28/08/2026
Companies House Identity Verification: Have You Done Yours?
If you are a company director or Person with Significant Control (PSC), there is an important Companies House requirement you should not leave until the last minute.
Mandatory identity verification came into effect on 18 November 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
Companies House is phasing this requirement in over a 12-month transition period, with millions of directors and PSCs expected to complete the process by November 2026.
But there is an important point:
17 November 2026 is not necessarily your personal deadline.
For existing directors, identity verification generally needs to be completed and the Companies House personal code provided with the company's next confirmation statement.
For PSCs, the deadline depends on their circumstances, and they generally have a specific 14-day period in which to provide their verification details.
What happens if you don't comply?
Failure to meet the identity verification requirements can constitute an offence. Companies House may impose financial penalties or fines, annotate the public register and restrict certain company activities.
For directors, acting without completing the required verification can also have more serious consequences.
What should you do now?
If you are a director or PSC — or you manage company compliance for clients — I would recommend:
- Check your Companies House record
- Check your identity verification status
- Complete verification if you haven't already
- Keep your Companies House personal code safely
- Check the specific verification deadline for each company role you hold
The process can be completed directly through Companies House using GOV.UK One Login, or through an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP).
Don't wait until November to discover that something needs correcting.
A small compliance task now could prevent a much bigger administrative problem later.
If you are a director, PSC or business owner, have you checked your Companies House identity verification status yet?
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