If you have any dealings with Companies House, you are probably aware of imminent changes.
From the information that we have been given to date by Companies House we understand that these changes are as follows. The identity verification process is being phased in and will impact the following people:
From 18 November 2025
• New Directors – any person wishing to be appointed a director of either an existing company or a newly incorporated company in England or Wales, will need to verify their identity.
• Existing Directors – any person who is an existing director of a company in England or Wales, will need to verify their identity within a 12 month period from this date, when the company’s next annual confirmation statement is due to be filed.
• Existing PSCs – any person who is a PSC (Person with Significant Control) of a company in England or Wales, will need to verify their identity within 12 months of this date as follows:
o if a person is registered as a PSC after the 18 November 2025, they will have 14 days (from the date they are registered as a PSC at Companies House) to verify their identity with Companies House; or
o if a person is already a registered PSC and they are a director of that company on 18 November 2025, they will have 14 days (from the company’s confirmation statement date) to verify their identity with Companies House; or
o if a person is already a registered PSC and they are not a director of that company on the 18 November 2025, they will have 14 days from the first day of their month of birth (as it is shown at Companies House), to verify their identity with Companies House.
How to Verify
Individuals who are required to identify their identities will be able to do this through:
• the GOV.UK website with a One Login account, which there is no charge for and is completed online; or
• through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
Companies House have informed us that it is the intention for most individuals that they will only need to have their identity verified once. Once their identity has been successfully verified each person will receive a personal code from Companies House.
From 18 November 2025, the persons as noted above will need to provide their personal code and a verification statement (confirming they have successfully verified their indemnity for each company role they hold) to Companies House.
How we can help
Although we are not an ACSP, we are more than happy to chat to any company director, PSC or person who is looking to be appointed as a company director to advise them on what process they need to follow and applicable time limits that they will need to follow to have their identities verified.
It will be an offence to act as a director or be a PSC without being verified after the 18 November 2025. However, we are here to assist and support new and existing clients with this process and we understand that Companies House will be adopting a proportionate approach to the enforcement of these offences.
Please do contact our corporate team to arrange a convenient time to discuss any of the above at [email protected].
