What directors need to do

Companies House has started rolling out mandatory identity checks for directors and people with significant control (PSCs).

This forms part of the wider reform programme under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, designed to improve the reliability of the public register and reduce misuse of UK companies.

If you’re a director, PSC, or act for multiple companies, this isn’t something to ignore. The process isn’t complicated, but there are a few moving parts and deadlines to manage.

This guide explains:

• Who needs to verify
• How the process works
• What you need to do for each role
• What happens if you miss a due date

What’s changing - and why it matters

Historically, Companies House accepted filings largely on trust, with limited verification at the point of submission.

That’s changed.

Under the reforms, Companies House now has stronger powers to:

• Query and reject information
• Remove false or misleading content
• Act as a more active gatekeeper of the register

In its 2024–2025 annual report, Companies House confirmed it used new powers to remove suspicious information and combat registered office abuse, impacting over 100,000 companies, including striking some off where necessary.

Identity verification is one of the key elements of this reform. The aim is straightforward: make it harder for individuals to set up companies, act as directors or declare control using false identities.

Key dates and the transition period

Identity verification became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025.

Companies House describes this as the start of a 12-month transition period, giving companies time to ensure directors and PSCs:

1. Verify their identity
2. Connect that verified identity to each role they hold

There isn’t a single universal deadline.

Your due date depends on:

• Your role
• Your company’s confirmation statement cycle

Companies House will:

• Display due dates on the public register (on the people tab)
• Email companies ahead of confirmation statement deadlines explaining what must be done

If you act for multiple companies, assume you’ll be managing multiple deadlines.

Who needs to verify?

You must verify your identity if you are:

• A company director
• The equivalent of a director (LLP member, general partner, managing officer)
• A director of an overseas company registered in the UK
• A person with significant control (PSC)
• An authorised corporate service provider (ACSP)

Companies House has also confirmed verification will later extend to additional filing roles, limited partnerships, corporate directors, corporate LLP members and officers of corporate PSCs.

The two-step process (often missed)

There are two separate steps:

1. Complete identity verification and receive a Companies House personal code
2. Provide an identity verification statement (including your personal code) for each relevant role

Verifying once does not automatically connect you to every role. You must use your personal code to link your verified identity correctly.

Ways to verify

1. Online via gov.uk One Login (free)

This is the free route. Depending on your circumstances, you may verify by:

• Using the ID checking app
• Answering online security questions
• Entering photo ID details and attending a participating Post Office

Government testing reported:

• An average completion time of 2.4 minutes (18 March–30 June 2025)
• 60% awareness of the new rules (YouGov sample of 1,007 senior decision-makers)
• 81% support for verification
• 73% agreeing directors/PSCs would find it easy

2. Via an ACSP (may charge a fee)

An ACSP is an AML-supervised professional (e.g., accountant, solicitor, formation agent) authorised to verify identities.

They must verify to the same standard as Companies House. They may charge a fee.

This can be practical if:

• You’re overseas
• You cannot use the online route
• You already use an agent for filings

Your Companies House personal code

Once verified, you receive an 11-character Companies House personal code.

Important points:

• You generally verify once (unless instructed otherwise)
• The code is personal to you, not linked to one company
• You must use it when filing confirmation statements, being appointed as a director or becoming a PSC
• Keep it secure and only share it with trusted filing agents

If verified via an ACSP, the code will be emailed to you.

Treat it like a secure credential.

What directors must do — step by step

Step 1: Identify your roles

List:

• Each company where you are a director
• Equivalent roles (LLP member etc.)
• Whether you are also a PSC
• Any overseas entity roles

You must connect your verified identity to each role correctly.

Step 2: Complete verification

Either online or via an ACSP.

Step 3: Store your personal code securely

Good practice includes:

• Using a secure password manager
• Restricting access to authorised filers
• Keeping a record of when it’s shared

Step 4: Connect your identity to each role

This is where most of the transition work happens.

Directors

You must provide your personal code within the company’s next confirmation statement.

If directors are not verified, Companies House has stated it will reject the filing.

If you’re a director of multiple companies, this applies to each one.

PSCs

Rules differ slightly:

If you are both a director and PSC:

• Provide the code in the confirmation statement (director role)
• Also provide it separately via the PSC verification details service within a 14-day window starting the day after the confirmation statement date

If you are a PSC but not a director:

• Provide your personal code within the first 14 days of your birth month

If you became a PSC after 18 November 2025:

• Provide the code when first added or within 14 days

Companies House allows you to check your specific 14-day window on the register.

New companies and appointments

When registering a new company, personal codes must be provided for directors at the point of filing.

Early verification makes incorporations smoother.

For overseas companies, directors must verify by the anniversary of the UK establishment’s registration.

What happens if you don’t comply?

Companies House has been clear.

• Acting as a director without verification is unlawful
• Companies may also commit an offence
• PSCs who fail to verify may commit an offence

Enforcement routes include:

• Prosecution
• Referral to the Insolvency Service
• Financial penalties
• Filing rejections

Companies House has stated it will reject confirmation statements if directors are not verified.

Extensions for PSCs are limited (up to 14 days in certain circumstances).

If you anticipate missing a deadline, treat it as urgent.

Privacy and security

Companies House states:

• Do not email or post ID documents
• Use approved verification routes only
• Keep your personal code secure

Since April (as referenced in the November 2025 update), over one million people have verified their identity via gov.uk One Login.

Verification makes impersonation harder — but you should still protect your credentials.

A practical checklist

Personal

• Confirm all roles
• Complete verification
• Store your personal code securely
• Identify confirmation statement dates
• Identify PSC 14-day windows

Company

• Confirm all directors have verified
• Ensure filing agents have required codes securely
• Check register for status indicators
• Verify early for upcoming incorporations

Final thoughts

If you only do three things:

1. Verify your identity
2. Store your personal code securely
3. Provide the code in the right place for each role



If you manage several companies, treat this as a small compliance project and track it properly.

If you’re unsure how this applies to your roles, or you want help coordinating deadlines across multiple companies, I can help make it manageable.