Companies House Identity Verification Explained: Personal Codes, ACSPs and Deadlines
Identity verification is now a legal requirement for UK company directors and PSCs, and it’s one of the biggest changes to Companies House in years. This guide from Filing Accounts UK covers everything directors and PSCs need to know — what verification involves, who must do it, the deadlines, the personal code system, and what happens if you don’t comply — using only verified facts from official Companies House guidance.
At Filing Accounts, we help UK company directors navigate these new requirements. You can start the process directly via the official Verify your identity for Companies House service.
Companies House Identity Verification Explained
Identity verification is a new system introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), designed to confirm that the people running, owning, and controlling UK companies are who they claim to be. Previously, anyone could register a company using largely unverified details, which made it easier to hide behind shell companies for fraud. Identity verification became a mandatory legal requirement from 18 November 2025. Once verified, an individual receives a Companies House personal code, which they then use to confirm their verified status whenever required.
How to Verify Your Identity
There are two official routes, both leading to the same outcome — a verified identity and a personal code:
Route 1: GOV.UK One Login (Free)
Sign in or create a GOV.UK One Login account and use the Verify your identity for Companies House service directly. You’ll be asked to submit identification documents — a UK photocard driving licence or a biometric passport are typically accepted, and the process usually takes a matter of minutes. If you don’t have a smartphone or biometric ID, some applicants can complete verification in person at a Post Office as part of the same GOV.UK One Login process.
Route 2: Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
You can ask an ACSP — for example, an accountant or solicitor — to verify your identity on your behalf. This route accepts a broader range of identity documents than GOV.UK One Login and works from any country, making it a practical option for overseas directors or anyone without a biometric passport or UK driving licence. ACSPs may charge a fee for this service.
Companies House Personal Code Explained
Once you’ve successfully verified your identity, Companies House issues you a personal code — an 11-character identifier. Key facts about how it works:
- It belongs to you as an individual, not to any company — you verify once and reuse the same code for every directorship or PSC role you hold, across as many companies as you’re involved with.
- If you verified via GOV.UK One Login, you can view your code by signing in to your Companies House account under “Manage account.”
- If you verified via an ACSP, your code is emailed to you. It’s strongly recommended you then save it to your own Companies House account, so you retain access even if you change accountants later.
- When you use your code, you may also be asked to confirm your date of birth, so Companies House can check the details match.
- You can keep it safe but share it with someone filing on your behalf, such as an accountant.
- If you believe your code has been compromised, contact Companies House directly (or your ACSP, if they issued it) to have it changed — a new code is emailed and the old one cancelled.
Full official detail: Companies House personal codes for identity verification — GOV.UK.
Who Must Verify Their Identity?
Currently, two groups are required to verify:
- Company directors — every director of a UK-registered company, including dormant companies, regardless of nationality or residence
- People with Significant Control (PSCs) — anyone holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or who otherwise exercises significant influence or control
Company secretaries who are not also directors, corporate directors, officers of corporate PSCs, and agents who file for clients but don’t offer identity verification are not yet required to verify — Companies House has confirmed these groups will be brought into scope at a later date, with further presenter-verification measures expected no earlier than November 2026.
Identity Verification Deadlines
| Who | Deadline |
|---|---|
| New directors (appointed from 18 Nov 2025) | Before the appointment can be registered |
| Existing directors | By the company’s next Confirmation Statement — transition period runs to November 2026 |
| PSC who is also a director of the same company | 14 days starting the day after the company’s confirmation statement date |
| PSC who is not a director | First 14 days of their birth month |
| New PSC | At the point of being added to the register, or within 14 days of the direction letter Companies House sends |
Example: if a company’s confirmation statement date is 31 March, a director-PSC’s 14-day verification window runs from 1–14 April. A PSC who isn’t a director and was born on 24 February has a window running 1–14 February.
You can check your specific due dates on your company’s page on the Companies House public register. Directors can also file their Confirmation Statement early, within their review period, to formally link their personal code to the company sooner rather than waiting.
What Happens If You Don’t Verify?
Non-compliance carries real consequences, not just an administrative flag:
- Blocked filings: A Confirmation Statement cannot be filed unless all directors are verified and their personal codes provided.
- Risk of strike-off: If the Confirmation Statement can’t be filed as a result, the company risks being struck off the register.
- Criminal offence: Failing to verify when required is an offence, carrying a potential unlimited fine.
- Director disqualification: Persistent non-compliance with filing requirements can ultimately lead to disqualification from acting as a director.
- Blocked new appointments: A new director cannot be validly appointed, and a new company cannot be incorporated, until all proposed directors have verified.
If your personal details (such as date of birth) don’t match Companies House’s records, verification cannot be linked to your role until this is corrected — this can be checked and updated via WebFiling.
Can an Accountant Verify on Your Behalf?
Yes — provided they are registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Many accountants and solicitors already offer this as part of their service. If you have an existing accountant, ask them directly whether they’re ACSP-registered; if not, you can find a registered agent via the official List of Authorised Corporate Service Providers — GOV.UK. It’s also worth checking the list of ceased or suspended ACSPs before engaging an agent, to confirm they’re currently authorised to act.
Using an ACSP only verifies your identity for Companies House purposes — it does not verify your identity for any other government service or department.
Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) Explained
An ACSP — also called a Companies House authorised agent — is a business or sole trader registered with Companies House to verify identities and, in future, file information on behalf of clients. To register as an ACSP, an agent must:
- Be supervised by a recognised UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body — there are 25 such bodies in the UK
- Complete their own identity verification as part of the ACSP application
- Keep records of any identity checks performed for 7 years
- Notify Companies House within 14 days of any change to their registered details
Companies House does not endorse or recommend any specific ACSP on its published list — it’s worth researching an agent’s reputation and confirming exactly which services they offer (identity verification, filing, or both) before engaging them. From no earlier than November 2026, agents who file information on behalf of clients — not just those verifying identities — will also need to be ACSP-registered.
Full official guidance: Being an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — GOV.UK.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Waiting Until the Confirmation Statement Deadline
Verifying at the last minute risks a technical issue or document mismatch blocking your filing entirely. Verifying early removes this risk with no real downside.
Assuming You Need to Verify Separately for Each Company
You verify once and reuse the same personal code for every directorship or PSC role you hold — but you must still actively provide that code for each company individually.
Missing Your PSC 14-Day Window
The PSC verification window is short and tied to either the company’s confirmation statement date or your birth month — missing it can trigger compliance flags even if you’re already verified.
Losing Access to a Code Issued via an ACSP
Save your personal code to your own Companies House account rather than relying solely on the original email or your adviser’s records.
Using an Agent Who Isn’t Actually ACSP-Registered
Always check the official ACSP list, and the ceased/suspended list, before relying on an agent to verify your identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is identity verification really mandatory now?
Yes. It has been a legal requirement for directors and PSCs since 18 November 2025, with a transition period for existing office holders running to November 2026.
Is GOV.UK One Login verification free?
Yes. Verifying directly via GOV.UK One Login is free. Verifying through an ACSP may involve a fee set by that provider.
Do I need to verify again if I become a director of a second company?
No. Your personal code stays with you and is reused — you simply provide it for the new role.
What if I lose my personal code?
If you verified via GOV.UK One Login, sign in to your Companies House account to view it. If you verified via an ACSP and no longer have it, contact them, or contact Companies House directly if you believe it’s been compromised.
Can overseas directors verify their identity?
Yes. GOV.UK One Login accepts biometric passports from any country, and ACSPs can also verify individuals located anywhere, provided the ACSP itself is UK AML-supervised.
What’s the difference between the personal code and the company authentication code?
The company authentication code belongs to the company and authorises filings on its behalf. The personal code belongs to an individual and confirms their verified identity. They are entirely separate and not interchangeable.
Need Help With Identity Verification? Talk to Filing Accounts UK
Identity verification now sits alongside every other Companies House deadline your company already manages. At Filing Accounts, we help UK directors and PSCs stay on top of these requirements alongside Confirmation Statements, Annual Accounts, and other filings, so nothing gets missed.
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