Verify Your Identity at Companies House Before You Are Locked Out
Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, every company director and Person with Significant Control must now verify their identity with Companies House. It is the law, it is free, and there is a hard deadline of 18 November 2026. Most directors have not done it yet.
The new rule, in one line
Companies House can now check that the people behind a company are who they say they are. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, every director and every Person with Significant Control (PSC) must verify their identity once, receive a personal code, and put that code on their filings. Verification is free if you do it directly, and you only have to do it once across all of your companies.
You verify the person, not the company. The personal code you receive is tied to you and covers every directorship and PSC role you hold.
The deadline that bites
Identity verification went live on 18 November 2025. That opened a 12-month transition window for the millions of people already on the register. Your personal trigger is your next confirmation statement filed during that window, and the absolute backstop is 18 November 2026. New incorporations and new appointments already require verification up front.
- New directors and PSCs must verify before they are appointed or the company is formed
- Existing directors and PSCs must verify by their next confirmation statement, and no later than 18 November 2026
- Anyone filing on a company’s behalf must verify before they can file
- Around 6 to 7 million people need to verify before the window closes, so early is safer
Your real deadline is usually your next confirmation statement, not the far-off November 2026 backstop. Check your filing date and work back from it.
What happens if you miss it
Missing the deadline is not a quiet oversight. The consequences stack up fast and, once the window closes, it becomes a criminal matter.
- Your company cannot file its confirmation statement while a director remains unverified
- A missed confirmation statement puts the company in default and can lead to strike-off
- Acting as a director while unverified after the deadline is an offence under the Act
- Companies House can issue financial penalties at company or individual officer level and annotate the register
Because the confirmation statement is a gateway filing, a block there holds up your wider compliance. A single online verification removes every consequence on this list.
How to verify, the two routes
There are two ways to verify, and you only need to do it once. The direct route is free and online; the agent route lets your accountant verify you and file on your behalf. Both end with the same personal code.
- Direct via GOV.UK One Login: prove your identity online with a biometric passport, UK photo driving licence or biometric residence permit, free of charge
- Via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (an ACSP) such as your accountant or solicitor, who can verify you and file for you
- In most cases you verify only once and must not verify again unless Companies House tells you to
Verify once, use it everywhere. The personal code is personal to you, so the same code covers every company you are a director or PSC of.
The traps that cause rejections
Verification itself is straightforward. The problems come at the edges, where a small mismatch can get a filing rejected even though you verified correctly.
- The personal code you receive must go on confirmation statements and new appointments, so keep it safe
- The name you verify must match the name on the Companies House register exactly, or the filing can be rejected
- Every director and every PSC must verify individually; one director cannot cover the rest
- A document issue or backlog near the deadline can leave you unable to file on time, so verify early
Check your exact name on the register before you verify. If the register and your passport disagree, fix the mismatch first.
How we help
As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider we can verify you and your fellow directors and PSCs, add your personal codes to your filings, and make sure your confirmation statement is never blocked. We will tell you exactly who has verified, who has not, and what your real deadline is, so nothing slips.
Book a free identity-verification check and we will give you a clear, plain-English answer on where you and your fellow directors stand.
Common questions
Do I really have to verify my identity at Companies House?
Yes. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, identity verification has been mandatory since 18 November 2025 for every company director and Person with Significant Control. Existing directors and PSCs must verify by their next confirmation statement, and no later than 18 November 2026. New incorporations and new appointments require it already.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
Verifying directly through GOV.UK One Login is free of charge and usually takes only a few minutes with a biometric passport, UK photo driving licence or biometric residence permit. An Authorised Corporate Service Provider such as your accountant can also verify you, and may include this in their compliance service.
What happens if I do not verify in time?
Your company cannot file its confirmation statement while a director remains unverified, which puts the company in default and can lead to strike-off. After the deadline, acting as a director while unverified is a criminal offence under the Act, and Companies House can issue financial penalties and annotate the register.
I am a director of several companies. Do I verify for each one?
No. In most cases you verify only once. The Companies House personal code you receive is personal to you, not to a company, so the same code covers every directorship and PSC role you hold across all of your companies.
Can my accountant verify my identity for me?
Yes. An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (an ACSP), such as your accountant or solicitor, can verify your identity on your behalf and file for you. As an ACSP, we can verify you and your fellow directors and keep your filings compliant year on year.
Print this part and work through it
Everything below is built to keep. Print it, fill it in, and take it to any conversation, including ours.
ID verification action checklist
Work through this for yourself and for every director and PSC, so your next confirmation statement is not blocked.
- List every director and PSC of the company
- Look up your exact name on the Companies House register and note it
- Fix any name mismatch on the register before you verify
- Find your photo ID: passport, driving licence or biometric residence permit
- Check when your next confirmation statement is due, and work back from it
- Decide your route: direct via GOV.UK One Login (free) or via an ACSP
- Complete identity verification with your photo ID
- Save your Companies House personal code somewhere safe
- Confirm every other director and PSC has verified too, and chase anyone still outstanding
- Add your personal code to the confirmation statement and file it on or before its due date
- Keep the code ready for any new appointment or PSC change, and do not re-verify unless asked
A company can be blocked by a single unverified director. Close every box before your confirmation statement is due.
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For guidance only — this factsheet does not constitute professional advice and is not a substitute for advice based on your specific circumstances. Whilst every care has been taken in its preparation, it may contain errors for which we cannot be responsible. Figures are for the 2026/27UK tax year (England, Wales & Northern Ireland) and may change. Last reviewed 4 May 2026.