UBO obligations: fines of up to €50,000 and striking-off from the CBE

Many businesses still regard the UBO register as an administrative formality. The reality today is different. UBO information must not only be registered correctly. Changes must generally be reported within 30 days, and the information must be confirmed annually. Since late 2023, serious or prolonged non-compliance may also result in the business being struck off the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) by the authorities.

What can this mean in practice?

• administrative fines ranging from €250 to €50,000;
• a publicly visible striking-off from the CBE;
• reputational damage;
• difficulties with banks, suppliers and other business partners.

Being struck off does not mean that the company ceases to exist. Its obligations and debts also remain. In practice, however, the striking-off can seriously disrupt the business’s day-to-day operations.

Since late April 2026, a striking-off related to UBO obligations is no longer automatically lifted once the information has been regularised. The business must first be fully compliant and then arrange for the lifting of the striking-off to be processed.

The message is clear: UBO compliance is no longer a minor detail.

A simple check can prevent many problems

• Is all UBO information correct?
• Has the annual confirmation been completed?
• Have recent changes been registered on time?
• Have the required supporting documents been added?

Contact

Is your UBO file not fully compliant, or has your business already been struck off the CBE? Contact our corporate and business law team at info@fairway.law.