Acceptable Use & Compliance

Atlantic Formations only assists with forming companies that will operate lawfully. This policy explains the checks we run on every application and the situations in which we do not provide service. It forms an integral part of our Terms of Service.

1. Identity verification

Before any payment is taken, we ask for the following for every member and manager of the company:

• A legible copy of a valid passport or government-issued ID card
• A proof of address issued within the last 3 months (utility bill, bank statement, or official residence certificate)
• Where needed, a current photo taken with the ID document or a short video call
• A short, accurate description of the company's intended business

For UK applications, every director and person with significant control (PSC) must also complete Companies House identity verification (via GOV.UK One Login or through our authorised agent partner) and provide us with their Companies House personal code. This is a legal requirement under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

We collect documents through a secure link that we email to you from [email protected]; we may use an identity verification provider (Stripe Identity) for this. Do not send identity documents over WhatsApp or as plain email attachments.

1.1 Additional checks

• Corporate members: If a member or shareholder is a company, we ask for its formation documents and ownership structure. The individuals who ultimately own it are also identity-verified.
• Politically exposed persons (PEPs): For people who hold or have held a senior public position, and their close associates, we carry out an enhanced review and may ask about the source of the funds going into the company.
• Ongoing checks: While the service continues, we re-verify information periodically and whenever something changes. If requested documents are not provided, we may suspend ongoing services.

If a forged, altered, or third-party document is detected, the application is rejected, service is terminated, and the matter is reported to the competent authorities where required by law.

2. Sanctions screening

Every application is screened against the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list and other applicable sanctions lists. We do not serve listed persons, entities owned or controlled by them, or residents of countries and regions subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions. UK applications are also screened against the UK Sanctions List.

We do not serve residents of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, or the Crimea, so-called Donetsk People's Republic, and so-called Luhansk People's Republic regions of Ukraine. As a matter of company policy, we also do not currently accept applications from residents of Russia and Belarus. This list is updated as sanctions change; any country or region under comprehensive sanctions on the date of application is covered by this restriction.

Sanctions screening uses automated matching, but a member of our staff reviews every possible match; applications are not rejected by an automated decision alone.

3. Beneficial ownership

• The people listed as members in the application must be the company's real owners.
• We do not provide nominee member, director, or shareholder services.
• For UK companies, anyone holding more than 25% of the shares or votes, or otherwise controlling the company, must be disclosed as a PSC.
• We do not accept requests intended to conceal the real owner, evade tax obligations, or mislead payment providers.

4. Activities we do not form companies for

• Any activity that is illegal in any applicable jurisdiction
• Activities infringing copyright or trademarks: unlicensed broadcasting, unauthorized distribution of films, series, or TV channels (including unlicensed IPTV), sale of counterfeit goods
• Unlicensed provision of regulated financial services: money transmission, payment facilitation, currency or crypto-asset exchange, lending
• Unlicensed gambling, betting, and lotteries
• Sale of drugs, prescription medicines, weapons, ammunition, or explosives
• Pyramid or Ponzi schemes and investment plans promising guaranteed returns
• Identity or document forgery; fake reviews, fake traffic, or account selling
• Trade intended to circumvent sanctions
• Presenting a business on a payment provider's prohibited list as a different business

This list is illustrative. We reserve the right to decline any application where we cannot be satisfied that the business is lawful; in that case any payment already taken is refunded in full.

5. After formation

If we learn after formation that the company is being used for an activity that breaches this policy, we may terminate our registered agent and other services within the legally required notice periods. You remain responsible for your company's activities and legal obligations.

6. Record keeping

Identity verification records are retained for 5 years after the service relationship ends in order to meet our legal obligations. Details are set out in our Privacy Policy.

7. Reporting

If you believe our services are being misused, write to [email protected] with the subject "Compliance report". Reports are kept confidential.