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Companies House identity verification

12.08.2025

6 minute read

Authored by

Greg Vincent

Partner, Head of Department

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Companies House identity verification: What you need to know ahead of November 2025

Changes have been introduced in relation to how companies interact with Companies House. As part of the Government’s efforts to combat economic crime and increase transparency, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 will soon require mandatory identity verification for certain individuals.

These new obligations will come into force on 18th November 2025.

What is changing?

From 18th November 2025, legislation will require the following individuals to verify their identity with Companies House:

  • All company directors.
  • All Persons with Significant Control (PSCs).
  • Anyone who files information on behalf of a company (such as company secretaries or professional agents).

A key purpose of the reforms is to strengthen the reliability of Companies House by ensuring that those who control companies or submit information on their behalf are clearly identifiable and have completed a recognised ID verification process.

How will verification work?

The voluntary verification window has been open for the past few months and there are two main routes to verification:

  1. Direct verification via Companies House or using the GOV.UK ID APP: Individuals can verify their identity through a secure online process or smartphone application provided by Companies House.
  2. Verification via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP): Law firms, accountants and other authorised professionals can register as an ACSP and will be able to carry out the verification on a client’s behalf (subject to meeting specific registration and compliance requirements). Morr & Co LLP is registered as an ACSP.

The verification process involves checks similar to those used in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance that you may already have encountered when dealing with banks and professional advisors. This includes document-based verification (e.g. passport, driving licence) and biometric checks.

Once verified, individuals receive a unique identifier confirming their status, which will be linked to their filings at Companies House.

When do the rules apply?

As noted above, the voluntary window for verification is now open. The timing of the new requirements depends on whether the individual is newly appointed or already a director / PSC:

  • New directors and PSCs that are appointed on or after 18th November 2025 will need to verify their identity before their appointment becomes valid.
  • Existing directors and PSCs (i.e. those appointed prior to 18th November 2025) will have up to 12 months to complete verification. Please note that this is different from a 12-month grace period. Instead, the 12-month window is tied to the due date of the company’s next confirmation statement. For example, if your company’s next confirmation statement is due in December 2025, verification must be completed by then. If it’s not due until July 2026, you’ll have until then to ensure compliance.

This approach will provide some businesses with time to adjust but, as other businesses will have confirmation statement dates falling shortly after 18 November, it may also be geared towards phasing the pressure on the required technology.

Who else is affected?

In addition to directors and PSCs, anyone who files documents at Companies House will also need to verify their identity. This includes:

  • Company secretaries
  • Administrators and insolvency practitioners
  • Agents and representatives who submit filings on behalf of clients

If your business relies on internal staff or external professionals to manage Companies House filings, you will need to ensure that those individuals or entities are appropriately verified and authorised to act under the new regime. 

Consequences of non-compliance

The consequences of failing to comply with the new identity verification rules are significant. Potential outcomes include:

  • The rejection of filings made by unverified individuals
  • Criminal and/or civil penalties
  • Loss of status as a director

If you’ve not verified voluntarily yet, how should you prepare now?

We recommend the following:

  1. Review your current company officers and PSCs: Make sure your records at Companies House are accurate and up to date.
  2. Identify who files on your behalf: Understand whether your filings are done internally or via an agent and ensure those individuals will meet verification requirements.
  3. Speak to your professional advisers: Morr & Co LLP is registered as an ACSP and your existing accountant may also be. Talk to your advisors now if you need guidance.
  4. Put internal systems in place: Plan for ID verification to become part of your company’s routine governance, particularly when onboarding new directors or filing your annual confirmation statement.

How we Morr & Co help?

Our team of corporate lawyers can:

  • Guide you through the ID verification process
  • Support you in updating corporate records
  • Assist in adapting your governance and compliance processes

If you have any questions or would like any further information on the content of this article, please do not hesitate to contact our Corporate & Commercial team on 0333 038 9100 or email info@morrlaw.com and a member of our expert team will get back to you.

Disclaimer
Although correct at the time of publication, the contents of this newsletter/blog are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article. Please contact us for the latest legal position.

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