Companies House ID Verification: What Directors and Shareholders Need to Know

If you’re a company director or shareholder, you may soon receive a request from Companies House to verify your identity. This is part of new rules under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, designed to make the register more secure, tackle fraud, and strengthen the UK’s business environment.

For most people the verification will only need to be done once, and whilst it can sound complex, the process is actually simple, quick and intuitive.

Who Needs to Verify Their ID?

From 18 November 2025, ID verification becomes mandatory for:

• New directors – you’ll need to verify before you can form a company or be appointed to one.
• Existing directors – you’ll confirm your verification when filing your next Confirmation Statement, within a 12-month transition period.
• People with Significant Control (PSCs) – you’ll also need to verify within that same 12-month timeframe.

Companies House will contact directors and PSCs directly to confirm deadlines, but you can also check your own record on the Companies House register.

Key Dates to Remember

• April 2025 - voluntary ID verification opened.
• 18 November 2025 - mandatory verification begins.
• 2025–2026 - 12-month transition period for existing directors and PSCs.

How to Verify Your ID

There are two ways to verify:

1. Directly through GOV.UK One Login – this is a way to do this yourself and is a straightforward online process.
2. Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) – ASCPs are individuals or organisations that undertake anti-money laundering supervised activity. Such third-party providers will need to be registered with Companies House as an ASCP to carry out the ID verification checks.

What Happens If You Don’t Verify?

If you miss your deadline, you won’t legally be able to act as a director, it will be an offence to do so. That could mean penalties and disruption for your company, yourself and potentially it could affect other stakeholders. The simplest way to avoid problems is to verify your ID early and remember that it is every director of your company that must verify individually.

Key questions you need to know:

Do all directors need to verify?
Yes – whether you’re newly appointed or already in post, you’ll need to complete verification.

Is verification a one-off?
For most people, yes. Once verified, you won’t need to repeat the process unless your circumstances change.

How long does it take?
If done online, it usually only takes a few minutes.

Need Help?

We know that changes like this can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re juggling multiple responsibilities in your business. Our corporate and commercial team is here to guide you through the process, explain what’s required, and make sure you and your company stay compliant.

📞 Get in touch with us today for clear, practical advice tailored to your business.