Technology & Digital Registration and Fees

Register with Ofcom for Online Safety Act compliance

How to register with Ofcom as a regulated online service and understand fee requirements under the Online Safety Act 2023. Covers scope, the registration portal, qualifying worldwide revenue thresholds, and annual fee obligations.

UK-wide
Guide summary

You must register with Ofcom if your online service allows users to share content or search the web and has UK users. Check if your service meets the user number and revenue thresholds. Register when the portal opens in 2025 and pay fees if your worldwide revenue is over £250 million.

  • Register with Ofcom if your service has UK users
  • Check if your service meets Category 1, 2A or 2B thresholds
  • Use Ofcom's online portal to register from 2025
  • Pay fees if worldwide revenue is over £250 million
  • UK revenue under £10 million may be exempt
  • Submit annual fee returns by the deadline
  • Failure to register can lead to penalties
  • Maximum penalty is 10% of global turnover or £18 million
  • Registration portal opens in 2025
  • Initial charging year is April 2026 to March 2027
On this page
UK-wide

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Regulated services must register with Ofcom and may be liable for annual fees based on qualifying worldwide revenue (QWR).

  1. 1

    1. Determine if your service is in scope

    Your service is regulated if it is a user-to-user service or search service with a significant number of UK users, and is not exempt (e.g. internal business services, email). Check Ofcom's published threshold criteria.

  2. 2

    2. Identify your service category

    Determine whether your service meets Category 1, 2A, or 2B thresholds based on user numbers, functionality, and reach. Your category determines your duties and fee band.

  3. 3

    3. Register via Ofcom's online portal

    Complete registration through Ofcom's Online Safety registration portal during your notification window. You need your company details, service description, user numbers, and revenue figures.

  4. 4

    4. Calculate your fee liability

    Services with qualifying worldwide revenue above the threshold are liable for annual fees. Services with UK revenue under the exemption threshold may be exempt. Check current thresholds in the fee structure above.

  5. 5

    5. Submit annual fee returns

    If liable, submit your annual revenue return to Ofcom by the specified deadline. Fees are calculated as a proportion of Ofcom's online safety costs, allocated by QWR band.

Failure to register does not exempt you from Online Safety Act duties. Ofcom can take enforcement action against unregistered services.

Official sources