PSC Identity Verification: The 14-Day Window Every UK Company Owner Must Not Miss in 2026

If you own a UK limited company — whether you live in the UK or run it from abroad — there is a good chance you are a "person with significant control" (PSC). And since 18 November 2025, Companies House requires every PSC to verify their identity. Through 2026, the rolling deadlines are landing company by company, and each PSC gets a strict 14-day window to act. Missing it is a criminal offence that can carry a financial penalty. Here is exactly how the rules work, who must act when, and the one mistake catching out owners who thought they had already complied.

What Is a PSC?

A PSC is someone who owns or controls a company. According to Companies House, that typically means anyone who holds more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, has the power to appoint or remove directors, or otherwise exercises significant influence over the company — even without formal ownership.

For most non-resident founders, this is simple: if you set up a UK LTD and own 100% of it, you are both the sole director and the PSC. That means you have two separate identity verification obligations, not one — more on that below.

The Requirement in Plain Terms

The process has two stages. First, you verify your identity once — either directly through the GOV.UK One Login service ("Verify your identity for Companies House") or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). This gives you a Companies House personal code. You only ever need to verify once; the same code links your verified identity to every role you hold.

Second — and this is the step people miss — you must provide that personal code, together with a verification statement, to Companies House for your PSC role, using the dedicated "Provide identity verification details for a PSC" service. And you must do it within a specific 14-day window.

Your 14-Day Window Depends on Your Situation

Companies House has set different windows for different types of PSC.

If you are a PSC who is also a director of the same company, your 14-day period starts the day after your company's confirmation statement date. Companies House gives this example: if your confirmation statement date is 31 March 2026, your PSC verification window runs from 1 April to 14 April 2026.

If you are a PSC but not a director, your window is the first 14 days of your birth month. If your birthday is 24 February, for example, you must provide your code between 1 and 14 February.

If you are a new PSC, you can provide your personal code when you are first added to the register, or within 14 days of the date on the direction letter Companies House sends you shortly afterwards.

You can check your exact due dates on the Companies House register. The full transition period for existing directors and PSCs runs to 18 November 2026 — but your individual window will almost certainly arrive before then.

The Trap: Verifying as a Director Is Not Enough

This is the misunderstanding catching out the most company owners in 2026. Even if you have already verified your identity and provided your personal code as a director on your company's confirmation statement, you must provide the same code again for your PSC role, through the separate PSC service. One verified identity, one personal code — but each role must be linked individually. Owners who completed director verification and assumed they were done are now receiving compliance letters.

Check Your Details Before Your Window Opens

The PSC service matches the details from your identity verification against what Companies House holds on the register. If something as small as your date of birth does not match, you will not be able to link your verified identity — and the clock on your 14-day window keeps running. Before your window opens, check that your personal details on the register match your identity documents exactly, and correct any errors first. Companies House publishes guidance on correcting a PSC's date of birth if it was filed incorrectly.

What Happens If You Miss the Window

Failing to comply with PSC identity verification requirements is an offence. Companies House can impose a financial penalty or fine, and it has said it may in future display a note against your name on the public register — visible to banks, payment providers and potential business partners. Companies House has confirmed it will send a default letter to non-compliant PSCs setting out the offence, and may pursue enforcement without further notice.

There is a safety valve: if you cannot meet your deadline, you can request a single 14-day extension through the online service — but only before your original deadline passes. Once the deadline has gone, the extension option disappears.

What Non-Resident Owners Should Do Now

First, look up your company's confirmation statement date — that single date determines your PSC window if you are a director-PSC. Second, verify your identity now and get your personal code; there is no need to wait for your window to open, and verifying early means any data mismatch can be fixed calmly rather than against a deadline. Third, put the 14-day window in your calendar and provide your code through the PSC service as soon as it opens. The whole process is free and, with documents ready, usually takes minutes.

Have Questions About Your Own Situation?

Every company is slightly different — confirmation statement dates, multiple PSCs, or ownership through another company can all change what you need to do. If you would like to talk through your specific case with the MP Partner experts team, we are happy to help — no pressure, no hard sell, just clear answers.

Book a free consultation with our experts →