New Companies House Identity Checks: What Every Director Needs to Know
⚠️ Important Notice: The landscape of corporate compliance has changed dramatically. New identity verification requirements will come into force on 18 November 2025; every director, Person with Significant Control (PSC), and LLP member must prepare for the upcoming requirements to avoid serious consequences for their business.
Why the Rules Have Changed
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 has equipped Companies House with unprecedented powers to combat financial crime and improve corporate transparency. These measures are designed to prevent dirty money from flowing through UK companies by ensuring every person in control of a business is identified correctly.
⚡ Immediate Impact: From 18 November 2025, Companies House will only accept filings from verified individuals. If you haven’t completed your identity verification, your forms will be rejected, triggering automatic late-filing penalties and potentially leading to your company being struck off the register.
Who Must Complete Identity Verification
The new requirements apply to a broad range of company officials and stakeholders:
Required to Verify:
- Current and newly appointed directors must verify their identity before any future filings will be accepted. This includes executive and non-executive directors across all company types.
- People with Significant Control (PSCs) who own 25% or more of shares or voting rights, or who otherwise exercise significant influence over the company, must also complete verification.
- LLP designated members and general partners fall under the same requirements, ensuring transparency across all business structures.
- Company secretaries who also serve as directors or PSCs need verification, though secretaries without these additional roles are currently exempt.
- Any person appointed as a new director or PSC from 18 November 2025 onwards.
Two Approaches to Identity Verification
You have two options for completing your identity verification, each with distinct advantages:
Government’s Free Route (Gov.uk One Login)
The government provides a free verification service through Gov.uk One Login. This DIY approach requires you to create an account, complete an automated identity check using OCR technology and facial recognition, then manually link your verification to Companies House using a 12-digit code in the WebFiling system.
While cost-effective, this route offers minimal support beyond online help pages. The process typically takes 5-20 minutes for first-time Gov.uk users, assuming no technical difficulties arise.
Our Professional ACSP Service
As an officially authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), we offer a comprehensive identity verification service that streamlines the entire process.
How Our Service Works:
Step 1: Secure Upload – We send you a secure link that opens on any device. Upload your passport or Biometric Residence Permit and take a quick selfie. The entire upload process takes under 5 minutes.
Step 2: Quality Assurance – Our team pre-checks document quality to prevent rejections, using the same advanced technology as the government system but with human oversight to catch potential issues.
Step 3: Automatic Integration – We handle the technical linkage to Companies House automatically, integrating your verification code with your following confirmation statement or new company incorporation.
Step 4: Ongoing Support – Unlike the government route, we provide comprehensive support via email and phone. We’ll even chase lapsed PSCs on your behalf and guide you through any complications.
The entire process from start to verified status typically takes 5-10 minutes, and we confirm success the same day. Our service can be bundled with other filings or purchased as a standalone service. Please drop us a line to find out more.
Critical Deadlines and Consequences
⏰ Critical Deadline Alert
Your next Confirmation Statement deadline is crucial. Suppose your confirmation statement is due after 18 November 2025. In that case, every director and PSC must be verified before that date (or use a more appropriate example date like 31 March 2026), or Companies House will reject the filing entirely.
The consequences of missing this deadline are severe and escalate quickly:
- Immediate rejection of all company filings
- Late-filing penalties starting at £150, increasing monthly
- Involuntary strike-off after 6 months of non-compliance
- Director disqualification in extreme cases
We monitor all our clients’ deadlines and send personal reminders two weeks before any critical dates, ensuring you never miss a crucial deadline.
Our ACSP Advantage: Seamless Integration
Our authorisation as a Corporate Service Provider under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 means we can verify identities and file statutory forms in one seamless workflow. This integration eliminates the risk of coordination errors and ensures your company remains compliant throughout the process.
Our Three-Step Process:
- Instant Access – Click “Start Verification Now” to access our secure portal on any device
- Quick Upload – Upload your government-issued photo ID and take a 5-second selfie
- Complete Service – We handle everything else, sending your confirmation code to Companies House and providing email confirmation
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my passport has expired recently?
You can use any government-issued photo ID that’s less than 10 years old, including UK driving licenses, Biometric Residence Permits, or valid EU/EEA national ID cards.
I’m a non-UK national without UK documents. Can I still verify?
Absolutely. Our verification software reads over 4,500 document types from around the world and is fully approved by Companies House. Upload your foreign passport and take a selfie.
What happens if one of our PSCs refuses to complete verification?
This is a serious compliance issue that can freeze your company’s ability to file. We can send professionally worded, solicitor-approved reminders to reluctant PSCs and, if necessary, guide you through the statutory removal process to protect your business.
Do I need to verify again each year?
No. Once verified, your status remains valid for the lifetime of your role unless you legally change your name or Companies House specifically requests a fresh verification.
How long do you retain personal data?
All identity documents are encrypted and stored according to ISO 27001 standards, then automatically deleted after the statutory 5-year retention period.
Can I switch from the free government route to your ACSP service later?
Yes. If you’ve already completed verification through Gov.uk but want our professional service for future needs, we can re-use your existing documents and re-link your verification.
Take Action Today
Don’t risk your company’s compliance status. The new identity verification requirements become mandatory from 18 November 2025, and companies should prepare now to avoid future compliance issues.
