Companies House Identity Verification: What Every UK LTD Director Must Do Before the 2026 Deadline

Identity Verification Is Now the Law

On 18 November 2025, identity verification (IDV) became a legal requirement for the people who run UK companies. It was introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) — the biggest change to UK company law in over a decade — and its goal is to make it far harder to use UK companies for fraud.

If you are a director of a UK private limited company (LTD), this affects you directly, whether you live in London or run your company entirely from abroad.

Who Has to Verify

You must verify your identity with Companies House if you are:

• a director (or the equivalent — for example a member, general partner or managing officer)
• a director of an overseas company registered in the UK
• a person with significant control (PSC) — generally anyone who owns or controls more than 25% of the company
• an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or formation agent
• someone who files documents for a company

In most cases you only verify once. You should not verify again unless Companies House specifically asks you to.

The Deadlines You Cannot Miss

When you need to verify depends on your role and when you took it on.

Existing directors appointed before 18 November 2025 must provide their Companies House personal code as part of their company's next confirmation statement. Because every company files a confirmation statement once a year, the practical deadline for most existing directors falls within the 12-month transition period running to 18 November 2026.

New directors and new companies face a stricter rule. If you are appointed to an existing company, or you incorporate a new UK LTD, identity must be verified before that filing is accepted. There is no transition period for new appointments — it applies from day one.

PSCs have a 14-day window to provide their personal code. The exact dates depend on your situation — for example, a PSC who is not a director must provide their code within the first 14 days of their birth month.

How to Verify — Including From Outside the UK

There are two official routes, and both are open to non-residents.

The first is the free GOV.UK route. The "Verify your identity for Companies House" service uses GOV.UK One Login and is free of charge. Depending on your answers, you verify using an app, by answering security questions online, or through a participating Post Office. If you hold a biometric passport, the app route can usually be completed remotely from any country.

The second is through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). You can ask an AML-supervised professional — an accountant, solicitor or formation agent registered with Companies House — to verify your identity for you. This can be done from any country, and for many non-resident directors without a biometric passport it is the most straightforward option. The provider may charge a fee.

One important warning: never post or email your identity documents to Companies House. Verification only happens through the two routes above.

What You Get: Your Companies House Personal Code

Once you verify, you receive a unique Companies House personal code. It belongs to you — not your company — and you keep it for life. You will use it when filing confirmation statements, when being appointed as a director, and when becoming a PSC.

Treat this code like your HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference: keep it secure, and only share it with people you genuinely trust to file on your behalf.

What Happens If You Do Not Verify

This is where it gets serious. If you do not meet the verification requirements on time, you may be committing a criminal offence, and can face prosecution and a court fine, or a financial penalty.

Your company cannot file its confirmation statement unless every director is verified — and a company that fails to file its confirmation statement risks being struck off the Companies House register. You will also be unable to be appointed as a new director, register a new company, or register as an ACSP. In future, Companies House will publish a note against your name on the public register.

Continuing to act as a director after the deadline without verifying is itself an offence — and the company and its other directors may be committing an offence too.

What UK LTD Owners Should Do Now

Check when your company's next confirmation statement is due — that date is effectively your verification deadline. Verify early rather than waiting, especially if you are a non-resident director, because the ACSP route can take a few days to arrange. And make sure every director and PSC of your company verifies, not just you — one unverified director can block the whole company's confirmation statement.

Not Sure How This Affects Your Company?

Identity verification is new, the timing depends on your specific role, and the rules are stricter for non-resident directors. If you would like a clear, personalised walkthrough of exactly what you need to do and by when, book a free 30-minute call with an MP Partner expert. We will look at your company, map out your deadlines, and explain your verification options — no pressure, no jargon.

Book your free 30-minute expert call →