Companies House Identity Verification: What Directors and PSCs Must Do
Company directors are being urged to familiarise themselves with new identity verification requirements being introduced by Companies House, as confusion is reported around how and when the checks must be completed.
What is Companies House identity verification?
The new rules form part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, a major reform aimed at tackling fraud and improving transparency in the UK’s corporate register. Under the changes, company directors and those appointed as people with significant control (PSCs) will need to verify their identity before certain actions or filings can be made at Companies House.
The verification process began rolling out on 18th November 2025, but this marked the start of a 12-month transition period rather than a single deadline, something that has led to uncertainty among many directors.
What do Directors need to do?
Most people understand the reasoning behind the changes and are willing to comply, but in practice, many directors are unclear about what exactly they need to do, how to do it, and when.
One of the most common misunderstandings, particularly for sole directors, is that identity verification is a single step. In reality, the system operates in two stages.
- First, individuals must verify their identity using the Companies House verification service through GOV.UK One login, or via an authorised agent such as an accountant or solicitor. Once this is completed, they receive a unique 11-character personal code which confirms their identity.
- Then, the code must then be submitted to Companies House to link the verified identity to each directorship or PSC role the individual holds, which is undertaken via the company’s annual confirmation statement process.
You only need to verify your identity once, but your personal code must be provided for each company role you hold, such as being both a director and the PSC for a company, or a director of multiple companies, so that Companies House can link the verification to the correct records.
What about new Director appointments?
Further confusion has arisen because the timing of verification varies depending on an individual’s role. A director who has been newly appointed since 18th November 2025 must be validated before their appointment is filed with Companies House.
For existing directors, it must be completed before the company submits its next confirmation statement.
What about PSCs?
For directors who are also PSCs in the same company, the verification window is linked to the company’s annual confirmation statement date. In that case, individuals have a 14-day period starting the day after the confirmation statement date to provide their personal code as PSC.
But PSCs who are not directors must instead complete verification during the first 14 days of their birth month and new PSCs added to a company’s register must provide their verification details when first added to the register or within 14 days of receiving a so-called ‘direction letter’ sent by Companies House after the appointment.
Verification teething problems
Some users have reported difficulties navigating the digital process as reported on the Companies House website, particularly where the identity verification app involved in the digital validation process interacts with the GOV.UK website.
Despite some initial teething problems, directors will need to understand the process and comply with the new rules, which are fundamental to future company administration. The goal is to ensure that the people behind UK companies are properly identified. For most legitimate businesses, this should become a routine compliance task, but it is important to check the details early to avoid issues with timing, particularly for any PSC. Ignoring the identity verification requirements is not an option, as it could constitute an offence, lead to a financial penalty or fine, and result in a note being added to the public register.
Directors and PSCs can check their specific identity verification deadlines by logging into the public register for Companies House and there is online guidance on timings for when you need to verify
Corporate Governance and Director Duties
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