Companies House Identity Verification 2025 – What You Need to Know
From 18 November 2025, all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) must verify their identity with Companies House. This new legal requirement forms part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which aims to improve corporate transparency and reduce misuse of UK companies.
If you're a director or PSC, you'll need to act before your next confirmation statement is due — or risk being unable to file.
Why Identity Verification Is Being Introduced
The new Companies House identity verification process is designed to:
- Prevent fraudulent company activity
- Improve the accuracy of the public register
- Strengthen confidence in UK business transparency
Additional verification rules for limited partnerships, corporate directors, corporate members of LLPs, and officers of corporate PSCs will follow at a later stage.
What Directors Need to Do
From 18 November 2025, a transition year begins. During this period, all company directors must verify their identity before submitting their company's next confirmation statement.
Example: If your next confirmation statement is due on 31 March 2026, every director must be verified by that date.
When filing your company’s next statement, you’ll need to include:
- Each director’s personal code
- A verification statement for every director
⚠️ Important: If these aren’t included, your company won’t be able to file the confirmation statement.
If you’re a director of multiple companies, you’ll need to complete this step for each company — using the same personal code.
👉Tip: Check when your next confirmation statement is due now to avoid last-minute issues.
From 18 November, you’ll also need to verify your identity to:
- Incorporate a new company, or
- Be appointed as a director of an existing company
What PSCs Need to Do
If you’re a Person with Significant Control (PSC), you must provide your personal code to Companies House to verify your role. An online service will be available from 18 November 2025.
Every PSC will have 14 days to verify their identity. The exact timing depends on whether:
- You were registered as a PSC before 18 November
- You’re also a director of the company
If you've already verified your identity with Companies House, you won't need to do it again — but you must still provide your personal code and a verification statementfor each role you hold.
How to Verify Your Identity
You’ll be able to verify in one of two ways:
1. Verify via GOV.UK One Login
Use the Verify your identity for Companies House service. It uses GOV.UK One Login, which will guide you through a few short questions to determine the easiest way to verify online.
The options depend on:
- Your device
- Whether you have photo ID
- The type of ID you hold
Learn more about proving your identity with GOV.UK One Login.
2. Verify Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
You can also ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — such as an accountant or solicitor — to verify your identity on your behalf.
Your agent must be supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) body to be approved as an ACSP. You'll need to provide them with documents from an approved list, and they may charge a small fee.
📦 Don’t send or email your ID documents directly to Companies House — only use GOV.UK or an authorised provider.
The Two-Step Verification Process
- Verify your identity to receive your unique Companies House personal code
- Link your verified identity to each company role by providing your personal code and a verification statement
Where to Find Your Personal Code
- If you verified via GOV.UK One Login, you can find your code in your Companies House account under “Manage Account”
- If you used an ACSP, your code will be sent to you by email.
You may choose to share your code with your accountant or another trusted person who files on your behalf.
Check Your Details Before You Start
Make sure your personal information — especially your date of birth — matches what's on the Companies House register. If these details don’t align, you won’t be able to link your verified identity.
You can:
Some updates, such as correcting incorporation documents, still require paper forms.
Don’t Wait – Verify Early
From 18 November 2025, Companies House will not accept confirmation statementsfrom any company with unverified directors.
Act early to:
- Avoid compliance issues or delays
- Give each director and PSC time to complete the process
- Allow extra time for anyone based outside the UK
