If you're a company director or a Person with Significant Control (PSC), one of the most important compliance tasks on your list right now is identity verification with Companies House. Here's where things stand and what you need to do.
Verify your identity for Companies House - GOV.UK
Where we are now
Companies House made identity verification a legal requirement from 18 November 2025, under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Over one million people completed the process during the voluntary period before the mandatory start date, and between six and seven million individuals are expected to verify their identity in total by mid-November 2026.
The good news is that 18 November 2025 was not a hard deadline for everyone. It marks the start of a 12-month transition period, giving companies time to make sure all directors and PSCs have verified their identity by their individual due dates.
Who needs to verify?
The requirement applies to:
- Directors of UK companies
- People with Significant Control (those owning or controlling more than 25% of a company)
- Members of LLPs
- General partners in limited partnerships
How it works
You verify once and receive a unique 11-character personal code. That code is personal to you, not tied to any specific company. If you hold multiple directorships, one verification covers all of them.
Identity verification through GOV.UK One Login is free and can be completed quickly online. The average completion time is under two and a half minutes if you use the GOV.UK ID Check app with a biometric passport.
Completing the identity check and submitting your personal code are separate steps. The check gives you the code, and you then need to provide it to your accountant who will link it to the appropriate filing or service to formally connect your verified identity to each role you hold.
What happens if you don't verify in time?
Unverified directors cannot file documents at Companies House, cannot be legally appointed to new director roles, and risk criminal penalties for acting as a director without verification. Your accountant cannot file your confirmation statement until you provide your personal code, which blocks routine compliance filings.
Need a hand?
If you're unsure whether you've verified, when your deadline falls, or how to share your personal code with us so we can file on your behalf, get in touch with your Client Manager and we'll let you know how we can help.