What is Director Identity Verification?

If you're a director or person with significant control (PSC) of a UK-registered company, identity verification with Companies House is now a legal requirement. It came into force on 18 November 2025, and if you haven't done it yet, you need to act before your next compliance deadline.

Here's a straightforward breakdown of what it means and what you need to do.

Why Is This Happening?

This change comes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, one of the biggest overhauls to UK company law in decades. The purpose is simple: Companies House wants to confirm that the people named as directors and controllers of UK companies actually exist and are who they say they are.

It's designed to reduce fraud, tackle the use of fake or stolen identities, and make the companies register more reliable for everyone using it.

Who Needs to Verify?

The requirement applies to all individual directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) of UK-registered companies, as well as individual members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs).

If you're a director, a PSC, or both, you are required to verify. There are no exceptions based on nationality or where you live. The requirement applies whether you're based in the UK or overseas.

Note: The requirement currently applies to individuals only. Corporate directors, corporate PSCs, corporate members of LLPs, and officers of corporate PSCs are not yet in scope. Companies House has confirmed these will be brought into the regime at a later date, though no date has been announced.

When Do You Need to Do It?

This depends on whether you were appointed before or after 18 November 2025.

New directors (appointed on or after 18 November 2025): You must verify your identity before you can be formally appointed. No verification, no appointment.

Existing directors (appointed before 18 November 2025): You must verify your identity before your company's next confirmation statement due date after 18 November 2025. For example, if your confirmation statement is due in March 2026, you need to be verified before that filing is made.

New PSCs (added on or after 18 November 2025): You have 14 days from the date you are added to the register to provide your verified identity code.

Existing PSCs: Your deadline depends on whether you are also a director of the company. If you are both a director and a PSC, you will need to provide your code twice: once via the confirmation statement as a director, and separately within 14 days of that confirmation statement date in your capacity as a PSC.

If you hold directorships across multiple companies, each company has its own confirmation statement date, so check each one individually and work to the earliest deadline.

How Does Verification Work?

There are two ways to verify:

1. Directly with Companies House via GOV.UK One Login

This is free and can usually be completed in a few minutes. You'll need a valid photo ID such as a biometric passport or UK driving licence. In some cases, you may be asked to verify in person at a Post Office if online verification isn't possible.

Once verified, Companies House issues you a personal identity code. This is a one-off process. You use the same code across all your directorships and appointments going forward, so you won't need to verify again.

2. Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

An ACSP is an agent registered and authorised by Companies House to verify identities on behalf of clients. Accountants and company formation agents operating as ACSPs can handle this for you.

What Happens If You Don't Comply?

Ignoring this requirement has serious consequences. Non-compliance can result in:

• Your company being unable to make further filings at Companies House

• You being unable to take up or continue in your director role

• Public censure by Companies House on the register

• Criminal or civil penalties under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023

• Disqualification proceedings against individual directors

These are not minor administrative issues. If your company cannot file, it affects your ability to run the business normally.

How Can Taxation Made Easy Help?

We assist clients with identity verification as part of our wider company compliance services. If you're unsure whether you've verified, don't know your confirmation statement deadline, or simply want someone to walk you through the process, we can help.

We are Taxation Made Easy, an accounting firm registered in England and Wales, serving 500+ businesses and proudly awarded Best Personalized Accounting Service Provider 2023, South West London by SME News.

Get in touch today and we'll make sure you're compliant before your deadline.

020 3059 1505 | info@taxationmadeeasy.co.uk