from the Simplified Professional Formation Procedure?


   

5. Now you will need to complete each section of the formation. First finishing off Step One before proceeding to Step Two, Step three and Step Four. During Step Five you will be asked to complete the AML check.


6. To begin the AML check you must select your details from the drop down box. This is determined by the details entered earlier in the Officers/shareholders section (Step Two).


             

7. To continue, you will need to choose which document you wish to use. Depending on which document you have selected, the following screens will be slightly different. For example, if you select the option for the driver's licence you will need to add an image for the front and the back, but will only need to take one image for the passport.



      

8. You will then have the option to either upload the image from the device which you are using, or to add it using a mobile phone. 


                            

                            

9. Following on from adding your identity documents a selfie will need to be taken (a photo of yourself). You may need to enable your webcam, you will see a popup asking you to do so.

             



                 

10. Once you have taken your selfie the image will be uploaded to the AML process, you will then be redirected to continue Step Five to submit the formation.




Your formation will only be submitted to Companies House if the AML check is successful. If for any reason the AML check is unsuccessful, you will only be charged the fee for the AML check. We will be in touch following the failure with more information.