Reactive (response to change)

Mandatory identity verification for directors and PSCs: what you must do by 18 November 2026

From 18 November 2025, all company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) must verify their identity with Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Approximately 7 million existing directors and PSCs have until 18 November 2026 to complete verification. This editorial explains who is affected, how to verify, and the penalties for non-compliance.

Change event: Mandatory identity verification for directors and PSCs from 18 November 2025 Effective 18 November 2025

What has changed

From 18 November 2025, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) requires identity verification for all company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs). This applies to approximately 7 million individuals across the UK.

You must verify your identity with Companies House before your appointment can be registered. For new company incorporations, directors must provide their Companies House personal code in the filing — without it, Companies House will not register the company.

This is a major change in how Companies House operates, designed to improve transparency and prevent abuse of corporate structures for economic crime.

Legislation
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
Effective date
18 November 2025
Transition deadline for existing directors/PSCs
18 November 2026 (12 months)
Affected individuals
Approximately 7 million directors and PSCs
Maximum penalty (civil)
Up to £10,000
Maximum penalty (criminal fine)
Up to £5,000
Additional consequences
Director disqualification, company strike-off

Who must verify their identity

You must verify your identity if you are:

  • A company director — any director of a UK limited company or public limited company (PLC)
  • A person with significant control (PSC) — anyone with more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or the right to appoint or remove directors, or significant influence or control over a company
  • A designated member of an LLP — members who manage LLP compliance with Companies House
  • Anyone being newly appointed to any of these roles from 18 November 2025

This applies across all four UK nations. Companies House operates UK-wide, so the requirement is the same whether your company is registered in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

How identity verification works

Verification is done online through GOV.UK One Login. You will need:

  • A valid passport or UK photocard driving licence
  • Access to a smartphone with a camera (for document scanning)
  • Your National Insurance number

The verification process checks your details against government databases. If your details match, verification is instant. If there is a mismatch or your details cannot be confirmed, you may be asked to provide additional documentation.

Once verified, you receive a Companies House personal code (also called a verification code or personal identification code). You will need this code for all Companies House filings relating to director or PSC appointments.

Alternative route: Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

If you cannot verify online (for example, if you do not have the required identity documents or cannot access GOV.UK One Login), you can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

An ACSP is a regulated agent — such as a company formation agent, accountant, or solicitor — who is authorised by Companies House to verify identities on behalf of clients. The ACSP will conduct verification checks and submit confirmation to Companies House.

There is no fee to use the Companies House online service. ACSPs may charge for their services.

Deadlines and transition timeline

The deadlines depend on when you became a director or PSC:

  • New directors and PSCs (appointed from 18 November 2025): Must verify before their appointment can be registered. The company cannot notify Companies House of the appointment without the individual's personal verification code.
  • Existing directors and PSCs (appointed before 18 November 2025): Have until 18 November 2026 to verify. The exact deadline within this window depends on your circumstances.

For existing directors: You must complete verification before filing your company's next confirmation statement after 18 November 2025. If you try to file a confirmation statement without verifying first, Companies House will reject it.

For PSCs who are not directors: You must complete verification within a 14-day period starting from the first day of your birth month (as shown on the Companies House register). For example, if your birth month is March, your 14-day window starts on 1 March.

❗ Start verification early

Do not wait until your confirmation statement is due. Verify your identity as soon as possible. If there are any issues with your verification (such as details not matching government records), you may need additional time to resolve them.

If you cannot file your confirmation statement on time because your verification is still pending, your company will be charged late filing penalties.

⚠️ Penalties for non-compliance

Failure to verify your identity is a criminal offence. Penalties include:

  • Civil penalties: Up to £10,000
  • Criminal fines: Up to £5,000
  • Director disqualification: You can be disqualified from acting as a director, with disqualification periods ranging from 2 to 15 years
  • Company strike-off: If directors fail to verify and the company cannot file its confirmation statement, Companies House may strike the company off the register

During the first 12 months of the transition period (until 18 November 2026), no criminal prosecutions will be brought for failure to verify. However, civil penalties and administrative actions (including company strike-off) can still apply.

What this means for new company formation

From 18 November 2025, if you are incorporating a new company, you cannot complete the registration until all proposed directors have verified their identity and obtained their personal codes.

This changes the company formation process:

  1. Step 1: Each proposed director verifies their identity through GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP
  2. Step 2: Each director receives their Companies House personal code
  3. Step 3: The company files its incorporation application (Form IN01) including the personal codes for all directors
  4. Step 4: Companies House registers the company and issues the certificate of incorporation

If any director has not verified, the incorporation will be rejected.

PSC verification requirements

Persons with significant control (PSCs) must also verify, even if they are not directors. A PSC is anyone who:

  • Holds more than 25% of the company's shares
  • Holds more than 25% of the company's voting rights
  • Has the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors
  • Has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control over the company

If you are both a director and a PSC, you only need to verify once — the same verification covers both roles.

PSCs who are not directors have a different deadline: they must verify within 14 days from the start of their birth month. This is a rolling window based on the birth month shown on the Companies House PSC register.

ℹ️ Applies across all four UK nations

This requirement applies uniformly across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Companies House is a UK-wide registrar, and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 is UK-wide legislation.

Whether your company is registered in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, or Belfast, the identity verification process and deadlines are identical.

What you need to do now

If you are a director or PSC, take the following steps:

  • Identify who needs to verify — list all directors and PSCs in your company. Everyone on that list must verify.
  • Start the verification process — do not wait until your confirmation statement is due. Verify as soon as possible through GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP.
  • Keep a record of your personal code — you will need this for all future Companies House filings. Store it securely.
  • Check your company's confirmation statement deadline — if it falls after 18 November 2025, you must verify before you can file.
  • Plan ahead for new appointments — if you are appointing new directors or PSCs, ensure they verify first. You cannot register the appointment without their personal code.