TL;DR
- The Corporate TPS (CTPS) is the equivalent of the personal TPS for business telephone lines, including business mobile numbers.
- Under PECR, organisations making marketing calls to other businesses must screen against the CTPS register before calling.
- Registration is free at ctpsonline.org.uk and can cover multiple business numbers in a single registration.
- CTPS does not protect against scam calls, calls from companies you have consented to, or calls where the calling business has a prior relationship with yours.
- Breaches can be reported to the ICO, which enforces PECR and can issue monetary penalties for non-compliance.
What the CTPS is
The Corporate Telephone Preference Service operates alongside the personal TPS as part of the UK's PECR framework. Where TPS covers personal telephone numbers registered to individuals, CTPS covers numbers registered to corporate bodies — companies, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and other business entities. The distinction matters in law because PECR's rules on unsolicited marketing calls apply differently to sole traders and individuals (covered by the personal TPS) versus limited companies and partnerships (covered by CTPS).
The CTPS register is also maintained by CTPS Ltd. Any organisation calling a UK corporate number for marketing purposes is legally required under PECR to screen that number against the CTPS register before dialling, unless the calling organisation has the prior consent of the business being called or an existing business relationship that provides a lawful basis. The CTPS register functions identically to TPS in practical terms — it is a list of numbers that have opted out — but the legal context and the entities it protects differ.
How CTPS differs from TPS
The key distinctions between TPS and CTPS are the type of subscriber protected and the threshold of legal protection. The personal TPS is designed for individuals and applies a relatively high level of protection, reflecting the greater privacy expectations individuals hold under PECR and UK GDPR. CTPS protects businesses, and while the opt-out mechanism is the same, the broader legal framework for business-to-business marketing is somewhat more permissive than for business-to-consumer marketing. Specifically, businesses can still be contacted if there is a genuine and relevant pre-existing commercial relationship, even if the number is on CTPS.
Sole traders and individual partnerships occupy a particular position: because they are not distinct legal entities separate from the individual running the business, they may be covered by the personal TPS for numbers they use personally, but their dedicated business lines should be registered with CTPS if they want to opt out of business-to-business marketing calls. If in doubt, registering with both TPS and CTPS is possible.
| Feature | TPS | CTPS |
|---|---|---|
| Who can register | Individuals (personal numbers) | Corporate bodies (companies, partnerships, LLPs) |
| Legal framework | PECR 2003 — individual privacy protections | PECR 2003 — business-to-business marketing rules |
| Registration cost | Free | Free |
| Covers mobile numbers | Yes (personal mobiles) | Yes (business mobiles) |
| Protection from scam calls | No | No |
| Enforced by | ICO | ICO |
How to register a business for CTPS
CTPS registration is free and carried out at ctpsonline.org.uk. You will need to provide the business telephone number or numbers to be registered, along with a company or business name and a contact email address for confirmation. Multiple numbers belonging to the same corporate entity can be registered in a single session, which is particularly relevant for medium-sized businesses with several office lines, direct-dial numbers, or company mobile devices.
As with TPS, registration typically takes up to 28 days to propagate across the calling organisations that access the register. After that point, any marketing call from a UK business that has not first checked its call list against CTPS — and has no other lawful basis for the call — represents a potential PECR breach. Businesses should keep a record of any calls they receive after registration, noting the date, time, calling number, and nature of the call, to support any complaint to the ICO.
What CTPS cannot stop
Like TPS, CTPS creates a legal obligation rather than a technical block. It will not stop scam calls, cold calls from overseas organisations beyond UK PECR enforcement reach, or calls from companies with which your business has an existing commercial relationship. Automated recorded marketing calls to business numbers are also subject to prior-consent requirements under PECR, and CTPS registration does not change that rule — such calls should not be made regardless of registration status.
Businesses that have filled in a contact form, responded to a quotation request, or entered into a contractual relationship with a supplier may continue to receive calls from that supplier even after CTPS registration, because the prior relationship or consent provides a lawful basis. To stop those calls, the business should formally communicate to the calling company that it withdraws consent and does not wish to receive further marketing communications. That withdrawal of consent should be documented in writing.
Reporting a CTPS breach
Breaches of PECR relating to CTPS-registered numbers are reported to the ICO in the same way as TPS breaches — via the online complaint portal at ico.org.uk. The ICO reviews complaints and uses them to identify systemic patterns of non-compliance. In the business-to-business context, enforcement may be somewhat less frequent than in consumer markets because the volume of complaints is typically lower, but the ICO's powers are the same: it can issue monetary penalties of up to £500,000 for serious PECR breaches affecting CTPS-registered numbers.
Where a business receives a very high volume of unsolicited calls that disrupt its operations, it may also wish to consider whether network-level solutions — such as call-filtering services offered by telephony providers — can supplement the legal protection that CTPS provides. The CTPS legal framework and practical call-management tools work best in combination.
What this means in practice
Hartwell Accounting Ltd, a small bookkeeping firm in Bristol, registered its main office line and two company mobile numbers with CTPS after staff reported receiving several calls each week from lead-generation companies promoting payroll software and office supplies. After the 28-day period, calls from several persistent callers stopped. One company, however, continued to call the firm's main line. The firm's director noted the calling number, the dates of calls, and the content of each call, then submitted an ICO complaint. The ICO acknowledged the complaint and indicated it would be assessed alongside complaint data about the same organisation from other businesses. The calls then ceased — possibly because the company had been notified by the ICO of the complaint — and the firm received no further contact from that number.
Related Guides
How we verified this
This article was compiled using the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 as published on legislation.gov.uk, ICO guidance on direct marketing and PECR enforcement, the CTPS registration information at ctpsonline.org.uk, and Ofcom's published guidance on nuisance calls affecting businesses.
Disclaimer: Kaeltripton.com is an independent UK editorial publisher. We are not regulated by Ofcom or the FCA and we do not sell or arrange mobile services, insurance, or financial products. This content is for general information only and is not legal, financial, or technical advice. Rules, prices, and operator policies change. Verify the current position with Ofcom, GOV.UK, the ICO, or your provider before acting. ICO registered ZC135439. Last reviewed: 2026-06-05.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CTPS?
The Corporate Telephone Preference Service is the UK's statutory opt-out register for businesses. It operates under PECR 2003 and requires organisations making marketing calls to other businesses to screen their call lists against the CTPS register. A business number on the CTPS register signals that the company does not wish to receive unsolicited marketing calls. Registration is free and available at ctpsonline.org.uk. It is distinct from the personal TPS, which covers individuals' telephone numbers.
How do I register my business for CTPS?
Register at ctpsonline.org.uk at no charge. You will need the business telephone number or numbers to register, a company name, and a contact email. Multiple numbers for the same business entity can be registered together. Registration takes up to 28 days to take full effect. Both business landlines and company mobile numbers can be registered. There is no expiry; numbers remain registered unless removed by the business.
Does CTPS stop all nuisance calls to my business?
No. CTPS places a legal duty on calling organisations to check the register, but it does not technically block calls. It will not prevent scam calls, calls from overseas entities outside PECR enforcement reach, or calls from companies with which your business has an existing relationship or from which you have not withdrawn consent. Automated recorded marketing calls to businesses also require prior consent under PECR independently of CTPS. Supplementary network-level call filtering can help alongside CTPS registration.
How do I complain about a CTPS breach?
Submit a complaint to the ICO at ico.org.uk, providing details of the calling number, date and time, and the nature of the marketing call. The ICO assesses complaints, investigates patterns of non-compliance, and can issue monetary penalties up to £500,000. Keep a log of unwanted calls — dates, numbers, and content — to support your complaint. The ICO's published enforcement register shows previous PECR fines and the grounds for each.
Does CTPS cover mobile numbers used by businesses?
Yes. Business mobile numbers registered to a corporate entity can be added to the CTPS register. If your company issues mobile phones to employees or uses a business mobile account, those numbers can be registered with CTPS to opt out of unsolicited marketing calls directed at the business. Personal mobile numbers used by sole traders or individual employees in a personal capacity should generally be registered with the personal TPS rather than CTPS.
