From September 2025, larger businesses in the UK are going to be subject to new rules from the start of September. The aim is to give corporate organisation greater responsibility in relation to preventing fraud and it will be done under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023).
For the purposes of these new rules, a large organisation is one which meets two of the following three criteria: having a turnover of £36 million or above; having more than 250 employees; having total assets worth £18 million or more.
From September onwards a business can be held liable if anyone associated with it (an ‘associated person’) such as an employee or any third party acting for the business commits fraud that benefits the organisation or its clients. The only way in which an organisation can be protected from potentially committing a criminal offence is to have had ‘reasonable procedures’ in place to prevent it at the time the fraud took place.
These were set out guidance issued by the Home Office in 2024 and are made up of six core principles.
If your business is large enough to be subject to the new rules, hopefully you will already have started to prepare for their introduction. If not, you should start now.
Failing to comply is not an option as companies which fall foul of the new regime could find themselves facing prosecution and substantial fines.
While Fraser Dawbarns is not a large enough business to fall under these regulations, we do take our responsibility to prevent fraud very seriously. This is why we have strict procedures in place around various aspects of our business, in particular confirming our clients’ identity and also identifying the source of funds in purchasing transactions.
To contact a member of our team, you can fill in our online enquiry form, email info@fraserdawbarns.com, or call your nearest office below. If you’d like to speak to a member of our team at one of our offices across Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, visit our offices page.
Ely: 01353 383483
Downham Market: 01366 383171
This article aims to supply general information, but it is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead. However, no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Always seek advice specific to your own circumstances. Fraser Dawbarns LLP is always happy to provide such advice.
*We are recommended for the following practice areas: Corporate and Commercial, Debt Recovery, Employment, Personal Injury: Claimant, Agriculture and Estates, Contentious Trusts and Probate, Family, Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate & Commercial Property.
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