Companies House ID Verification: What UK Directors Must Do Before Their Next Filing

Companies House ID Verification: What UK Directors Must Do Before Their Next Filing

If you are a UK company director, Companies House identity verification is now a legal requirement, not an optional admin task. You must prove who you are, receive a Companies House personal code, and link that verified identity to your director record before your company can complete certain filings.

This guide explains what Companies House ID verification means in practice, who must verify, how to do it, and what to prepare before your next confirmation statement.

What Is Companies House ID Verification?

Companies House ID verification is the process of confirming your identity so the public register shows accurate information about who runs, owns, or controls UK companies. It is designed to reduce fraud, improve transparency, and make it harder for criminals to impersonate legitimate directors and people with significant control (PSCs).

Once you verify successfully, Companies House issues you a personal code, a unique identifier tied to you as an individual, not to a specific company.

Why Companies House Introduced Identity Verification

From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a mandatory legal requirement for certain roles. Companies House states that verified identities help:

• deter misuse of companies for illegal purposes
• reduce the risk of fraud on the register
• improve trust in the information held about UK businesses

For directors of small and growing businesses, the practical impact is straightforward: you need to verify once (in most cases), keep your personal code secure, and provide it when filing at the right time.

Who Must Verify Their Identity

According to official GOV.UK guidance, you need to verify if you are:

• a director of a UK company
• the equivalent of a director, including members, general partners, and managing officers
• a director of an overseas company registered in the UK
• a person with significant control (PSC)
• an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), also known as a Companies House authorised agent

In most cases, you only need to verify once. You should not verify again unless Companies House tells you to.

Identity verification for other roles, such as people who file at Companies House, limited partnerships, and corporate directors, will be introduced at a later date. Check GOV.UK for updates if your situation falls outside the roles listed above.

When UK Directors Need to Verify (Before Your Next Filing)

When you must verify depends on your role and when you started it. The table below summarises the main director and PSC requirements. For full detail, see when you need to verify your identity for Companies House.

The diagram below shows how your role determines where you submit your personal code after verification.

Current Directors and Confirmation Statements

If you are already a director, you must provide your Companies House personal code as part of your company's next confirmation statement filing.

Your company cannot file its confirmation statement unless all its directors have verified their identities and the correct codes are supplied. That makes director verification a company-wide compliance issue, not just a personal one.

If you are a director of more than one company, you will need to provide your personal code for each company separately.

New Directors and Company Incorporation

If you are registering a new company, you will be asked to provide the Companies House personal code for each director as part of the registration filing.

If you are appointed as a director of an existing company, you must provide your personal code as part of your appointment filing.

People with Significant Control (PSCs)

PSCs must verify their identity and provide their personal code to Companies House. The timing depends on your circumstances:

• PSC who is also a director of the same company: provide your code in the confirmation statement as a director, and separately via the PSC verification service within a 14-day period starting the day after the company's confirmation statement date. You can check the exact dates on the Companies House register.
• PSC who is not a director of the same company: provide your code within the first 14 days of your birth month (for example, if your date of birth is 22 January, your period begins on 1 January).
• PSC added after 18 November 2025: provide your code when first added to the register, or within 14 days of being added.

If you hold both director and PSC roles at the same company, you must complete both requirements. Verifying once does not remove the need to provide your code for each role through the correct channel.

How to Verify Your Identity for Companies House

You can verify your identity using one of two approved routes. Do not post or email identity documents directly to Companies House.

The full director workflow, from checking your role through to filing, looks like this:

Option 1: GOV.UK One Login (Free)

Use the Verify your identity for Companies House service. This route uses GOV.UK One Login and is free of charge.

GOV.UK One Login will ask questions about you as an individual, not about your company. Depending on your answers, you may be guided to verify:

• with an app
• by answering security questions online
• by entering details from your photo ID on GOV.UK One Login, then visiting a participating Post Office

This is often the most straightforward option for sole directors and small business owners who prefer to manage compliance themselves.

Option 2: Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

You can ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor registered as a Companies House authorised agent, to verify your identity on your behalf.

Key points about ACSP verification:

• you can verify from any country, but your agent must be registered with Companies House as authorised
• the agent must be registered with a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body
• you will need to provide documents from an approved list as evidence of identity
• the agent may charge a fee for this service

If you already work with an accountant or solicitor, ask whether they are registered as an ACSP. You can also search the official list of Authorised Corporate Service Providers.

What Is a Companies House Personal Code?

After successful verification, you receive a Companies House personal code. This code is personal to you. It is not tied to one company or employer.

You will need it when you:

• file your confirmation statement as a director
• are appointed as a director
• become a PSC
• register as an ACSP (if applicable)

Treat your personal code like other sensitive identifiers (for example, your HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference). Only share it with people you trust to file on your behalf.

What Happens After You Verify

Verification is only the first step. You must also connect your verified identity to Companies House records for each role you hold.

Linking Your Personal Code to Your Director Record

For directors, that connection happens when your personal code is included in the relevant filing, typically the company's next confirmation statement, or an appointment or incorporation filing for new directors.

For PSCs, you use the dedicated Provide identity verification details for a PSC service within your required time window.

Who You Can Share Your Personal Code With (and Who You Should Not)

You may need to share your personal code with:

• your company secretary or admin team
• your accountant or filing agent
• other trusted advisers who submit filings on your behalf

Do not share it casually, post it in unsecured messages, or give it to anyone you do not trust to act on your behalf. Identity verification makes impersonation harder, but Companies House notes it is not impossible if codes are mishandled.

What Happens If You Do Not Verify on Time

Failing to meet identity verification requirements on time can have serious consequences. According to GOV.UK guidance:

• you may be committing an offence
• you may face prosecution and a fine through the courts, or a financial penalty
• in the future, a note may be published against your name on the public register
• you may be unable to be appointed as a new director, register a new company, or register as an ACSP

For directors specifically:

• your company cannot file its confirmation statement unless all directors are verified
• if you continue acting as a director after the deadline without complying, you may commit an offence, and the company and other directors may also be at risk

Companies House has published its approach to non-compliance with mandatory identity verification, which sets out how it intends to enforce the rules.

If you are unsure whether you have already verified, or whether your identity is correctly linked to your director record, check your company filings and the Companies House register, or speak to a compliance adviser before your next deadline.

How AMS Admin Services Can Help

Companies House ID verification adds another layer to director responsibilities, on top of confirmation statements, PSC registers, and day-to-day company admin. For UK SMEs, sole traders scaling into limited companies, and busy directors juggling multiple entities, the process is manageable but easy to postpone until a filing deadline is at risk.

AMS Admin Services helps UK businesses stay compliant without the jargon. Our team can support you with:

• Companies House compliance, including confirmation statements and filing deadlines
• guidance on director and PSC verification, so you know what to do before your next filing
• broader back-office admin, including bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and financial administration under one roof

If you are a director who has not yet verified, or you are unsure whether your personal code has been submitted correctly, we can help you get organised before your next confirmation statement.

FAQs

What is Companies House ID verification?

Companies House ID verification is a legal requirement to prove your identity when you set up, run, own, or control a company in the UK. After verifying, you receive a personal code that links your verified identity to your roles on the Companies House register. See GOV.UK guidance on verifying your identity.

Who needs to verify their identity with Companies House?

Directors (and equivalent roles), directors of overseas companies registered in the UK, people with significant control (PSCs), and Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) must verify. In most cases, verification is required only once unless Companies House instructs you otherwise.

How do I verify my identity for Companies House?

You can use the free Verify your identity for Companies House service via GOV.UK One Login, or ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider to verify you. Do not send identity documents to Companies House by post or email.

What is a Companies House personal code?

A Companies House personal code is a unique identifier issued after you successfully verify your identity. It belongs to you as an individual and is needed when filing confirmation statements, director appointments, PSC details, and certain other Companies House submissions.

When do directors need to provide their personal code?

Current directors must provide their personal code in their company's next confirmation statement. New directors provide it when appointed or when incorporating a new company. Directors of multiple companies must provide the code for each company. Full timing rules are on GOV.UK.

How do PSCs verify their identity?

PSCs must verify their identity and submit their personal code using the Provide identity verification details for a PSC service. The deadline depends on whether you are also a director of the same company, when you were registered, and when you became a PSC.

Can my accountant verify my identity for Companies House?

Yes, if your accountant (or another AML-supervised professional) is registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) with Companies House. They can verify your identity on your behalf, usually for a fee. Ask your adviser directly, or search the official ACSP list on GOV.UK.

What happens if I do not verify my identity in time?

You may commit an offence and face prosecution, a court fine, or a financial penalty. Your company may be unable to file its confirmation statement if directors are not verified. Companies House may also restrict your ability to register companies or be appointed as a director. Read the official non-compliance approach for full detail.

Final Thoughts

Companies House director verification is a one-time task for most people, but the personal code must be used correctly at every filing touchpoint. If you are a UK director preparing for your next confirmation statement, verify early, store your code securely, and make sure your company admin team knows when and where to submit it.

AMS Admin Services makes accounting and compliance simple for UK small businesses. If you want practical support with Companies House filings, confirmation statements, or wider back-office admin, book a free consultation with our team today.