Directors and PSCs can now verify their identity with Companies House, ahead of compulsory checks
From 8 April 2025 directors, people with significant control and anyone filing with Companies House could verify their identity voluntarily, directly through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. Companies House expected verification to become compulsory from autumn 2025. Existing directors' checks would be tied to their companies' confirmation statements.
Companies House launched identity verification on 8 April 2025, one of the main changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
What changed
- Individuals can verify their identity directly with Companies House using GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Both routes give the same level of assurance.
- Verification was voluntary at first. Companies House encouraged directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and filers to verify early.
- It said it expected verification to become compulsory from autumn 2025. For existing directors, the requirement would be built into the annual confirmation statement.
Who is affected
Every director and PSC of a UK company, LLP members, and anyone filing for a company.
What to do
List each company's directors and PSCs, decide who verifies directly and who through an agent, and record the personal codes Companies House issues after verification.
Later developments
Companies House confirmed on 5 August 2025 that compulsory verification would start on 18 November 2025. It began on that date, with a 12-month transition for existing directors and PSCs. See our coverage of the rollout.