Company directors and people with significant control are facing an important new Companies House requirement.
Identity verification is now part of wider changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The aim is to make the companies register more accurate, transparent and harder to abuse. According to Companies House guidance, anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a UK company will need to verify their identity.
For SMEs, this is not something to ignore. If you are a director, a person with significant control, or someone involved in managing a UK company, you may need to verify your identity and connect that verified identity to the right company records.
Here's what businesses need to know.
What is Companies House identity verification?
Identity verification is a new legal requirement that confirms a person is who they say they are.
The requirement applies to company directors, people with significant control, members of limited liability partnerships and Authorised Corporate Service Providers. The official Changes to UK company law campaign explains that identity verification is being introduced to improve trust in the information on the Companies House register.
This matters because the register is used by customers, suppliers, lenders, investors and other businesses. If the people behind a company are properly verified, it becomes easier to understand who owns, controls and runs that business.
When did the rules start?
From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a legal requirement. However, this date was not a final deadline. It marked the start of a 12-month transition period, giving companies time to make sure directors and PSCs verify by their due dates, according to the official Companies House campaign.
Companies House estimated that 6 to 7 million individuals would need to verify their identity by mid-November 2026. In most cases, the process should only need to be completed once and can usually be done in a few minutes, according to the government's identity verification rollout announcement.
The key point for SMEs is that deadlines will depend on the person's role and the company's own filing dates.
Who needs to verify?
You will need to verify if you are a company director, the equivalent of a director, a director of an overseas company registered in the UK, a person with significant control, or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.
A person with significant control, often called a PSC, is someone who owns or controls a company. Government guidance explains that PSCs are sometimes referred to as "beneficial owners". More detail is available in the official PSC guidance.
Once verified, you will receive a Companies House personal code. This code is personal to you, not to the company. If you hold roles in more than one company, you may need to use the same personal code to connect your verified identity to each relevant role.
What do directors need to do?
Existing directors need to provide their Companies House personal code when the company files its next confirmation statement.
This is a key step. Companies House explains in its personal code guidance that current directors must provide their personal code in their company's next confirmation statement filing from 18 November 2025.
New directors will need to provide their personal code as part of the appointment filing or when incorporating a new company.
For SMEs, this means it is worth checking who is listed as a director now, making sure their details are correct and asking them to verify before the next confirmation statement is due.
What do PSCs need to do?
People with significant control also need to provide their Companies House personal code.
Every PSC has a 14-day period in which they must provide their personal code and a verification statement. The timing depends on whether they were already registered before 18 November 2025 and whether they are also a director of the company.
Companies House has explained the PSC timeline in more detail on its official blog. If someone is both a PSC and a director of the same company, their 14-day period starts from the day after the company's confirmation statement date. For example, if a company's confirmation statement date is 31 March 2026, the PSC's 14-day period would run from 1 April to 14 April 2026.
If a PSC is not a director, their period runs during the first 14 days of their birth month. For example, if their birthday is in February, their verification period would run from 1 February to 14 February.
How can you verify?
There are two main routes.
The first is to verify directly with Companies House using GOV.UK One Login. The official Companies House verification guidance explains that this may involve using the GOV.UK ID Check app, answering security questions online, or taking photo ID to a participating Post Office.
The second route is through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, also known as an ACSP. This could include an accountant, solicitor, company formation agent or other anti-money laundering supervised professional that has registered with Companies House. The ACSP guidance explains who can carry out these checks on behalf of clients.
For many SMEs, speaking to an accountant or company adviser may be a practical first step, especially if they already help with Companies House filings.
What should SMEs do now?
The first step is to check your company records. Make sure directors and PSCs are correctly listed, and that personal details match the information on identity documents.
Next, check when your next confirmation statement is due. This will help directors understand when their personal codes will be needed, and it may also affect the timing for PSCs who are directors.
Businesses should also decide whether individuals will verify directly through GOV.UK One Login or through an authorised agent.
It is also sensible to keep the Companies House personal code secure. Companies House says the code should only be shared with people you trust to file on your behalf.
What happens if you do not comply?
Failing to comply could create serious problems.
According to Companies House guidance, individuals who do not verify or connect their identity to the right company role on time may be committing an offence and could face prosecution, a court fine or a financial penalty.
Companies House also says those who fail to comply may be unable to be appointed as a new director, register a new company or register as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.
For directors, continuing to act after the deadline without meeting the requirements could also create problems for the company itself.
In short...
Companies House identity verification is now a practical compliance issue for SMEs.
Directors and PSCs need to understand whether they are in scope, verify their identity, keep their personal code safe and make sure it is connected to the right company roles at the right time.
For most businesses, the best approach is simple: check your records, know your confirmation statement date, speak to your accountant if needed and make sure every relevant person verifies before the deadline.
Handled early, this should be a manageable admin task. Left too late, it could create filing problems, penalties and unnecessary disruption.
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