If you are a company director or a Person with Significant Control (PSC), you are now required to verify your identity with Companies House. This is not optional, and the consequences of not doing it range from civil penalties to your company’s filing record being annotated publicly. If you have not yet completed your verification, this guide explains exactly what you need to do, how to do it, and why getting it sorted quickly matters.
This requirement comes from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which gave Companies House significantly more powers to verify the identities of those running UK companies. The aim is to reduce fraud, improve transparency, and make it harder for bad actors to hide behind shell companies.
What Is Companies House Identity Verification?
Identity verification is a new mandatory requirement that means Companies House will now check that the people registering and running UK companies are who they say they are. Previously, anyone could register a company online with very little supporting evidence of their identity. That has now changed.
All directors, PSCs, and those who file on behalf of companies must now verify their identity either directly through Companies House or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as an accountant or solicitor. Our post on Companies House identity verification provides an overview of the background to this change if you want to understand the full context.
Who Needs to Verify Their Identity?
The verification requirement applies to three groups of people:
- Directors of UK companies (including newly appointed and existing directors)
- Persons with Significant Control (PSCs)
- Those who file information on behalf of companies, such as accountants and agents (who must register as an ACSP)
If you are a sole director of a limited company, you fall into both the director and, potentially, the PSC category. The requirement applies to you as an individual, not to your company as an entity.
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For new companies incorporated from April 2025 onwards, directors and PSCs must have their identity verified at the point of incorporation or before taking up their role. For companies that existed before this date, a transition window was provided to give existing officers time to comply.
What Is a Person with Significant Control?
A PSC is someone who meets one or more of the following conditions in relation to a UK company:
| Condition | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Owns shares in the company | More than 25% |
| Controls voting rights | More than 25% |
| Has the right to appoint or remove the majority of the board | Any level |
| Exercises significant influence or control | As assessed by Companies House guidance |
If you are a small business owner who set up a limited company and you own more than 25% of its shares, you are almost certainly a PSC. This means you are required to verify your identity just as much as any director.
Understanding your responsibilities around company accounts and company filings goes hand in hand with understanding your obligations as a PSC. If you are unclear whether you qualify, an accountant can confirm this quickly.
The Two Routes to Identity Verification
There are two ways to complete your Companies House identity verification.
| Route | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Direct verification | You verify directly via Companies House using a GOV.UK One Login account and a valid photo ID | Individuals comfortable completing this online themselves |
| ACSP route | An authorised accountant or solicitor verifies your identity on your behalf | Those who prefer professional assistance or are using an agent anyway |
Route 1: Verifying directly with Companies House
You complete this through your GOV.UK One Login account. You will need a valid photo ID, such as a UK or international passport or a UK driving licence. The system checks your identity electronically. Once verified, you receive a personal code linked to your GOV.UK account, and this verification applies to all the companies you are connected to.
Route 2: Verifying through an ACSP
If you use an accountant or solicitor who is registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, they can verify your identity on your behalf as part of their service. The ACSP checks your documents and submits a verification statement to Companies House. This is often the more straightforward route for business owners who already work with a professional adviser.
Asmat and Co can assist clients with the ACSP route as part of our broader support for company compliance. Whether you need help with verification or with the full range of company administration, we are here.
What Documents Do You Need?
For direct verification, Companies House currently accepts the following:
- A UK or international passport
- A UK driving licence (photocard)
The document must be current and valid at the time of verification. Expired documents are not accepted. If you are verifying through an ACSP, your accountant or solicitor will let you know exactly which documents they need to see and whether they need to check originals or certified copies.
What Happens If You Do Not Verify?
Failing to complete identity verification is treated as a civil offence under the new legislation. The consequences are not trivial.
| Consequence | Details |
|---|---|
| Civil penalty | Companies House can issue financial penalties to individuals who fail to comply |
| Public annotation | Your company’s filing record may be annotated on the public register to show that verification has not been completed |
| Restrictions on filing | Unverified directors may be prevented from making filings at Companies House |
| Ongoing scrutiny | Companies House has greater powers to query and reject filings from unverified individuals |
The public annotation point is worth taking seriously. If a customer, supplier or investor checks your company on the Companies House register and sees that the director has not verified their identity, it does not look good. It is the kind of thing that can create unnecessary doubt about your business.
Our post on understanding late filing fees at Companies House covers how Companies House penalties work more broadly, which is useful context if you want to understand the enforcement approach they take.
How the Transition Period Affects Existing Officers
If you were already a director or PSC before the mandatory verification rules came into force, a transition period was put in place to allow existing officers time to comply without immediate penalty. That transition period has now closed for the first wave of those required to act.
If you have not yet verified and you are an existing director or PSC, you should treat this as urgent. Do not wait for Companies House to take action first.
If you are thinking about setting up a new company or have recently incorporated, our post on setting up a limited company in the UK covers the full incorporation process and what compliance looks like from day one.
How This Connects to Your Wider Company Obligations
Identity verification sits alongside a wider set of obligations that directors and PSCs have towards Companies House and HMRC. If you are running a limited company, staying on top of all of these is important.
Your annual confirmation statement must be filed with Companies House each year. Your statutory accounts must be filed within nine months of your company’s year-end. Corporation tax must be paid within nine months and one day of your year-end, and your corporation tax return filed within twelve months. Directors also typically need to file a personal self-assessment return, as their salary and dividends are both taxable.
Our post on limited company year-end accounts explains what is involved in preparing and filing your annual accounts. And if you want to understand how directors are typically paid, our post on director pay: salary vs dividends in 2026 is worth reading alongside this.
Many directors also need to file a personal self-assessment return. If you need an accountant for tax return support, that is something we handle as standard for our limited company clients.
Directors should also be aware of the rules around director’s loans. Our post on what is a director’s loan and how do they work explains the tax implications and the record-keeping requirements.
If you operate through a limited company and pay dividends, our post on UK dividend tax explained and allowances for 2025 to 2026 gives a clear breakdown of the current rates and thresholds.
Common Mistakes Directors Make Around Company Compliance
Identity verification is just one of the areas where directors can fall behind. Our post on corporation tax mistakes covers the errors that most commonly lead to avoidable penalties and HMRC enquiries. And our post on what an accountant does for an SME gives a realistic picture of how a good accountant actually helps you stay on top of all of these things rather than just filing paperwork.
Good bookkeeping services for small businesses also play a role here. When your records are accurate and up to date, filing your accounts and dealing with any Companies House queries becomes far more straightforward. Our post on cash flow forecasting for small businesses is useful if you want to understand how to keep a clearer view of your company’s financial position throughout the year.
How Technology Is Changing Company Compliance
The identity verification requirement is part of a broader shift towards digital compliance in the UK. Companies House, HMRC and other regulatory bodies are increasingly using technology to check information and flag inconsistencies. Our post on how regtech is making compliance smarter looks at how this is playing out across the accounting and business compliance world. And our post on cybersecurity and data privacy as frontline concerns is relevant given that identity verification involves sharing sensitive personal data online.
How Asmat and Co Can Help
As a trusted slough accountant for sole traders, limited companies, and everything in between, Asmat and Co can guide you through the identity verification process and make sure your wider company compliance is in order.
We work as accountants for small businesses and provide a full range of services including company accounts, tax returns, vat returns, and financial reporting so you have everything under one roof with a dedicated accountant who knows your business.
If you are a sole trader considering incorporation, we also provide sole trader accountancy services and can help you assess whether a limited company structure makes sense for you. Our post on moving from sole trader to limited company covers the key considerations.
If you are based in Berkshire, our accountants reading team provides the same full service as our Slough office, so location is not a barrier to getting proper support.
Our post on the benefits of hiring an online accountant is worth reading if you are currently managing your company compliance yourself and wondering whether professional support is worth the investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to verify my identity if I am the sole director of a small limited company?
Yes. The requirement applies to all directors regardless of the size of the company or how many directors there are. If you are also a PSC (which most sole directors are), you need to verify in both capacities.
Does identity verification need to be done every year?
No. Once you have verified your identity with Companies House, the verification remains valid unless your details change or your verification document expires and is not renewed. You do not repeat the process annually.
Can my accountant do this for me?
Your accountant can verify your identity on your behalf if they are registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. They will check your documents and submit the verification on your behalf. If your accountant is not an ACSP, you will need to verify directly through GOV.UK One Login.
What if I am a PSC but not a director?
The requirement applies to PSCs regardless of whether they are also directors. If you hold a significant stake in a company but have no formal director role, you still need to verify.
What happens to my company if I do not verify on time?
Companies House can annotate your company’s public record, issue civil penalties against you personally, and restrict your ability to make filings. This can create practical problems for your business if you need to file documents and are blocked from doing so.
I have multiple companies. Do I need to verify separately for each one?
No. Once you have verified your identity, the verification applies across all the companies you are associated with. You do not need to go through the process multiple times.
How does this affect partnership accounts?
Identity verification under this legislation applies specifically to limited companies and LLPs, not to traditional partnerships. Our post on partnership accounts explained covers the compliance requirements for that business structure separately.
Will identity verification affect the information on the public register?
Your verified status will be reflected on the Companies House register, but the verification process itself does not change what personal information is publicly visible. The register will show whether directors and PSCs have completed verification.
Get Your Company Compliance in Order
Companies House identity verification is one of a growing list of compliance obligations for UK company directors and PSCs. Getting it done promptly protects your company’s public record, avoids penalties, and means one less thing to worry about.
If you are not sure whether you have completed it, need help using the ACSP route, or want a full review of your company’s compliance position, speak to our team today.
Contact Asmat and Co and we will get everything sorted for you.
Need Help With Your Accounts Or Tax?
Whether you need support with self assessment, VAT returns, payroll, bookkeeping, CIS, company accounts or corporation tax, Asmat & Co Accountants can provide clear, practical advice for your business or personal finances.
