Companies House, under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2006, has introduced new identity verification requirements for directors, people with significant control (PSCs), members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and anyone filing statutory records for the company.
Before implementing this verification process, Companies House was working to increase transparency and reduce fraud; however, they only collected basic details and lacked a formal, rigorous process. During that time, some company formation agents, such as Icon Offices, had already implemented a Know Your Client (KYC) verification process for every client purchasing their services. The mandatory ID checks now strengthen the KYC process by serving as the primary verification method.
Do you know, though, that not every company formation agent or verification website is authorized to verify your identity? While some may be registered with Companies House to provide third-party services, only an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is required to perform verification checks. Let’s explore how this works.
Key Takeaways
- ID checks are mandatory for directors, PSCs, and LLP members starting November 18, 2025, to enhance transparency and reduce fraud.
- Companies must use an Authorized Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) or Companies House for identity verification; only ACSPs can perform verification checks.
- A transition period until November 2026 allows existing companies to complete their ID checks; new companies must verify identities during incorporation.
- To verify identity, individuals need acceptable documents such as a UK passport or driving licence; verification can be carried out through Companies House or an ACSP.
- Failure to complete ID checks can lead to financial penalties, document filing failures, or removal from the public register.
Table of Contents
Why verify your Identity for Companies House?
Companies House introduced the ID verification process to enhance transparency, reduce fraud, and ensure only accurate information is held at the public register. The process aims to verify the identities of company directors, PSCs, LLP members, and third parties, thereby curbing the loopholes that criminals exploited under the previous system.
ID checks with Companies House ensure that only real individuals are setting up and controlling the company, thereby preventing fraudulent activities such as money laundering. Companies House can filter out suspicious individuals before a company is incorporated.
As of November 18, 2025, Companies House will not approve any company unless the director, PSCs, and LLP members are verified. This date is mandatory only for new companies; existing companies have a 12-month transition period from the implementation date.
The timeline includes:
- April 8, 2025 – introduction of voluntary verification checks
- November 18, 2025 – mandatory verification checks for new appointments of directors, PSCs, or LLP members, and incorporation.
- Spring 2026 – Compulsory for existing companies to have verified their identity and those filing documents at Companies House on behalf of the company.
Understanding ACSPs
Authorized Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) are individuals or businesses approved by Companies House to verify identity and file documents on behalf of the company. ASCPs include accountants, solicitors, and company formation agents.
To become an ACSP, businesses and individuals were required to register in 2025, making registration mandatory for certain activities, such as verifying clients’ identities and filing information directly with Companies House on their clients’ behalf. While many company formation agents were acting as ACSPs, the new mandatory requirement now requires them to re-register if they wish to continue offering these services.
An ACSP must be supervised by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for Anti-Money Laundering (AML).
Types of businesses likely to register as ACSPs include:
- Company formation agents such as Icon Offices
- Accountants or auditors
- Solicitors or legal professionals
- Virtual office service providers
- Company secretarial services
- Professional trustees
Once an ACSP is registered with Companies House, it will receive an authorized agent account and code, which will enable access to clients’ data and the submission of filings on their behalf.
What you Need to Know About Identity Verification from November 18, 2025
As mentioned above, 18th November 2025 is the mandatory date for identity verification for directors, people with significant control (PSCs), and LLP members. This will be mandatory for new appointments and incorporations.
Directors and LLP members will need to provide their Companies House Personal Code, which they will receive after completing the identity verification process. The code will be used for the company incorporation and appointment filing. This means that any business owner who wants to incorporate a company after November 18, 2025, will only be approved after their identity has been verified.
For existing companies, directors, and LLP members have a 12-month transition period to complete the identity verification process. However, the timing of these face verification checks may differ depending on:
- Filing of the next Confirmation Statement. If the Confirmation Statement is due to be filed after November 18, 2025. In that case, you may be required to verify your identity, as a personal code will be required via a separate Companies House service within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date.
- A PSC may also be required to verify their identity after November 18th, 2025, if they are not the director of the same company or LLP.
How to Verify Your Identity
To verify your identity, you will need;
- A UK passport or a biometric passport (not expired)
- Full or provisional UK or EU photocard driving licence
- UK bank account with a National Insurance number.
- A UK biometric residence permit or card
- UK Frontier worker permit
- Biometric EEA national identity photocard
Companies can verify their identity in two ways, through:
- Companies House
- ACSPs
Directly with Companies House
You can directly verify your identity with Companies House in separate ways:
- GOV.UK Login web service
- GOV.UK One Login Check app
- At selected post offices
Verification ID Checks Through ACSP
An ACSP is authorized by Companies House to verify identity on behalf of companies at a fee. The ACSP will ask for your personal information, such as your full name, date of birth, and address, as well as supporting documents.
Once the verification is complete, ACSP will confirm with Companies House by delivering a verification statement. The statement will include documents used to verify identity, expiry date, and the country of issue.
Using an ACSP saves you time and professional oversight of the requirements needed. With advanced knowledge and expertise, companies can seamlessly verify their identity to incorporate a company or file documents.
Failure to verify your identity requirements could result in:
- Financial penalties
- Failure to file company documents
- Criminal charges
- Removal from the public register
To conclude, whether or not you have received a formal notice, you must prepare to verify your identity. Understand who must verify their identity with Companies House and the timelines in place to avoid missing compliance requirements.
Additionally, check when your confirmation statement is due to know whether you must register after the compulsory date or within the 12-month transition period.
Reduce your admin burden and penalties by letting an ACSP handle ID verification. This ensures your company information is accurate and up to date.
