Confirming Your Identity for Companies House: A Process to Authenticate Your Identity with Companies House.
From 18 November 2025, identity verification will become a compulsory requirement for various roles in companies and entities registered with Companies House in the UK. This new measure aims to improve the accuracy and trustworthiness of Companies House data and reduce fraud risks linked to company ownership and control.
Directors and Equivalent Roles
New directors or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) members must verify their identity to incorporate a company or LLP, or to be appointed to an existing one. Existing directors and LLP members will need to confirm they have verified their identity when they file their next annual confirmation statement within a 12-month transitional period starting from 18 November 2025. It will be an offence to act as a director or LLP member without having verified their identity.
People with Significant Control (PSCs)
New PSCs have a 14-day period from the date of registration with Companies House to submit a statement confirming they have verified their identity. Existing PSCs must verify their identity within 12 months of 18 November 2025 during a transitional period. PSCs are individuals who have significant ownership or control of a company, for example, holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or having the right to appoint or remove the majority of directors.
Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) and Filers
By spring 2026, any individual filing documents on behalf of a company (such as company secretaries, corporate service providers, accountants, or lawyers) must also have verified their identity unless they are employees or officers of an ACSP. Identity verification can be done either directly with Companies House or via a verification statement submitted by an ACSP.
Verification Process
Identity verification is done through the GOV.UK One Login system or through an ACSP. To verify your identity, you can either use the 'Verify your identity for Companies House' service or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). If you choose to use an ACSP, they must be registered with Companies House and a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body.
The Companies House Personal Code
Upon successful verification, you'll receive a unique identifier known as a Companies House personal code. This code should be kept secure, as you would with other unique codes such as your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for HMRC.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
If you do not comply with identity verification requirements, you will not be able to make filings, start a new company or entity, or register as an ACSP. Additionally, if you do not verify on time, you may be committing an offence and may have to pay a financial penalty or fine.
Purpose of Identity Verification
The purpose of identity verification is to deter illegal activities and improve transparency, trust, and accuracy of information on the Companies House register. This will help to create a more secure and transparent business environment in the UK.
Future Implementations
The introduction of identity verification for other entities such as people who file at Companies House, limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies, corporate members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and officers of corporate PSCs will occur at a later date.
In summary, from 18 November 2025, new directors and PSCs must verify their identity before appointment or registration; existing ones have up to 12 months to complete verification; and by spring 2026, filers of company documents also must comply unless exempt by their ACSP status.
- In the future business landscape of the UK, finance professionals, such as accountants and lawyers, will need to verify their identity to file documents on behalf of a company by spring 2026, joining the list of industry players required to do so.
- The implemented identity verification process, aimed at improving transparency and trustworthiness of Companies House data, will be expanded to include limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies, corporate members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and officers of corporate People with Significant Control (PSCs) at a later date.
