After months of uncertainty, Companies House has confirmed that from 18 November 2025, identity verification will become a compulsory part of incorporation and new appointments of directors and Persons of Significant Control (PSCs).
Note: Existing directors and PSCs will have up to 12 months from this date to complete verification, which means 18 November 2026 is the latest possible date to verify yourself.
Ultimately, whilst it would be sensible to prepare proactively for these changes, we urge you not to panic. If you are an existing director or PSC, you will need to supply your verification code alongside your next confirmation statement after 18 November 2025. As a result, your deadline for verifying your identity may not be as soon as you think.
In addition to the above, from Spring 2026, third-party providers will need to be registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) in order to make any filings on behalf of other companies.
The announcement outlined the following important points:
- new directors will need to verify their identity to incorporate a company or be appointed to an existing company;
- existing directors will need to confirm they have verified their identity at the same time as they file their next annual confirmation statement, during a 12-month transition period;
- new PSCs will have a 14-day period after they have registered with Companies House to submit a statement confirming they have verified their identity, and
- existing PSCs who are not directors will have to submit a statement confirming that they have verified their identity within a 14-day period starting from the first day of their month of birth.
Verification of identity is intended to prevent the misuse of UK companies, and is part of wider measures introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA).
How should directors prepare?
Whether you are a new director looking to form a company or have an existing directorship(s) it is advisable to complete the ID verification process ahead of any filings being due.
When filing documents you will need to supply Companies House with your personal code or pass this to your accountant if they are filing on your behalf.
If your organisation has any directors or PSCs that are based overseas it would be sensible to start the verification process sooner rather than later.
Directors with multiple companies only need to verify themselves once as their personal code will be able to be used for all directorships.
Be mindful of your next confirmation statement deadline, which you can check on the Companies House website, and seek advice proactively if you need support.
How should PSCs prepare?
PSCs must provide their personal code via an online service, within a prescribed 14-day window.
If you are a newly appointed PSC (appointed on or after 18 November 2025), you must verify your ID within 14 days of your appointment being notified to Companies House.
Existing PSCs that are also directors of a company must verify their ID within 14 days of the company’s next confirmation statement being filed. For those that are not company directors, your 14-day deadline begins on the first day of your birth month in 2026.
If you have already verified your identity you still need to supply your personal code and a verification statement for each role.
What are the dangers of non-compliance?
Companies House will not be prosecuting individuals for failure to comply for the first 12 months, but from November 2026 there will be severe consequences for non-compliance.
If you fail to verify your identity, you will be unable to submit your confirmation statement, regardless of whether your statement is due on or soon after the 18 November deadline.
Failure to submit this information is considered a criminal offence and persistent non-compliance can lead to directors being fined up to £5,000, potential director disqualification and Companies House striking the company off register.
Similarly, failing to verify your identity will be in breach of the law and you may be penalised accordingly, with disqualification being possible.
How do you verify your identity?
When it comes to verifying your identity, there are a few options available to you; in the majority of instances, we anticipate that people will opt to verify themselves directly with Companies House via the GOV.UK One Login, using photo ID such as a passport or driving licence, or by using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
ACSP’s can manage the process on your behalf, and would effectively complete their own ID checks to be able to provide a verification submission to Companies House. This process would be very similar to option one.
Only registered ACSPs can verify identities outside of Companies House, so it is paramount that you avoid unregistered third parties.
For those individuals who may find the online process challenging, you can also opt to visit any local post office offering in-branch identity verification. You will still require photo ID, and should receive an email with the results of your ID check within a day of your visit.
You can read more about the options available to you, to prove your identity, here.
We’ve produced a useful ‘Companies House Identity Verification’ factsheet which outlines what is happening, and breaks the process down into easy-to-understand steps.
We are here to help you navigate this process so, should you have concerns about what you need to do, or would like to speak to one of our team about the requirements, please contact us today.
