Identity verification rolls out from 18th November 2025

• new directors and PSC’s will need to verify their identity to incorporate a company or be appointed as a director
• existing directors will need to confirm they have verified their identity (one off process) before/at the same time as they file their next annual confirmation statement
• existing PSCs will need to verify their identity 
• if also a director of the same company, within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date – note that this is a separate process to their verification as director with their confirmation statement, albeit using the same personal code
• if not a director of the same company, the PSC’s personal code must be provided to Companies House within 14 days of the beginning of their birth month

Continuing as a director or PSC without verifying will become an offence that may result in a fine or financial penalty and a director may be disqualified.
 
Preventing Illegal Activity

The new requirement is designed to deter people who wish to use companies for illegal purposes and to improve the accuracy and transparency of the information held by Companies House. From 18th November 2025, all company directors and PSCs will have to verify their identity on appointment or incorporation.

Verifying Your Identity

You can verify your identity directly (i.e. yourself) or through an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP)
 
To verify your identity directly you must first set up a GOV.UK One Login. This is a new form of access to government services and is not the same as a Government Gateway account or a Companies House webcheck login.  The GOV.UK One Login options are:

• gov.uk One Login ID check app – this uses a smartphone to check biometric information on an identity document, together with the camera to check the person’s image matches the document details
• gov.uk One Login web service – this involves answering more detailed security questions on the web service, such as details of your bank account or mortgage, together with providing ID document details
• gov.uk One Login face-to-face service – this involves a visit to a post office that offers this provision (not all do) to present relevant documents and for the documents to be matched to the person whose ID is being checked, but the appointment must be booked online and an email address is required.

Alternatively, you may choose to use a Companies House authorised corporate service provider (ACSP) such as Ashworth Moulds for this purpose. You will then need to provide the agent with suitable identity documents.

If you wish to use Ashworth Moulds as your ACSP to verify your entity, please do get in touch.