Companies House has announced that starting Tuesday, 18 November 2025, it will become a legal requirement for directors and people with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identities.
Why Is This Becoming A Legal Requirement?
The introduction of identity verification is aimed at enhancing business confidence and supporting economic growth. This is done by providing greater clarity about the individuals incorporating, managing, and controlling companies in the UK. The Government expects that businesses of all sizes will gain from more reliable and accurate register information, along with improved safeguarding against fraud.
The Competition and Markets Minister, Justin Madders, stated that "Identity verification will play a key role in giving confidence to investors and consumers alike, ensuring greater transparency about the organisations they do business with. Increasing confidence attracts investment and is an essential part of our mission for growth and Plan for Change." [1] The UK Government sees identity verification as a key step towards enhancing business development and driving economic growth.
What Is Changing From 18 November 2025?
1) New company directors must verify their identity before they can set up a new company or be officially appointed to an existing one. This step will be a mandatory part of the registration process.
2) Existing company directors will be required to confirm that they’ve verified their identity when submitting their next annual confirmation statement. This will need to be done within the 12-month transition period. This comes alongside providing a valid registered email address.
3) Current PSCs will be required to verify their identity within 12 months of the start of mandatory identity verification on 18 November 2025. E.g. company directors and PSCs identities will need to be verified before 18 November 2026.
How Can I Verify My Identity?
Individuals can verify their identity with Companies House either by using the GOV.UK One Login service or by going through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Verification via GOV.UK One Login is free of charge and can be completed entirely online, aiming to make the process as efficient as possible for PSCs.
Companies House have stated that in most cases, individuals will only need to verify their identity once, this will not be an annual occurrence. Once the individual has been verified, they will receive a personal code from Companies House. This code must be provided alongside a verification statement confirming that they have verified their identity for each company role they hold. The code should also be provided with the confirmation statement when submitting.
Timeline
8 April 2025: Identity verification came into place on a voluntary basis.
5 August 2025: Companies House confirms the identity verification rollout will commence from 18 November 2025.
18 November 2025: Companies House will start phasing in the identity verification over a 12 month period. This gives company directors and PSCs up until November 2026 to verify their identity. Companies House has estimated that between 6 and 7 million individuals will need to verify their identity by November 2026 [1]. For most, this will be a one-time process that can be completed in just a few minutes. To support the rollout, Companies House will contact businesses directly to inform them of the steps their directors and PSCs need to take to comply with the new identity verification requirements.
From 18 November 2025, individuals will be able to view the Companies House register to check the identity verification due dates for all the company roles they hold. Companies House recommends that individuals complete their identity verification as early as possible to ensure compliance and avoid any potential delays.
Consequences For Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with the identity verification requirements will be a criminal offence. Company Directors or PSCs who do not complete the process risk consequence, including fines, disqualification from company roles, rejection of company filings, or having the company’s record publicly marked as non-compliant on the Companies House register.
However, Companies House has stated that it will provide help and support to businesses to ensure they understand and meet the new identity verification requirements. It also plans to take a proportionate and measured approach to enforcement, focusing on encouraging compliance rather than penalising genuine errors.
What Should I Do Now?
To prepare for the introduction of Companies House identity verification on 18 November 2025, companies should begin by identifying all company directors and PSCs who will be required to verify their identity. It is important to ensure that the individuals records are accurate and up to date. Businesses are also encouraged to advise company directors and PSCs to create a GOV.UK One Login account in advance, as this will allow for quick, free and secure identity verification when the process begins.
Early, voluntary verification is already available and strongly recommended to avoid potential delays or disruptions once the new requirements come into effect.
Companies should aim to complete identity verification alongside their next confirmation statement and stay up to date by following official Companies House updates.
In Summary
From 18 November 2025, it will become a legal requirement for all company directors and PSCs to verify their identity with Companies House. This change aims to improve transparency, reduce fraud, and strengthen trust in UK businesses.
New company directors must verify before appointment, while existing company directors and PSCs have until November 2026 to comply. Verification can be done online via GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) and in most cases, it will be a one-time process. Failure to comply will be a criminal offence, with consequences such as fines, disqualification or being marked non-compliant.
Companies are advised to prepare early by checking records, encouraging verification, and staying up to date with Companies House guidance.
Looking For Further Information?
We understand that the new identity verification requirements may seem daunting, but you're not alone, we're here to support you. At Easy Digital, we focus on helping small and micro businesses and are dedicated to making this transition as smooth as possible. For the latest updates on Companies House regulations, be sure to visit our Knowledge Base.
If you have any questions about how our software can help with identity verification, please do not hesitate to get in contact, we are happy to help.
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