Why Has Identity Verification Been Introduced?

Identity verification is part of wider changes intended to improve the accuracy of the Companies House register and make it more difficult for companies to be used fraudulently.

The process allows Companies House to confirm that directors and people controlling companies are who they claim to be.

It does not replace the other responsibilities of running a limited company. Annual accounts, Corporation Tax returns and confirmation statements must still be completed separately.

Who Needs to Verify Their Identity?

You will normally need to complete identity verification if you are:

• a director of a limited company;
• a person with significant control of a company;
• the equivalent of a director in another type of registrable organisation;
• a director of an overseas company registered in the UK; or
• registering as a Companies House authorised agent.

A person with significant control is generally someone who owns or controls a company. This can include someone who holds more than 25% of its shares or voting rights, although other forms of control can also qualify.

Many owner-managed businesses have one person who is both a director and a PSC. In that situation, the person must connect their verified identity to Companies House separately for each role.

When Must Existing Directors Verify?

An existing director must provide their Companies House personal code as part of the company’s next confirmation statement.

Every director must have completed identity verification before the confirmation statement is submitted. Companies House will not accept the statement if any of the directors have not been verified.

If you are a director of more than one company, you normally only need to verify your identity once. However, you must use your personal code to connect your verified identity to every directorship you hold.

It is therefore important to check the confirmation statement date for each company rather than assuming that completing the process for one business covers all your appointments automatically.

What Are the Rules for PSCs?

People with significant control must also verify their identity and provide their personal code to Companies House.

The deadline depends on the individual’s circumstances.

If you are both a director and a PSC of the same company:

• your director code must be included with the company’s confirmation statement; and
• you must provide the code separately for your PSC role during the relevant 14-day period.

For an existing PSC who is also a director, this 14-day period starts on the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.

If you are a PSC but not a director of the same company, your 14-day period normally begins on the first day of your month of birth.

Companies House displays the relevant identity-verification dates on the company’s public register, so it is worth checking the record rather than relying on a general deadline.

How Do You Verify Your Identity?

There are two principal ways to complete the process.

Verify directly through GOV.UK One Login

The Companies House online service is free. Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked to verify using:

• a biometric passport;
• a UK photocard driving licence;
• a biometric residence document;
• security questions; or
• identity checks completed at a participating Post Office.

You should only use the official GOV.UK service and should not send identity documents to Companies House by ordinary email or post.

Use an authorised agent

You can ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, or ACSP, to verify your identity.

An ACSP will normally be an accountant, solicitor or company formation agent that is registered with Companies House and supervised under the UK’s anti-money laundering regulations.

An authorised agent may charge for providing this service and will require suitable evidence of your identity.

What Is a Companies House Personal Code?

After successfully completing identity verification, you will receive a personal code containing 11 characters.

This code belongs to you as an individual, not to a particular company. You use the same code for each company appointment or PSC role that needs to be connected to your identity.

You should keep the code secure. You can provide it to a trusted accountant or agent where they are completing an authorised filing on your behalf, but it should not be shared more widely.

If you verified through GOV.UK One Login, you should be able to view the code by signing in to your Companies House account using the same email address.

What Should Company Directors Do Now?

Directors and company owners should:

1. Check their company’s next confirmation statement date.
2. Review the Companies House record to identify every director and PSC.
3. Make sure each person has completed identity verification.
4. Locate and securely retain each director’s personal code.
5. Check the separate deadline applying to each PSC.
6. Allow enough time to resolve any differences between names, dates of birth or other personal details.
7. Give the relevant codes to the trusted person responsible for submitting the confirmation statement.

Do not wait until the confirmation statement deadline itself. If one director encounters difficulty completing verification, the company may be unable to submit the statement on time.

What Happens If You Do Not Verify?

Failure to comply with the identity-verification requirements can have serious consequences.

The company may be unable to file its confirmation statement, and an individual who continues acting as a director or PSC without complying may commit an offence. Companies House can also impose financial penalties, pursue prosecution and place a note against the individual’s name on the public register.

The new process is therefore more than an optional administrative check.



Need Help Preparing for Your Confirmation Statement?

Identity verification is now an important part of meeting your Companies House responsibilities, but it sits alongside the company’s wider accounting and filing obligations.

At Tunstall Accounting, I provide straightforward support to limited-company owners in Rotherham and the surrounding area. I can help you understand the information your company needs to maintain, identify upcoming filing dates and make sure your accounting responsibilities are dealt with properly.

This article provides general information based on the Companies House requirements in force on 1 October 2026. Deadlines can vary according to the individual’s role and circumstances, so the company’s Companies House record and current GOV.UK guidance should always be checked.