Companies House identity verification: what UK directors and PSCs must do, and when

For a hundred and eighty years, Companies House took your word for it. Anyone could register a company in almost any name — which is why the UK developed an unfortunate reputation as a factory for shell companies. That era is ending. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, directors and people with significant control must now verify their identity.

What the rules actually say

Identity verification became possible on a voluntary basis in 2025, and Companies House has been phasing in mandatory checks since — new directors and PSCs verify when they are appointed or incorporated, while existing directors and PSCs are pulled in as their companies file confirmation statements over a twelve-month transition. At the time of writing the rollout is still being phased in, so the exact deadline for your company depends on its filing calendar — and the twelve-month transition that began on 18 November 2025 ends on 18 November 2026, by which point every existing director and PSC must have verified and supplied their personal code with a confirmation statement.

Verification is a one-off process for most people. You verify once through GOV.UK One Login — photo ID checked against a selfie — or through an authorised corporate service provider such as your accountant. Companies House then issues a personal code that links you, the verified person, to every company role you hold.

Why it matters for small companies

• New incorporations and director appointments will fail without completed verification.
• Existing companies hit the requirement at their next confirmation statement during the transition window.
• Filing for an unverified director is an offence — the company and its officers can be fined.
• Agents acting for you must be registered as authorised corporate service providers.

What to do this week

1. Verify yourself now through GOV.UK One Login — it takes minutes and pre-empts the deadline.
2. Check every director and PSC on your register has verified, not just you.
3. Confirm your accountant or formation agent is registered as an ACSP if they file for you.
4. Record your personal code somewhere the company secretary can find it.

The current timetable and the verification service itself are on the Companies House pages on gov.uk. Check the dates there — the phase-in schedule has moved more than once.

The bigger picture

The verification regime is one piece of a larger clean-up: Companies House has also gained powers to query and remove suspicious filings, strike off companies more quickly, and share data with enforcement agencies. For honest directors the practical burden is a one-time identity check; for the bad actors who made the UK a byword for shelf companies, the free ride is the point of the exercise.

It is also worth saying plainly: most of the administrative weight lands once, at verification. After that, the day-to-day duties — confirmation statements, PSC updates — are unchanged. The panic in some commentary outweighs the actual ask.

One practical caveat to finish on: the system is new enough that edge cases — overseas directors, corporate directors, PSCs through layered structures — have their own wrinkles, and Companies House is still refining the detail. If your structure is anything more exotic than a few individuals holding shares directly, read the guidance for your specific case rather than assuming the standard flow covers you.