At Awdry Law, our team of experienced corporate solicitors in Swindon and Wiltshire are here to help your business navigate the new Companies House ID verification.

Companies House is introducing a range of new ID verification requirements which will affect many parties involved with filing documents at, or noted on various company registers at, Companies House. 

From 8^th April 2025, individuals have been able to verify their ID with Companies House on a voluntary basis, but a 12-month transition period to compulsory ID verification begins on 18^th November 2025.

Who must have their ID verified?

The following parties will all, in time, be required to have their ID verified with Companies House:

• all company directors and equivalents of directors;

• all Persons of Significant Control (PSCs) and Relevant Legal Entities (RLEs) of a company;

• all LLP members;

• all parties who file documents at Companies House on behalf of a company (e.g. company secretaries); and

• Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) (e.g. law firms, accountants etc who file documents at Companies House on behalf of client companies).

If you are a business owner or company officer in Swindon or Wiltshire, our corporate solicitors can guide you through and answer any questions about this change.

ID verification deadlines

• On 18^th November 2025 the 12-month transition period will begin.  Relevant individuals must have verified their ID, and be able to provide their personal code to Companies House to prove this, by the following deadlines:

• For company directors, the deadline will depend on the date they became a director:

• Any director appointed on or after 18^th November must confirm they have verified their ID on the day they are appointed.

• Any existing director on the 18^th November must confirm they have verified their ID by the time that company files its next annual confirmation statement.

• For PSCs, the process differs.  PSCs have a 14-day window to confirm they have verified their ID, and the start date for this window will depend on their date of registration as a PSC:

• For a PSC that is appointed on or after 18^th November, the 14-day period begins on the date they are appointed.

• For an existing PSC that was registered before 18^th November, the 14-day period begins on the first day of their month of birth as noted at Companies House.

• If an existing PSC is also a director, then the 14-day period begins instead on the date that the company files its first annual confirmation statement after 18^th November.  Please note that, in these cases, the Director-PSC will need to confirm they have verified their ID on the date the confirmation statement is submitted in their capacity as a director, and again within 14 days of this date in their capacity as a PSC.

• Specific ID verification requirements covering other people who file at Companies House, limited partnerships, corporate company directors, officers of RLEs, and corporate LLP members will commence at a later date.

• Please note that, while you should only need to verify your identity once, if you are a director or PSC of multiple companies, you will need to confirm your identity verification and provide your personal code to Companies House for each company and for each relevant position you hold.

How to verify your ID

Individuals looking to verify their ID have 2 options; they can self-verify, or they can verify using an ACSP that offers ID verification services.

• Self-verification:

To self-verify, an individual can use one of the following options:

• verify using the Gov.uk ID check app or web browser;

• verify online by using their bank or building society details, National Insurance number, and answering various security questions; or

• verify in person at the Post Office.

All of these options are free of charge.

Once an individual has successfully verified their ID, they will be provided with a unique Companies House personal code.  It is vital that this code is not lost; the individual should take a copy of this immediately and keep it in a safe place for future reference.  Individuals will need this code to prove that they have verified their ID when they become a director, PSC etc of a company, or when they file documents at Companies House.

• Verification using an ACSP:

Individuals can also ask an ACSP to verify their identity on their behalf.  The ACSP will then ask the individual for various ID documents and carry out a Companies House compliant ID check.  Once they have completed the verification, they will register this with Companies House.

Why Choose Awdry Law’s Corporate Solicitors in Swindon & Wiltshire?

• Local expertise: We understand the needs of Wiltshire businesses and have a proven track record supporting companies across Swindon, Devizes, Marlborough, Royal Wootton Bassett, Chippenham and beyond.
• Personal service: We offer clear, practical advice tailored to your company’s structure and goals.

Contact one of our offices today for expert legal advice on Companies House ID verification and all your corporate law needs.

-Author, James Wood, Commercial Solicitor