As part of a major push to improve transparency and tackle economic crime, Companies House will soon require identity verification for company directors, people with significant control (PSCs), and those filing on behalf of companies.
While there’s no confirmed date yet, the changes are expected to roll out from 2025–2026 — so now’s the time to get familiar with what’s coming.
What is ID verification?
Every company director and PSC (i.e. anyone who owns or controls more than 25% of a company) will need to verify their identity with Companies House. This means confirming who they are via an approved process — likely similar to how you verify ID for a bank account or passport application.
You’ll also need to verify the identity of anyone filing on your behalf – e.g. an agent or accountant using Companies House software.
How will the process work?
While we’re still waiting for detailed guidance, it’s expected that:
You’ll be able to verify your ID online through Companies House directly or
Ask an authorised agent (like us!) to verify it on your behalf
Each person’s identity will be linked to their Companies House profile, so you won’t have to do it every year — just when roles change or when forming a new company.
Who needs to verify?
All company directors
All people with significant control (PSCs)
Anyone submitting filings to Companies House on behalf of a company
This applies to new and existing companies, so even if you’ve been running your business for years, you’ll need to comply once the rules kick in.
What happens if you don’t verify?
If a director or PSC fails to verify their identity:
They may be barred from acting as a company director
The company could face penalties or enforcement action
Filings could be rejected or delayed
What do you need to do now?
There’s no immediate action required, but we recommend:
Making sure your company records are up to date, especially your PSC register
Being ready to verify your ID when the rules come into force
And, if you're an EA client, let us know if you’d like us to manage the process for you as your authorised agent
We’ll keep you updated as soon as timelines and exact steps are published.
If you have any questions on this, please get in touch!
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If you have any questions on this, please get in touch!
Written by:
Nicola J Sorrell - Effective Accounting
Founder | Xero Champion | IR35 Expert
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