Strengthening Trust: What’s Changing at Companies House for Directors & PSCs
As a Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) we share the information on current changes at Companies House.
If you’re a company director, a major shareholder, or someone who holds significant control over a UK business, there’s a major overhaul coming soon. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), Companies House will roll out a sweeping identity-verification regime. Its aim: to reduce fraud, improve the accuracy of the corporate register, and enhance accountability.
Here’s what you need to know—and what you should do now to stay ahead.
Why It Matters
Over the years, the UK’s corporate register has earned criticism for lax identity checks, allowing fictitious or misleading directorships (in extreme cases, names like “Darth Vader” or “Santa Claus” have appeared) to slip through.
The upcoming reforms aim to:
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Raise the bar for who can register or act as a director/PSC, making it harder for impersonators or fraudsters to hijack corporate identities.
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Improve data integrity on the public register, making it more reliable for stakeholders such as investors, regulators, creditors, and banks.
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Provide stronger enforcement tools to Companies House, enabling it to refuse suspicious filings or levy penalties for non-compliance.
Who Must Verify—and When
Directors & PSCs (Individuals)
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From 18 November 2025, new directors must verify their identity before their appointment is filed (or before incorporation, for new companies).
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Existing directors must provide their unique “personal code” when they file their next confirmation statement after that date.
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PSCs (whether or not they’re directors) will generally have to verify within 14 days of registration (for new PSCs) or within specified windows if already registered.
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If someone holds multiple roles (e.g. director and PSC), they must meet the verification requirements for each role.
Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs)
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Agents (such as accountants, solicitors, company formation agents) who want to verify identities or make filings on behalf of clients must register as ACSPs.
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To register, they must already be supervised under anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, pay a registration fee, and meet identity verification or competence standards.Over time (probably from spring 2026), third-party filers may be required to be ACSPs to submit any filings to Companies House.
Corporate Entities & Other Cases
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Initially, the identity verification requirement is limited to individuals—i.e. individual directors, PSCs, individuals filing. Corporate directors, corporate PSCs (i.e. legal entity controllers) are not in scope immediately.
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However, Companies House signals that later phases might bring in identity checks for corporate officers and agents of corporate PSCs.
How Identity Verification Works
Methods Offered
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GOV.UK One Login: A digital verification route using approved identity documents (e.g. passport, driving licence, etc.).
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Via an ACSP: The agent verifies identity on behalf of the individual (for a fee)
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Possibly in-person at certain Post Offices or similar physical ID channels (depending on implementation) for those who cannot do it digitally.
Once identity is verified, Companies House will issue a personal code to that individual. That code links their verified identity to all roles they hold now or in the future. What Documents & Standards
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The verification must meet a “required standard of assurance.”
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Individuals must supply “photographic identity” documents (passport, driving licence, etc.) and additional proof of address or supplementary evidence in some cases.
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Agents (ACSPs) must use verification processes at the same standard as Companies House’s own checks.
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Records of verification (and attempts) must be kept for at least 7 years.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Once the identity verification requirement becomes mandatory:
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An individual acting as a director without verifying their identity may be committing a criminal offence.
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A company that allows an unverified person to act as a director may also be liable.
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For PSCs who fail to verify when required, there may be penalties.
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Filings at Companies House (e.g. appointment of director, confirmation statements) may be refused or blocked unless identity is verified.
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In extreme cases, persistent non-compliance could lead to disqualification or forced removal from directorships.
Practical Steps for Companies & Directors Now
To avoid a last-minute scramble, here are things you should do proactively:
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Verify your identity early
Even though the requirement is not yet mandatory, doing it now removes risk later. -
If you advise or file for clients, register as an ACSP
Getting authorized early gives you flexibility and control over verification for clients. -
Review and upgrade internal processes
Ensure that your onboarding, client relations, and compliance systems can handle identity verification (document collection, secure handling, data retention). -
Inform all directors, PSCs, and stakeholders
Many individuals may not yet appreciate the changes. Early communication will avoid surprises when the deadline arrives. -
Track filing dates and compliance windows
For existing directors, PSCs, or companies with upcoming confirmation statements, you’ll need to map when identity verification must be completed -
Budget for costs & training
Agents may charge fees for verification. Also, staff doing in-house checking may require training to spot scams, document tampering, etc.
Challenges & Considerations
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Overseas directors / PSCs: Some may not have documents acceptable to GOV.UK systems, making verification harder.
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Administrative backlog risks: As the deadline approaches, identity verification demand may spike, causing delays or system strain.
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Privacy & data security concerns: Handling identity documents and personal codes must be done securely; any breach could have serious consequences.
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Limited coverage at first: Corporate directors/PSCs may not be in scope immediately. But businesses should anticipate future extensions.
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Costs & resistance: Some small companies or individuals may balk at extra steps or fees. Education, support, and phased implementation are key.
Looking Ahead: Beyond 2026
While the initial focus is on individual directors and PSCs, the legislative framework and Companies House guidance hint at further expansions:
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Requiring identity verification for all filings (i.e. any document submission) in time.
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Applying verification to corporate directors, corporate PSCs, and officers of corporate PSCs.
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Heightened scrutiny, enforcement actions, and possible rejection of filings that do not meet identity or data quality standards.
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Revision of statutory register requirements: from 18 November 2025, some statutory registers (e.g. registers of directors, PSCs) will no longer need to be maintained separately—Companies House will become more central in managing key data.
Conclusion: A Compliance Imperative
The forthcoming changes at Companies House represent one of the most significant regulatory shifts in UK corporate governance in years. For directors, PSCs, company secretaries, accountants, and formation agents.
From 18 November 2025, if you’re a company director or a person with significant control (PSC), you must verify your identity by your due date.
The Companies House register will be updated on 18 November 2025 to show the due dates for each role you hold.
What you need to do
Identity verification is a 2-step process:
1. Verify your identity and get your Companies House personal code.
2. Provide your personal code to confirm you are verified for each role you hold.
Watch our understanding identity verification video and read our guidance for more information on when you need to verify and provide your personal code.
If you’ve already verified your identity for Companies House, you do not need to do it again but you will need to provide us with your personal code for each role you hold.
How to verify your identity
There are 2 ways to verify your identity for Companies House
1. Using the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service
This service uses GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity.
GOV.UK One Login will ask you a few simple questions to work out the best way for you to verify your identity online. The options available may depend on your device, whether you have photo ID, and the type of ID you have.
Find out more about proving your identity with GOV.UK One Login.
2. Using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
You can ask an ACSP to verify your identity on your behalf – for example, an accountant or solicitor. Find out more about ACSPs.
When an agent has agreed to verify your identity, you’ll need to give them documents from an approved list as evidence of your identity. They may charge a fee for their services.
Filing your next confirmation statement after 18 November
You will not be able to file your company’s confirmation statement after 18 November unless all directors have verified their identity.
You must include the personal code of every company director in the confirmation statement. Your filing will be rejected if you do not include this information.
If someone else files the confirmation statement for your company, all directors must share their personal code with them.
Find out more about your Companies House personal code and where to find it.
Any problems, feel free to contact us
