Businesses that exchange currency, transmit money or cash cheques for their customers are known as 'Money Service Businesses'. Money Laundering Regulations require most Money Service Businesses to register with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
This guide will help you decide if you need to register as a Money Service Business with HMRC and includes links to more information about how to register.
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The term Money Service Business has a special meaning under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, which came into force on 15 December 2007. Under the regulations, your business is a Money Service Business if it does one or more of the following:
HMRC is the supervisory body for most Money Service Businesses under the Money Laundering Regulations. If you run a Money Service Business it's your responsibility to register with HMRC unless you're already supervised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for the purposes of the Money Laundering Regulations. You mustn't act as a Money Service Business until you're either registered with HMRC or supervised by the FSA.
Pawnbrokers who act as Money Service Businesses must register with HMRC, who will supervise both the pawnbroking and the money service aspects of their business.
If you exchange currency or cash cheques only occasionally, or only on a limited basis, then you don't have to register as a Money Service Business if you meet all of the following conditions:
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If you transmit money from time to time but not by way of business you may not have to register. If you think you fall into this category then you should contact HMRC to check.
You can email the Money Laundering Regulation Central Intervention Team.
Or write to them at:
MLR Central Intervention Team
HM Revenue & Customs
7th Floor N/W
Alexander House
21 Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
SS99 1AG
Cash couriers collect money from their customers and deliver it to someone else. They do jobs like re-stocking cash dispensers and delivering cash for shops. This is not transmitting money, so it's not a Money Service Business activity. If you just operate as a cash courier you don't need to register as a Money Service Business with HMRC.
If you're a pawnbroker you may or may not offer Money Service Business activities like cheque cashing. If you do offer these services, you'll need to register as a Money Service Business with HMRC.
HMRC will supervise both your pawnbroking and your Money Service Business activities. When you put in place anti-money laundering policies and procedures you'll need to make sure these cover your pawnbroking activities. Find out more about putting in place anti-money laundering systems by following the link below.
Read about setting up anti-money laundering policies and procedures
If you operate as a pawnbroker but you don't offer Money Service Business activities, you must be registered with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The OFT will supervise your business as a Consumer Credit Financial Institution under Money Laundering Regulations. You can find out more on the OFT website.
Read about pawnbrokers and Money Laundering Regulations on the OFT website (opens new window)
If you're not already supervised by the Financial Services Authority for the purposes of the Money Laundering Regulations you mustn't operate as a Money Service Business until you've registered with HMRC.
To register with HMRC as a Money Service Business you'll need to fill in a registration form and provide all the information requested. You'll also need to apply for a fit and proper test. You can find out more about how to register and what the fit and proper test involves by following the links below.
How to register under Money Laundering Regulations
