Companies House identity verification for directors and PSCs

Companies House is undergoing its most significant reforms in over 180 years.

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, a series of new rules is being introduced to tackle fraud, improve corporate transparency, and strengthen the accuracy of the Companies Register.

Some changes took effect from March 2024, while mandatory identity verification for company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) started on 18 November 2025.

What’s in this guide?

• Phase one: March 2024 reforms
• Phase two: director and PSC ID verification
• When do you need to verify?
• How to verify your ID
• What happens if you don’t verify?
• What you need to do now
• Further reforms to come

Phase one: March 2024 reforms

These initial changes marked the start of Companies House’s new powers. Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

These reforms will remove the smoke and mirrors around companies hiding behind false identities, provide further protection to the public from companies fraudulently using their addresses, and deliver better data to support business and lending decisions across the economy, enhancing the UK’s reputation as a great and safe place to do business.

Enhanced powers to query and remove company data

• Companies House gained stronger powers to investigate and remove potentially misleading or incorrect data.
• The registrar can now add notes to a company’s entry when information appears to be confusing or questionable.
• Quick take-downs of fraudulent entries are possible, preventing companies from being set up to impersonate others.

Mandatory registered office address

From 4th March 2024, all limited companies need an appropriate registered office address that is not just a PO Box.

Documents sent to the address should reasonably be expected to come to the attention of someone acting on behalf of the company, and delivery should be capable of being recorded by an acknowledgement of delivery.

Mandatory registered email address

• All companies are required to provide a registered email address for correspondence with Companies House.
• New companies must provide this information upon incorporation, while existing companies had to add it to their next confirmation statement.
• The email address must be appropriate and kept up to date. It is not shown on the public register.

Restrictions on company names

Names that could facilitate crime, contain computer code, or falsely suggest a connection with a foreign government are prohibited.

Statement of lawful purpose

When setting up a company, subscribers must confirm they are forming it for a lawful purpose. Existing companies must also confirm that their intended future activities are lawful when filing their confirmation statement.

Greater transparency and more accurate information

The reforms have introduced wider changes to the information held by Companies House and given the registrar stronger powers to query information submitted to the register.

Companies must continue to keep their shareholder and ownership information up to date. Changes to the rules governing company statutory registers also took effect during 2025 and 2026.

Removing personal information from old records

The reforms have also expanded the circumstances in which individuals can apply to Companies House to suppress certain personal information from historical documents on the register.

Phase two: director and PSC ID verification

From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a legal requirement for company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs).

The requirement applies to companies on the register, including dormant and non-trading companies.

Who needs to verify?

• Company directors
• People with Significant Control (PSCs)
• New directors when incorporating a company or being appointed to an existing company

If your company has multiple directors or PSCs, each person must comply with the identity verification requirements for their own role.

Identity verification for some other roles, including people who file at Companies House, limited partnerships, corporate directors and officers of corporate PSCs, is being introduced at a later stage.

When do you need to verify?

The mandatory regime started on 18 November 2025, but this was not a single deadline for everyone. Companies House introduced a 12-month transition period for existing directors and PSCs.

Existing directors must provide their Companies House personal code when the company files its next confirmation statement during the transition period. A company cannot file that confirmation statement unless all of its current directors have complied with the identity verification requirements.

New directors appointed from 18 November 2025 must verify their identity and provide their personal code as part of the appointment or incorporation process.

The rules for PSCs are slightly different. Each PSC has a 14-day period in which to provide their personal code and verification statement. The dates depend on when they became a PSC and whether they are also a director.

You can check your identity verification due dates on the Companies House register. See the official guidance on when you need to verify.

How to verify your ID

There are two main routes to verify your identity:

• Directly with Companies House using GOV.UK One Login. Depending on your documents and circumstances, the process may be completed online or may involve an identity check at a participating Post Office.
• Via an authorised agent, such as your accountant or solicitor, if they are registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

The online service accepts several types of identification, including a biometric passport from any country and a UK photocard driving licence.

See the Companies House identity verification service for the current options.

Once verified, you receive a unique Companies House personal code. You use this code to connect your verified identity to each relevant company role you hold.

For most people, identity verification itself is expected to be a one-off process, although the personal code still needs to be provided for each relevant role.

What happens if you don’t verify?

Failure to comply with the identity verification requirements can have serious consequences.

• A company will be unable to file its confirmation statement unless all of its directors have complied with the identity verification requirements.
• A director who continues to act after their deadline without complying may be committing an offence.
• The company and its directors may also commit offences in some circumstances.
• A PSC who fails to comply may be committing an offence and could face a financial penalty or fine.
• Companies House may place information about non-compliance on the public register.

What you need to do now

If you are a company director, here are some steps to take:

Check your deadline – existing directors should check when their company’s next confirmation statement is due and make sure they have verified before the filing is made.

Verify your identity – refer to the official Companies House guidance and complete the process if you have not already done so.

Keep your personal code safe – you will need it to connect your verified identity to your company roles.

Check any PSC deadlines – PSCs have separate 14-day periods for providing their personal code, so do not assume the director deadline automatically covers a PSC role.

Talk to your accountant – many firms are registered as ACSPs and can complete the verification process for clients.

Further reforms to come

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act goes beyond identity verification. Further Companies House reforms are still being introduced.

Accounts filing changes from April 2028

From 1 April 2028, all companies will have to file their annual accounts using commercial software in iXBRL format. The existing Companies House web and paper filing routes for annual accounts will close.

Small companies and micro-entities will also have to file their profit and loss account with Companies House. However, they will be able to opt out of having the profit and loss account published on the public register.

The option to file abridged accounts will also be removed.

Read our guide to limited company annual accounts for more information.

Companies House fees

Companies House fees have also increased during the reform programme. The latest increase took effect on 1 February 2026, when online company incorporation increased to £100 and the digital confirmation statement fee increased to £50.

See our guide to Companies House fees from February 2026.

Useful further reading

• Companies House: verifying your identity
• Companies House: when you need to verify your identity
• Companies House reform transition plan