Company directors must provide Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers on filings with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) from last Sunday (11 June).

The requirement is a result of an order signed last week by Dara Calleary (Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation).

The order gives effect to section 35 of the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021.

Forms

It means that directors must provide PPS numbers when submitting forms to the CRO relating to the incorporation of new companies, the filing of annual returns, and notifying changes of company directors or secretaries.

Minister Calleary said that the measure would enable the CRO to verify the identity of directors, and enhance the accuracy of the register of companies.

“The provision of a PPS number will help to avoid duplication in situations where there may be variations of a director’s name and address,” he continued.

Secure storage

“It will enhance CRO efforts to guard against abuse of the register, by providing assurance that the information provided relates to a real person,” the minister stated.

Directors who do not have a PPS number can apply to the CRO for an identified person number (IPN), and use this number as an alternative to the PPS number.

PPS numbers provided to the CRO will be stored securely, and will not be accessible by CRO staff or any other party, according to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.