Who is impacted by the new Identity Verification requirements?
All UK company directors (regardless of nationality or residence), Persons with Significant Control (PSCs), LLP members, and anyone filing documents at Companies House are now required to verify their identity at Companies House. This applies to both new and existing appointments, with no exemptions based on where directors live or their nationality.
For PSCs who are A Registrable Relevant Legal Entity (for example a Holding company) that RRLE must nominate a Relevant Officer, whose identity must be verified in accordance with the act. For companies this Relevant Officer must be a director; for LLPs and similar they must be a member, and for any other legal entity they must be an officer whose function equates to that of a company director.
When is the deadline?
Identity verification became voluntary from 8 April 2025 and will become mandatory from 18 November 2025 for all new company incorporations and director appointments. While existing directors and PSCs have a 12-month transition period starting 18 November 2025 to complete verification by their company’s next confirmation statement, from Spring 2026, only verified individuals or Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) can file documents at Companies House.
From 18 November 2025, new directors will need to verify their identity to incorporate a company or to be appointed as a director of an existing company. New PSCs will have a 14-day window to submit a statement confirming they have verified their identity.
We would recommend all Directors and PSCs get registered as soon as possible.
I’m a Director/PSC, what do I need to do?
Directors and PSCs must verify their identity by providing personal details (name, date of birth, address) and photo ID through:
- The GOV.UK One Log in System.
- The ID Verification can be done online (For Free)
- The ID Verification can be done at a post Office (we understand for Free) or
- Through an ACSP (Authorised Company Service Provider). These Providers charge varying fees.
While Burgis & Bullock does not intend to offer an ID verification service, we can provide you with a list of selected ACSPs that can offer this service for a fee, identified from Web searches.
Whichever service you use the email address can only be used for one Director/PSC so a husband and wife for example will need to have separate email addresses for use.
Once verified, you receive a unique Companies House personal code that can be used to verify company roles and only needs to be obtained once, even with multiple directorships.
UK Companies must obtain this code from all Directors and PSCs to input into their next confirmation statement from 18 November 2025.
We recommend completing your verification voluntarily before it becomes mandatory to avoid compliance issues across all your companies.
What happens if you do not verify?
You will not be able to:
- make any filings
- start a new company or entity
- register as an ACSP (also known as a Companies House authorised agent)
If you do not comply with identity verification requirements on time, you may be committing an offence and may have to pay a financial penalty or fine.
Directors
If you continue to act as a director without verifying after it becomes a legal requirement, you will be committing an offence and could be disqualified. The company (or entity) and all directors may also be committing an offence.
People with significant control (PSCs)
If you are (or were) a PSC without verifying after it becomes a legal requirement, you may be committing an offence.
