After months of uncertainty, Companies House has set a firm date for the identity verification regime.
From 18 November 2025, identity verification will be mandatory for company directors, members of LLPs and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs).
Companies House will not be prosecuting these individuals for failure to comply for the first 12 months, but from November 2026, there will be severe consequences for non-compliance.
The requirement to verify others, such as general partners of limited partnerships, corporate directors, corporate members of LLPs and officers of corporate PSCs, will be introduced at a later time as part of a staged rollout.
If you haven’t started preparing for the changes, now is the time to get ready.
What do directors need to do to prepare?
New directors must verify their identity before their appointment is finalised, as they will not be permitted to legally act as a director without complying with this requirement.
To incorporate a new company, all directors and PSCs named on the incorporation application will need to be verified and provide their personal verification codes as part of the application.
From 18 November 2025, existing officeholders will be required to complete verification and provide their codes when filing their company’s next Confirmation Statement.
Once a director has been verified, they will need to provide their personal verification code as required for every company for which they are a director.
If any of your directors are overseas, have limited ID documents, or are likely to be delayed, contact them as soon as possible, as verification can take time and a delay could prevent a company from filing or completing an appointment on time.
Check your company’s next Confirmation Statement date and plan verifications around it.
What must PSCs remember to do?
PSCs will have a 14-day window to provide their personal verification code but the exact timing depends on the circumstances.
If a person is only a PSC and not a director, the 14-day window begins on the first day of the month in which their birthday falls.
If someone becomes a PSC and is newly added to the Companies House register, they must provide their code within 14 days of being added.
If someone is both a director and a PSC, their personal code must be supplied separately for each role.
This means providing the code for their role as a director with the company’s Confirmation Statement, and then again for their role as a PSC within 14 days of the company’s Confirmation Statement date.
Crucially, PSCs must supply their personal verification code as required for each company for which they are a PSC.
You should be treating these requests as priority tasks because missing the window can lead to annotations on the public record, disrupted filings and potential enforcement action.
Keep your personal verification code secure and only share it with trusted filers or a registered ACSP.
Should I use an ACSP to verify my identity?
While it is possible to verify your identity through the GOV.UK One Login, many individuals may prefer using a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
ACSPs can manage the process end-to-end, reduce the chance of errors and file on your behalf.
From spring 2026, Companies House will require anyone filing documents to be verified and/or be a registered ACSP.
If you have previously worked with a third-party agent for Companies House filings, make sure they are a registered ACSP.
Unregistered third parties will not be able to file or perform verification.
What are the consequences of non-compliance?
Companies House will take action where verification requirements are not met.
That can include public annotations for unverified PSCs, fines and other enforcement measures against individuals and companies, and in some cases, criminal offences or disqualification for those who act as directors without being verified.
Non-compliance could also affect a company’s ability to do business, particularly with banks and lenders.
We are here to support you as you work to stay compliant with the changes to Companies House.
To find out more about your changing obligations with Companies House filings, speak to our team today!
