| Mandatory Identity verification will be required from 18 November 2025 From 18 November 2025, all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) will be legally required to verify their identity under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. This requirement is part of wider reforms to help prevent the misuse of UK companies. Identity verification requirements for limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies, corporate members of Limited Liability Partnerships, and officers of corporate PSCs, will be introduced at a later date. IF YOU ARE A DIRECTOR 18 November marks the start of a transition year where all directors must verify their identity before filing their company’s next confirmation statement. For example, if your company’s confirmation statement is due on 31 March 2026, all directors must be verified by that date. You’ll need to provide the personal code and a verification statement for each director on the confirmation statement. If you do not do this, your company will not be able to submit the filing. If you’re a director of multiple companies, you’ll need to do this for each company separately, using the same personal code each time. Check when your next confirmation statement is due to make sure your company is prepared. From 18 November, you’ll need to provide identity verification details to incorporate a new company or be appointed to an existing company. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH SIGNIFICANT CONTROL (PSC) You’ll need to provide your personal code to Companies House for your role as a PSC. There will be an online service to do this when the requirement comes into effect on 18 November. Every PSC will have a 14-day period during which they must provide their personal code. The dates of your 14-day period depend on whether: – you were registered as a PSC with Companies House before 18 November – you’re also a director of this company For more information, read the guidance on when to verify. If you’ve already verified your identity for Companies House, you do not need to do it again but you will need to provide us with your personal code and a verification statement for each role you hold. HOW TO VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY You can verify your identity for Companies House by: Using the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service – This service uses GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity. Verify your identity for Companies House now GOV.UK One Login will ask you a few simple questions to work out the best way for you to verify your identity online. The options available may depend on your device, whether you have photo ID, and the type of ID you have. Find out more about proving your identity with GOV.UK One Login. Using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider You can ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify your identity on your behalf – for example, an accountant or solicitor. You can do this from any country, but to become a registered ACSP with Companies House, your agent must be supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body. When an agent has agreed to verify your identity, you’ll need to give them documents from an approved list as evidence of your identity. They may charge a fee for their services. Do not post or email your identity documents to Companies House. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Identity verification is a 2-step process: 1. Verify your identity and receive your Companies House personal code. This code is unique to you and should be kept secure. 2. From 18 November, link your verified identity to each company role you hold by providing your personal code and a verification statement for each role. Where to find your personal code If you verify your identity through GOV.UK One Login, you’ll be able to view your personal code in the ‘manage account’ section of your Companies House account. If you verify your identity using an ACSP, you’ll receive your personal code by email. You may want to share this code with people you trust to file on your behalf, or for your company Find out more about your Companies House personal code. CHECK YOUR COMPANY AND PERSONAL DETAILS Make sure your personal information, especially your date of birth, matches what is held on the Companies House register. If the date of birth on your identity documents (used in step 1 of the process) does not match the date of birth on the register, you will not be able to complete step 2 – linking your verified identity to your company role(s). You can: check your company information update company details For some updates (for example, corrections to incorporation documents), you’ll need to use a paper form. DONT WAIT – VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY NOW From 18 November 2025, you will not be able to file your company’s confirmation statement unless all directors have verified their identity. Act now to: – avoid delays and make sure your company stays compliant – give each officer enough time to complete the process – especially if your company has more than one director and/or PSC – allow directors and PSCs based outside of the UK plenty of time to verify using GOV.UK One Login or to find an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), if they wish to use one |
We have done it ourselves, for our own company, it is very easy and quick to do. As detailed in the above communication from Companies House, there are several ways of doing it. This is how we have done it.
- Create a GOV.UK One Login ID account (at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house) from a computer.
- Start the ID verification process online, which is straightforward.
- I chose my passport as ID document, against which my identity was being checked.
- You are asked to install the “GOV.UK ID Check” app on your smartphone, as part of the process.
- Once the app is installed and opened, scan the photopage of your passport (the system will guide you on how).
- Your phone will then scan the chip in your passport (through NFC – by being placed on top of the passport), again the system will guide you on how.
- Next you will be asked to take a selfie on your smartphone, again you will be guided on how.
- Once this is done your computer will automatically show that you have been verified.
The above will have to be done for all company directors.
The system will provide a Companies House personal code (11-digit alphanumeric code). Companies House will require this code when we file documents, such as Confirmation Statements or accounts, on your behalf.
Then please send either myself or David the code for all the directors for all companies (trading and dormant), once this has been done.
Without that code we will not be able to file documents on your behalf, from 18th November 2025.