Big Change for Company Directors: Mandatory Identity Verification from 18 November 2025

From 18 November 2025, anyone who sets up, manages, or controls a UK company will be legally required to verify their identity with Companies House.

This is part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act – a major reform aimed at tackling fraud, improving transparency, and stopping people from hiding behind fake names or “front” companies.

Who Must Verify Their Identity?

You’ll need to complete identity verification if you are:

• A director (including corporate directors)

• A person with significant control (PSC)

• An individual filing on behalf of a company (e.g. accountant or agent)

New directors appointed on or after 18 November 2025 must verify their identity before their appointment is registered.

Existing directors and PSCs will have until their first confirmation statement due date after 18 November 2025 to complete verification. For most companies, this means the final cut-off will be November 2026.

✅ How to Verify Your Identity

Companies House will provide two options for verification. We will no longer be registering directors on your behalf, so please make sure you complete one of the following:

Option 1 – Verify Yourself (Recommended & Fastest)

The simplest way is to verify directly through the official Companies House service:
👉 Verify your identity here

Once your verification is approved, you’ll receive a personal verification code.
📌 Please forward this code to us as soon as possible so we can update your company records promptly.

• ✅ No extra cost

• ✅ Fast and straightforward

• ✅ Recommended for most directors

🎥 You can also watch a short explainer video on how the process works:
▶ Watch on YouTube

Option 2 – We Verify on Your Behalf

If you prefer, we can complete the verification process for you.
To do this, we’ll need the following:

• A clear photo ID (passport or driving licence)

• A recent proof of address (e.g. utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months)

• Your current residential address

• The date you moved into your current address

⚠️ Please note:

• This option is more time-consuming.

• If documents aren’t provided well in advance of the deadline, we may need to apply a small additional fee to cover extra processing time.

📅 Deadlines and Consequences

• Deadline: 18 November 2025 for new appointments.

• Existing directors and PSCs: By your first confirmation statement after that date.

Failing to verify means:

• You cannot act as a director or submit filings.

• Your company’s record may be marked as non-compliant.

• Persistent failure could result in criminal penalties or your company being struck off.

This is not optional – verification is a legal requirement.

What You Should Do Now

• 📄 Check your documents: Make sure your passport or driving licence is valid.

• 🗂️ Review Companies House records: Ensure names, dates of birth, and addresses are correct and match your ID.

• ✉️ Decide how to verify: Choose whether to do it yourself or let us handle it for you.

• 📆 Plan ahead: If your next confirmation statement is due early in 2026, start the process now.

Why This Matters

For most directors, this will be an extra administrative step but an important one. It’s part of a broader shift towards tighter compliance, alongside MTD for ITSA and payrolling of benefits in 2027.

Starting the verification process early will help you avoid delays and ensure your company remains compliant.

Our View

This change will improve transparency and reduce misuse of company structures. However, it’s another layer of compliance that business owners need to plan for.

We’ll continue to support our clients through the transition, but from now on, you must complete the identity verification step yourself or instruct us to handle it with the required documents.

📌 Next step: Mark 18 November 2025 in your diary and don’t forget to forward us your personal verification code once received.