New Identity-Verification Requirements for Companies House

Identity verification is now compulsory (from 18 November 2025) for all directors and PSCs following the enactment of legislation introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

The intent of the legislation is to ensure that businesses are being run by known, identified individuals.

The Act formally introduced the concept of “Authorised Corporate Service Providers” (ACSPs) — namely UK registered businesses (including solicitors, accountants and other third-party agents) who are already subject to anti-money-laundering regulations within their lines of work – who are required to register with Companies House if they intend to carry out identity verification or file with Companies House on behalf of clients.

Steeles Solicitors are a registered ACSP, and are now approved to carry out such verification services with Companies House, enabling us to support businesses in meeting these new requirements.

Who will be affected?

The new rules apply to:

• all current and future company directors;
• persons with significant control (PSCs), including those individuals within relevant legal entities
• anyone who files documents on behalf of a company, such as corporate secretaries or governance professionals

Who needs to verify their identity?

• Directors (or equivalents such as LLP members or general partners)
• Persons with significant control (PSCs) — where a PSC is a relevant legal entity (RLE), a director of that entity must verify identity.
• ACSPs themselves, and any third-party filing agents who submit on behalf of a company.

In most cases the verification is a one-time requirement. Additional checks will only be required if Companies House specifically requests them.

Implementation Timeline

ID Verification is now mandatory – it is a requirement should any company director look to file any updates or changes with Companies House.

How is the ID Verification Being Enforced

• Directors of all businesses in the UK will have been formally identified throughout the year.
• The minimum requirement on all companies is to file an annual confirmation statement each calendar year.
• As these filings become due, those submitting the filings must confirm a unique code provided to each validated director by Companies House directly.
• This code is only provided once each individual director’s identity has been formally validated and confirmed with Companies House.
• It is now mandatory to provide these unique codes when filing any updates and/or amendments with Companies House

Consequences of non-compliance

Failing to verify your identity when required will amount to a criminal offence. For directors who continue to act without verification, there may be director disqualification and fines.

The company itself also has a duty to ensure no person acts as a director unless verification is complete — companies and their directors may similarly face fines for non-compliance.

PSCs who fail to verify will also commit an offence and may incur a fine.

Immediate steps you should take

• Review your company’s current register of directors and PSCs. Check that names, dates of birth and other details are accurate and up to date.
• Identify which individuals will require identity verification and inform them of the requirement and process. Ensure their identity documents (passports, driving licences, etc) are valid and current.
• Anticipate planned changes: incoming/outgoing directors or PSCs, potential transactions affecting PSC positions — ensure these are managed and verified in good time.

How to verify your identity via an ACSP

Here at Steeles Solicitors, we are approved to carry out ID verification services with Companies House, enabling us to assist businesses in meeting these new requirements, whilst saving businesses the stress & hassle.

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you with this process, call us on 01200 44 43 21 or contact us today.