Over the coming months, Companies House will be introducing a range of new ID verification requirements, both for those filing documents on behalf of companies at Companies House and for many individuals noted on various company registers.
Following a short delay, the first stages of these new ID verification requirements have been rolled out. As of 18th March 2025, third party providers have been able to register as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs), and from 8th April 2025 individuals have been able to verify their ID with Companies House on a voluntary basis.
Who must have their ID verified?
Under the new requirements, the following parties will 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
- ACSPs.
Timeline for implementation
The precise dates for the implementation of the remaining stages of the ID verification requirements have not yet been confirmed. However, at the time of writing (June 2025) the estimated implementation dates are:
- Autumn 2025
- ID verification will be compulsory for all directors, PSCs, and RLEs of companies incorporated from or after this point.
- A 12-month transition period will begin for existing companies. From this point, compulsory ID verification for all relevant parties will be triggered when an existing company files its annual confirmation statement.
- Spring 2026
- ID verification is expected to become compulsory by this point for all parties looking to file documents at Companies House on behalf of a company. This includes both company officers and any third party (e.g. accountant or law firm) that files documents on their behalf.
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.
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.
Next steps for company officers
If you are a company director, secretary, or PSC, and wish to ensure that your company is ready for these new requirements when they come into force, you may wish to consider verifying your ID now during the voluntary period. This will avoid technical difficulties or unplanned events risking you not being able to do so once ID verification becomes compulsory.
Author – James Wood
