Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act Companies House are making some critical changes to its service which impacts all companies, their PSCs (persons of significant control), their registered directors and filing agents.
Whilst not yet compulsory, from autumn 2025 it will become compulsory for all new directors and PSCs to be registered as being verified and it is expected that it will be rolled out to all other PSCs, directors and filing agents thereafter. It is expected that the transitional period for some PSCs and directors may be short if say the company’s next confirmation statement is due shortly after the date imposed for verification becomes mandatory.
We are recommending that all companies, their PSCs, and their directors start to direct their minds to the changes and look to get themselves registered as being verified as soon as possible, ideally before the requirements become mandatory.
How can I verify my identity on Companies House?
Companies House has outlined several different ways in which a director can have their identity verified. These are the only methods accepted by Companies House.
The easiest way for a director to verify their identity is online. This is free to use and can be done using Gov.UK One Login. You will need one of the following forms of photographic identification:
- Biometric passport from any country
- UK photo driving licence (full or provisional)
- UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
- UK biometric residence card (BRC)
- UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP)
Once verified the verification will be linked to your Gov.UK One Login account.
If you are unable to access online you may be able to take one of the above forms of identification to your local Post Office and verify your identification that way. Companies House will also accept various bank or building society details but you will need to answer security questions.
It is also possible to use a Companies House authorised agent to verify your identification (known as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider or an ACSP). Suitable identification documents will be required.
Helpful tips for compliance
- A company director who has several directorships only needs to have their identification verified once. You can then use your verification code to link all of the directorships you have.
- Companies House are not charging for this service. It is fairly straightforward.
- The verification service is now available for all, despite this not yet being mandatory.
- Once registered you will need to keep a hold of your registration number for future reference and filings.
- Failure to be verified in time or at all will have the consequence of not being able to file documentation on behalf of the company, this in itself could lead to fines or liabilities being incurred. In addition, failure to be verified after the date upon which it has become mandatory will lead to criminal penalties and possibly being disqualified as a director.
- Companies will need to ensure that anyone filing on its behalf has been verified, ensure its filings and registers are up to date, accurate and not misleading, and they have a compliant registered office.
These changes reflect a wider push by the government to increase corporate accountability and clamp down on fraudulent activity within UK-registered companies. While the process of verification may seem administrative, it is a vital step toward safeguarding the integrity of the business environment and ensuring only legitimate individuals hold key roles within companies.
If you need support navigating these changes, call us now on 0161 696 6170 to speak with one of our specialists.
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