Companies House identity checks: Practical guidance for directors and PSCs

Ruslan Kosarenko

24.11.2025

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) introduces a new system of identity verification designed to enhance the reliability of the Companies House register and reduce the abuse of UK companies.

Under the ECCTA, all new directors will be required to verify their identity before their appointment is notified to Companies House. Existing directors will need to complete verification before filing the first confirmation statement made after 18 November 2025, and must include their Companies House personal code in that filing.

This article explains who is responsible for verification, what happens if verification is not completed, and how to complete the process using GOV.UK or an authorised service provider.

First, it is important to understand exactly who must verify their identity

From 18 November 2025, identity verification with Companies House will become compulsory for:

all company directors; and
all people with significant control (PSCs).

If you do not verify your identity:

You will not be able to make filings at Companies House.
You will not be able to form a new company or other entity.
You risk committing a criminal offence and being liable to fines or other penalties if you miss the applicable deadlines.

Verification can be completed in one of two ways:

Via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP);
Directly by the individual using the “Verify your identity for Companies House” service.

Option 1 – Using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

ACSPs are intermediaries approved by Companies House to carry out identity checks on its behalf. They are usually professional firms that are already supervised for anti-money laundering purposes (for example, accountancy firms, company secretarial providers, or formation agents).

In practice, the ACSP will:

Collect your identification documents.
Complete the necessary verification checks.
Confirm the result directly to Companies House.

ACSPs typically charge a fee for this service. If your company already uses an external provider for formations or Companies House filings, they may also be able to act as an ACSP or introduce you to one.

Option 2 – Using the “Verify your identity for Companies House” service

For most individuals, the simplest route is to verify directly via the online “Verify your identity for Companies House” service. This is accessed using GOV.UK One Login can usually be completed in around 10–15 minutes.

After signing in with GOV.UK One Login, you will be asked a few preliminary questions. Depending on your answers and the information available, you will then be directed to one of three methods of verification:

The GOV.UK ID Check app (the most common and straightforward);
Online security questions;
An in-person check at a participating Post Office.

GOV.UK ID Check app

The app is the default route for many people and is available on:

iPhone 7 or newer running at least iOS 14;
Android devices running Android 10 or later.

To use it, you will need one of the following forms of photo identification:

UK photocard driving licence.
UK passport.
Non-UK passport with a biometric chip.
UK biometric residence permit.
UK biometric residence card.
UK Frontier Worker permit.

The app will ask you to scan your document and capture your image (for example, a selfie or a short video) so that it can match your face to the ID.

For more detailed information, please visit this link.

Online security questions

If the app route is not suitable (for example, because you don’t have a compatible smartphone), you may be able to verify your identity by answering security questions online.

These questions may relate to:

your mobile phone contract;
bank accounts or credit cards;
loans, mortgages, or other credit arrangements.

You will also need to supply details from at least one of the following:

a UK passport;
a UK photocard driving licence;
a current account with a UK bank or building society.

If the information you give matches the records held about you, your identity will be confirmed without needing to use the app.

In-branch verification at the Post Office

If neither the app nor the online questions work, you can attend a Post Office branch that offers in-branch verification.

The process is:

Start on GOV.UK One Login and enter details from your chosen photo ID.
You will then be directed to a list of branches offering the service and given instructions to take with you.
At the Post Office, staff will check your identity document in person.

You may use one of the following as your photo ID:

UK passport.
Non-UK passport.
UK photocard driving licence.
European Union photocard driving licence.
National identity card from an EU country, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.

According to the government guidance, the result of the check is usually emailed to you within a day of attending the branch.

Companies House personal code

Once you have completed identity verification using any of the three routes above (or via an ACSP), Companies House will issue you with a personal code. This unique identifier links your verified identity to your Companies House records.

You should:

Note this code carefully.
Keep it secure.
Ensure it is available to anyone who files on your behalf (for example, your accountant or company secretary), as they may need it for future submissions.

Using your personal code – directors

If you are a director:

For existing directors, as of 18 November 2025, you must include your personal code in your company’s following confirmation statement, filed after that date.
Suppose you are appointed as a director on or after November 18, 2025. In that case, you will need to verify your identity as part of the appointment process and ensure that your personal code is provided with the relevant filing.

Without a verified identity and a valid code, you will not be able to act properly as a director on the public register.

Using your personal code – PSCs

If you are a person with significant control (PSC), a dedicated online service will be available for submitting your personal code. The deadline for providing it depends on your role:

If you are both a director and a PSC of the same company, you will have 14 days from your company’s confirmation statement date to supply your personal code.
If you are a PSC but not a director, you must provide your code within the first 14 days of your birth month. For example, if your date of birth is January 22, your 14-day period will run from January 1 to January 14.
If you become a PSC after 18 November 2025, you must submit your personal code within 14 days of being added to the Companies House register.

Failure to meet these deadlines may result in an offence being committed and financial penalties or other sanctions being imposed.

By understanding the new requirements early, choosing the most convenient verification route, and keeping your Companies House personal code safe, you can ensure that your company’s filings continue smoothly and that you remain compliant with ECCTA once the regime goes live.