ID Verification at Companies House – what you need to know
From November 18th, 2025, Companies House will be enforcing mandatory identity verification for all Limited Company directors, Persons with Significant Control (PSCs), and anyone who files on behalf of the company. This change, under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, will mark a major shift in the way in which UK companies operate and are registered.
What’s coming and when
8 April 2025 – The voluntary verification window opened – so directors, PSCs, and agents can verify their identity early.
18 November 2025 – Mandatory ID checks will begin for all new incorporations and appointments from this date. If already incorporated you may be required to complete this process sooner, based on your filing deadlines.
November 2025 to mid-November 2026 – A 12-month transition period for all existing directors and PSCs to complete their verification prior to their next confirmation statement, or through other Companies House filings. Some directors may need to complete this process sooner.
By mid-November 2026 – almost all the 6-7 million individuals involved in a UK Limited Company will need to have verified their identity.
Who will need to verify their identity?
- New and existing company directors (including LLP equivalents).
- PSCs, including those who are connected via legal entities.
- Those individuals that file documents on behalf of any company (such as secretaries or agents).
Ordinary shareholders who are not PSCs will not be required to verify their identity.
How do you verify your identity?
You’re able to verify your ID directly yourself, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP):
- Online using the UK One Login – You’ll either need a biometric passport, UK driving license, UK biometric residence permit or card, or a Frontier Worker permit. You may also be able to verify your ID by using your bank / building society details and other personal information instead if you do not have valid photo ID.
- In person at a Post Office – If you’re unable to verify online you may be eligible to do so at a Post Office.
- Through an ACSP – Many firms, such as SG Accounting, are registered to perform ID checks for their clients. An ACSP must be registered with Companies House and be under UK AML supervision, both of which we are.
You can verify your ID yourself using the gov.uk website, however, to make the process easier, SG Accounting can complete the identity verification process on your behalf for a fixed fee starting from £35+VAT per person. Simply get in touch if this is something you’d require us to complete on your behalf.
What happens next?
Once your ID has been uploaded and verified, you’ll receive a code which must be linked to your company’s records. If you’re doing the process yourself, you’ll be able to do this via the Companies House website and then provide us with your verification code.
What are the consequences of non-compliance?
If a director or PSC fails to verify by the deadline, Companies House may:
- Block filings (such as your confirmation statement and company accounts).
- Impose penalties or even disqualify the individual from holding roles.
- In some serious cases, Companies House may pursue criminal prosecution.
Next steps – what you need to do
- Check that your personal details are correct on Companies House (your DOB, address, etc) and that they match on your form of ID. You must make any updates before verifying.
- Verify as early as you’re able to, to avoid any potential technical delays or fees.
- If your company has multiple directors or PSCs, ensure each one completes their own verification.
- Keep your personal code secure and ensure you share it with SG’s Compliance Team.
How SG can help you
We know how frustrating it can be to have to jump through additional hoops for Companies House, especially when you’re busy running your own company. Please do get in touch if you have any questions about the process or what’s required from you. Alternatively let us take the task off your ‘to-do’ list, and we’ll let you know once it’s completed.
Protect yourself from uninterrupted services, penalties and delays – verify your identification early with help from SG.
Note: All the information and advice in this blog post was correct at the time of writing.
