In June 2023, the Companies Registration Office (CRO) began enforcing Section 35 of the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021.

This measure aims to mitigate the risk of identity theft by requiring all directors of Irish companies to provide their Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) when:

  • Incorporating a new company (Form A1)
  • Notifying a change of director (Form B10, B69)
  • Filing the yearly Annual Return (Form B1)

Non- Resident Directors:

For non-resident directors who do not have a PPSN, the CRO has introduced the Identified Person Number (IPN).

This is a unique number that is specifically assigned to directors (or beneficial owners) of Irish companies who do not have a PPSN assigned to them.

This number can then be used when filing with both the CRO and the Register of Beneficial Owners (RBO).

Note: If an individual has previously filed with the RBO and received an RBO number, this can be used for identification purposes, eliminating the need for a separate IPN application.

IPN Application:

To apply for an IPN number from the CRO, you must complete a VIF Form – Declaration as to Verification of Identity.

The form must be signed by the individual in question before a suitable official witness in order to verify their identity.

Witness Requirements:

The witness requirements vary depending on the jurisdiction where the form is being sworn.

The table below outlines the different requirements:

Jurisdiction where form is sworn Official Witness
Ireland
  • Solicitor
  • Commissioner for Oaths
  • Notary Public
  • Peace Commissioner
United Kingdom
  • Notary Public
  • Solicitor
Elsewhere
  • Notary Public ONLY

CFI can assist in the application to obtain an IPN on your behalf

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