Identity verification is currently voluntary however, Companies House has now confirmed that this will be compulsory for existing directors and people with significant control (PSCs) from Tuesday 18 November, with a 12-month transition period. This will also be compulsory for Individual members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs), further guidance is expected from Companies House for LLPs and their members.

Who does compulsory ID verification affect?

Identity verification will become compulsory for the following:

  • existing directors
  • new directors
  • individuals with significant control (PSC)
  • individual officers of relevant legal entities with significant control
  • any person who is filing documents with Companies House on behalf of a company

How can identities be verified?

There are two options for individuals to verify their identification with Companies House.

First, an individual can verify their own identification. To do this, the individual will need ONE of the following:

  1. biometric passport from any county;
  2. UK photo driving licence (full or provisional);
  3. UK biometric residence permit;
  4. UK biometric residence card; or
  5. UK frontier workers card.

You will also need to provide your current address and the year you moved to that address.

The individual will need to sign in or create a GOV.UK One Login, you then request that an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) verify your identity on your behalf. For example, a solicitor or accountant. These are authorised agents of Companies House who have the authority to make filings with Companies House on behalf of others.

You will need to provide and ACSP acting on your behalf with the relevant verification documentation listed above.

Post verification

Once you are verified you will receive a Companies House personal code. This code is personal to you, not your company or any company you work for. From autumn 2025 you will need this code to carry out various filings at Companies House including:

  1. file confirmation statements;
  2. if you are appointed as a director; and
  3. if you become a PSC.

If you are already a PSC or a director, you will need this code to connect your verified identity to Companies House records. Connecting your verified identity to Companies House records is a legal requirement.

What happens if you don’t verify your identity?

If you do not verify your identity with Companies House, you will not be able to:

  1. make any Companies House filings;
  2. incorporate a new company; or
  3. register as an ACSP.

If you continue to act as a director but do not verify your identity after if becomes a legal requirement you will be committing an offence and are at risk of being disqualified. The company itself and all the other directors could also be committing an offence.

If you are a PSC and do not verify your identity after it becomes a legal requirement, you will be committing an offence.

If you do not comply with the new identity verification regime, you could be liable to pay a financial penalty.

Companies House has published guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house.

Next Steps for Directors and PSCs

With less than three months to go before compulsory ID verification becomes a reality, it makes sense to verify the identities of directors and PSCs sooner rather than later.

As there is still more information to come from Companies House, we intend to update this article as necessary as further material information is released.

If you would like to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Corporate and Commercial team.