Companies House to roll out new verification procedure

Natalie Gibson, Solicitor

Identification measures are being introduced as part of wider changes that are being implemented to tackle financial crime, coming into effect on the 18th November 2025. Companies House have reported that the introduction of identity verification will boost business and support growth by giving more assurance about who is setting up, running, and controlling companies in the UK.

Companies House have recently provided some useful guidance on the new identity verification procedure, and this article takes a look into what you can do to prepare;

Requirements

After 18 November 2025, an estimated 6-7 million will need to verify their identity by mid-November 2026.

Verification will need to take place:

• at the point of incorporation of a company/appointment of a new director;
• upon the filing of an existing companies’ next annual confirmation statement, where existing directors will need to confirm that they have verified their identity; and
• in relation to PSCs, as below:
  • if a director and a PSC of the same company – the personal code must be provided separately for each role. For a director, this must be in the company’s confirmation statement. As a PSC, this code must be provided using a separate service within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date.
  • if a PSC but not a director of the same company – the personal code must be provided within the first 14 days of that PSC’s birth month.
  • if the PSC becomes a PSC after 18 November 2025, the personal code must be provided when they are first added to the Companies House register, or within 14 days of being added.

How to Verify Your Identity

It is reported that there will be two ways to verify your identity:

• Directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login
• Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

The Companies House blog mainly focuses on verifying identity directly with them through GOV.UK One Login, with three options available:

1. With an app (which on average takes around 2 minutes and 30 seconds)
2. By answering security questions online
3. By entering details from a photo ID on GOV.UK One Login, then going to a participating Post Office.

GOV.UK One Login will ask some initial questions to work out the best way for you to verify your identity online. Verification via the Post Office offers extra support for those who need it, but asking for assistance from a family member/someone that you trust is also permitted.

Once your identity has been verified, you will receive a unique personal code. This code will be used to link your verified identity to each role that you hold, along with a verification statement.

Companies House report that the Companies House register will be updated on 18 November 2025 to show the due dates for verification for each role you hold.

Assurances from Companies House

Companies House have stated that the identity verification process has been designed to be simple and user-friendly, and will use existing forms of identities such as driving licenses and passports. They note that the identity verification requirements will not create a digital ID for company directors or PSCs and is designed solely to prove that people are who they say they are.

Conclusions

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) has provided Companies House with more capabilities to improve the integrity of the Companies Register. The aim of the identity verification procedure is to provide a more transparent environment, with added clarity on who is controlling businesses in England and Wales.

This will make it harder for criminals to use companies for illicit activities, which will be a benefit for the public at large.