For years, anyone could be named as a company director in the UK without anyone checking who they actually were. That has now changed. Identity verification at Companies House is compulsory, and the transition period for existing directors ends on 18 November 2026.
If you run a limited company and have not yet verified your identity, this is one of those admin jobs that is easy to put off and awkward to leave too late. This post explains what the new rules mean, who they apply to and what you need to do.
Why the rules have changed
The changes come from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which gave Companies House new powers to improve the accuracy of the public register and make it harder to use UK companies for fraud.
Verifying the identity of the people behind a company is at the heart of that. The idea is simple. If you are listed as a director or as someone with significant control, Companies House wants to know you are a real person and that you are who you say you are.
Who needs to verify
Identity verification applies to:
Every company director, including sole directors of small owner managed companies.
People with significant control, often called PSCs. For most small companies this is the shareholders who own more than 25 percent of the shares or control the company in another way.
Members of limited liability partnerships.
Anyone who files documents at Companies House on behalf of a company, unless they do so through an authorised agent.
If you are a director and a shareholder of your own company, as many small business owners are, you only need to verify once. Your verified identity is then linked to each of your roles.
When you need to do it
Anyone appointed as a new director since 18 November 2025 has had to verify before they could be appointed.
For directors who were already in post before that date, the deadline is linked to the company’s confirmation statement. You need to have verified your identity by the time your company files its next confirmation statement, and the whole transition period ends on 18 November 2026.
If you are a director of more than one company, the earliest confirmation statement due date across all of them is the one to watch.
The practical point is this. If a director has not verified when the confirmation statement falls due, the company will not be able to file it. A missed confirmation statement can lead to penalties and, in the worst case, the company being struck off the register.
How to verify
There are two main routes.
Directly with Companies House. Most people verify online using GOV.UK One Login, which usually involves photographing an identity document such as a passport or driving licence and taking a short video or photo of yourself. For many people it takes a matter of minutes.
Through an authorised agent. Some accountants and company service providers are registered with Companies House as authorised agents and can verify your identity on your behalf. This can be useful if the online process does not work for you, for example if you do not have the right type of photo ID.
Once you are verified, you will receive a Companies House personal code. This is an 11 character code that links your verified identity to your roles. Keep it somewhere safe, because you will need it when your company files its confirmation statement and for future filings.
Common questions
Does it cost anything? Verifying directly with Companies House is free. An authorised agent may charge for their time.
Will my personal details be made public? No. Your identity documents are not published on the register. The register simply shows that you have been verified.
What if I am the director of a dormant company? The rules still apply. A dormant company still has directors and still files a confirmation statement.
What if I have already done it? Check that you have your personal code saved, and make sure any co-directors and PSCs have done the same. It only takes one unverified person to hold up a filing.
A simple checklist
Find out when your company’s next confirmation statement is due.
List every director and PSC in the business.
Check who has verified and who has not.
Verify anyone outstanding well before the due date, not in the final week.
Save each personal code somewhere secure and share it with whoever handles your filings.
Getting it sorted
Identity verification is not complicated for most people, but it is one more deadline for busy directors to keep track of alongside everything else. The companies that run into trouble are usually the ones that assumed it could wait.
At Solutions Accountancy we help directors stay on top of their Companies House and HMRC obligations, from confirmation statements to annual accounts, so that important deadlines never catch them out.
If you are unsure where your company stands or would like a hand getting everything in order before November, get in touch with the team today.