Companies House Identity Verification: What Directors & PSCs Must Do Now
We’ve been spending a lot of time recently supporting clients through some big Companies House changes, and now that the new Identity Verification rules are in full swing (and have been since 18 November 2025 so no one can claim ignorance as a defence!), we wanted to summarise them for anyone who hasn’t yet checked what this means for them.
These new requirements apply to all company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs). All new directors must verify their identity before they can be appointed, and existing directors will need to confirm they’ve completed verification when they file their next confirmation statement during the 12‑month transition period. It is no longer possible to file your confirmation statement without all of your Directors and PSCs having already verified their ID.
If you’re a PSC, your timeline is just as important. Newly appointed PSCs must complete verification within 14 days, and those already on the register will need to verify within their assigned window over the transition period, you can check the date relevant to you by looking at the PSC register on Companies House website. It’s all part of a wider effort to make the register more secure, more accurate and far less vulnerable to fraud - and whilst it can feel like a painful experience for some, it’s great to see progress being made in this direction.
Once you’ve verified, you’ll receive a personal code from Companies House that you’ll need whenever you submit filings. Verification itself is relatively straightforward and can be done through GOV.UK One Login or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) like us. Companies House has also been reaching out directly to explain what you need to do, but from what I’ve seen with clients so far, the earlier you get this sorted, the smoother things will run.
These reforms bring a real step forward in transparency, and although it’s another compliance task on everyone’s list, it’s one that genuinely strengthens the system for all of us, and it only needs to be done once – even if you are director of a number of companies you only need the one personal code. If you’re unsure about your own verification status or just want to make sure everything is lined up correctly, don’t leave it too long.
We’re already helping several organisations navigate the transition - so if you need a steer, feel free to reach out.
Please note: although we are an ASCP, we only undertake verification checks for clients. If you are not a client (or in the process of becoming a client), and need to verify your ID with Companies House there are a number of commercial organisations that will undertake this for you.