Changes To Companies House Checks for Directors
From Autumn 2025
Companies House will introduce a new identity verification process which is compulsory for all new incorporations, newly appointed directors and Persons with Significant Control of a company (PSC). Anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK will need to verify their identity to prove they are who they claim to be.
This will lead into a 12-month transition phase which will require over seven million existing directors and PSCs to verify their identity as part of annual filing of confirmation statements.
Who needs to verify their identity
From 8 April 2025, individuals can voluntarily verify their identity. You can verify directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as your accountant.
Identity verification will also apply to other registration types. For example, any members of a limited liability partnership (LLP) will also need to verify their identity.
Verifying your identity directly with Companies House using GOV.UK One Login
You can use GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity using ID documents, such as a passport.
Verifying your identity through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider
Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) are individuals or organisations that undertake anti-money laundering (AML) supervised activity, such as:
company formation agents
solicitors
accountants
chartered secretaries and governance professionals
Why you need to verify your identity
Identity verification is a new legal requirement. It will help to deter people intending to use companies for illegal purposes.
By law, you will need to verify your identity to confirm you are who you claim to be.
This will:
reduce the risk of fraud
improve transparency, trust and accuracy of information on the Companies House
register
Who needs to verify
You’ll need to verify your identity if you are:
a director
the equivalent of a director – this includes members, general partners and managing
officers
an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) - also known as a Companies House authorised agent
someone who files for a company - for example, a company secretary
In most cases, you’ll only need to verify your identity once. You must not verify again unless Companies House we tell you to.
Online
You can verify online if you have the identity documents or information required. This route uses GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity and is free of charge.
You’ll need one of the following types of photo ID:
biometric passport from any country
UK photo driving licence (full or provisional)
GOV.UK One Login will ask you some simple questions to find the best way for you to verify your identity online. Depending on your answers, you’ll then be guided to verify using a GOV.UK mobile phone app or in your web browser.
If you do not have any of these types of ID but live in the UK, you may be able to verify with bank or building society details instead. You’ll need to use the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service to find out if you can verify this way.
Verify your identity for Companies House.
BPB is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider and can do this process for you. We will need to see your identity documents and have met you in person. When we do this you will be emailed a Companies House identity verification code which we will store on our system while we are actively engaged with you for services.