Identity Verification – Act Now to Meet the New Legal Requirements

For all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs), there are new legal requirements to verify identities at Companies House coming soon (18th November 2025). The good news is that you can prepare for this now so that you are ready to meet your legal obligations when the time comes.

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act 2023, if you do not comply with identity verification requirements, you may be committing an offence and may have to pay a financial penalty or fine. After 18th November 2025, all directors will need to include their verification via personal codes on the company’s next confirmation statement. Your identity only needs to be verified for Companies House once, but you must provide your personal code for every role you hold. 

Now is the time to get your personal code. You only need to verify your identity for Companies House and get your personal code once, but you must then provide your personal code for every role you hold. Get it now by following the steps below and then keep it safe!

• Start by preparing your personal identity documents – you will need your valid photo ID to hand, such as a passport or driving licence.

• Choose how you will verify your identity  – you can use the Verify your identity for Companies House service (with your GOV.UK ONE login) or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

• Verify your identity and get your personal code. This is the code you’ll need to include on your company’s next confirmation statement, from 18th November 2025. Not sure when this confirmation statement is due? You can check with the Company Information Service, here.

• Check your personal information by signing in to WebFiling before you provide your personal code on any statements. Make sure that the details held by WebFiling (such as your date of birth) are all correct, and match the details on your identity documents. If the details and your documents don’t match then you won’t be able to link your verified identity to your company role or roles. The WebFiling service is also undergoing a change very soon – from 13th October 2025, you will need to use your GOV.UK ONE login to access your account. Find out more about this on the government website here.

If you’re a director, you can include your personal code yourself on your company’s next confirmation statement after 18th November. Alternatively, you can also share the code with someone who files on behalf of your company so that they can include it for you. If your accountant currently prepares and files your confirmation statement on your behalf, you will need to provide them with your personal code that is issued by Companies House for them to continue doing this on your behalf.

If you’re a person with significant control (PSC) but not a director of the same company, you’ll need to provide your personal code within the first 14 days of your birth month. For example, if your date of birth is 29th January, your 14 day period will begin on 1st January.

Find out more about when you need to verify your identity as a PSC.

If you’re both a director and a PSC of the same company, you’ll need to provide your personal code separately for each role. As a director, you’ll need to include the code in your company’s confirmation statement, and as a PSC, you must use a separate online service to provide your personal code within 14 days of your company’s confirmation statement date. This service will be available from 18th November 2025. PSCs will also be able to use the service to check their individual 14-day verification due date.

Whether you are a director or a PSC, you can provide your code when needed yourself, or someone who files on your behalf can do it for you. Remember to keep your code safe and only share it with people you trust. Companies House will never ask for your personal code over the phone.

All directors of your company must be verified before you file your company’s next confirmation statement, after 18th November 2025. Acting early will give you more time to resolve any issues and help your company stay compliant.