Have You Verified Your Identity for Companies House Yet?

man looking at a tax website on his laptop

The 12-month transition period is entering its final months. Directors and people who control companies should check their deadlines now.

Running a small business already means keeping track of payroll, tax, accounts and Companies House filings.

Identity verification may feel like another task that can wait. But some directors and business owners now need to act.

Companies House identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025. A 12-month transition period began on the same date.

This does not give everyone until 18 November 2026. Your deadline depends on your role and your company’s filing dates.

Who needs to verify?

For most small companies, the rules affect directors and people with significant control.

Companies House calls a person with significant control a PSC. In simple terms, this includes someone who holds more than 25% of a company’s shares or voting rights, or otherwise has significant control over the company.

You may be a director, a PSC or both.

When do you need to act?

Existing directors who have not yet verified their identity should do so before the company’s next confirmation statement is filed. Once verified, Companies House will issue a personal code, which must be provided with that confirmation statement.

Every director must have verified their identity before the confirmation statement can be accepted.

For new directors, identity verification happens earlier. They must verify and provide their personal code as part of their appointment or the company incorporation process.

PSCs have a separate 14-day period in which to provide their personal code and verification statement. The dates depend on when they became a PSC and whether they are also a director.

If you are both a director and a PSC, you will need to provide the same personal code separately for each role.

Check the Companies House register and any official correspondence for the dates that apply to you.

How can you verify?

You can verify directly through GOV.UK One Login or ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, known as an ACSP, to complete the checks for you.

An ACSP is an agent registered with Companies House and supervised for anti-money laundering purposes.

Small Business Payroll UK is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. We can carry out Companies House identity verification for directors and PSCs.

This may suit you if you want help from a real person, are unsure which documents to provide or want reassurance that the checks have been completed correctly.

What will you need?

You will normally need to provide:

your full name and any former names
your date of birth
your home address and address history
a personal email address
suitable proof of your identity

We will explain which documents you need before starting the checks.

After we verify your identity and notify Companies House, Companies House will email your personal code directly to you. You then use that code when required to connect your verified identity to each relevant director or PSC role.

What happens if you do nothing?

Do not panic, but do not ignore the requirement.

Continued non-compliance may result in financial penalties, prosecution, an annotation on the public register or director disqualification in serious cases.

Missing a deadline does not automatically mean you will receive a fine. However, the risks increase if you continue acting without complying.

Need help?

As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, Small Business Payroll UK can explain what you need, complete the required identity checks and notify Companies House once you have been verified.

Get in touch today.
e: info@smallbusinesspayroll.uk
t: +44 2890 99 29 30.