Since 18 November 2025, identity verification has been a mandatory legal requirement for UK company directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs). This is one of the most significant changes to company administration in years, introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and it affects an estimated 6 to 7 million people across the UK.
If you're a director of JAC Accountancy Solutions Limited's client companies — or run your own business in Macclesfield, Bollington or anywhere in Cheshire — this almost certainly applies to you. Here's what you need to know.
What is identity verification?
Companies House is moving from a passive register — where anyone could submit a name and address with very little checking — to an active gatekeeper that verifies the people behind every company. From 18 November 2025, every director and PSC must prove who they actually are, and that verified identity becomes permanently linked to a unique personal verification code.
This code must then be provided whenever you file certain documents — most importantly, your company's annual confirmation statement. Without it, the filing simply cannot be submitted.
Who does this affect?
| Role | Affected? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Company directors | Yes | All directors of UK-registered companies — executive, non-executive, and shadow directors, whether based in the UK or overseas |
| Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) | Yes | Anyone owning or controlling more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or with power to appoint/remove the majority of directors |
| LLP members | Yes | Verification deadlines work in the same way as for company directors (does not apply to corporate LLP members) |
| Company secretaries | No | Not currently included in the verification requirement |
| People who file on behalf of companies | Future phase | Requirements for filing agents and Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) are expected no earlier than November 2026 |
If you hold a directorship or PSC role for a UK company, the verification requirement applies regardless of where you are based. There is no exemption for overseas directors.
What's your actual deadline?
This is where most confusion arises. 18 November 2025 marks the start of the mandatory regime — it is not a single universal deadline for everyone. Your real deadline depends on your role and when you were appointed.
Verify before appointment
Anyone becoming a director or being registered as a PSC after 18 November 2025 must verify their identity before the appointment or registration can be completed. This also applies when incorporating a new company.
Before your next confirmation statement
If you were already a director before 18 November 2025, you must verify your identity before your company files its next confirmation statement due after that date. Since confirmation statements are filed annually, your effective deadline could be anywhere from a few weeks away to several months.
Tied to your birth month
Existing PSCs who are not also directors must verify within 14 days of the first date of their birth month (e.g. if your birthday is 22 January, your 14-day window begins on 1 January). If you're a PSC and a director of the same company, your PSC deadline aligns with the company's confirmation statement date.
Absolute backstop deadline
This is the hard deadline for all existing directors and PSCs, regardless of confirmation statement timing. After this date there is no grace period left.
You only need to verify your identity once — it's linked to you personally, not to each company. However, your effective deadline is the earliest confirmation statement due date across all the companies you're a director of. If one company's statement is due in August and another in February, February is your real deadline.
Why you shouldn't wait
Although the formal backstop is November 2026, we're advising all our clients to complete verification well ahead of their actual deadline, for a few practical reasons:
- System bottlenecks are likely — with several million people needing to verify, processing delays are expected to increase as deadlines approach
- One unverified director blocks the whole filing — if your company has multiple directors and even one hasn't verified, the confirmation statement cannot be submitted at all
- It's quick to do — most people complete verification in 10 to 20 minutes
- Confirmation statements can be filed early — if you want to get this done now rather than waiting for your statutory deadline, you're permitted to file early within your review period
How to verify your identity
There are two routes available:
1. Verify directly with GOV.UK One Login (free)
The simplest and free route for most people. You'll need:
- A valid UK passport or UK photocard driving licence (biometric passports work best for app-based verification)
- Your current address and the year you moved in
- A GOV.UK One Login account
If you don't have a passport or driving licence, you may be able to verify using online security questions based on credit reference data instead.
2. Verify through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
If you have an older passport or licence, more complex circumstances, or would simply prefer support through the process, an ACSP can verify you using a wider range of evidence, including birth certificates and bank statements. JAC Accountancy Solutions Limited is able to support clients through this process — get in touch if you'd like our help.
Once verified, you'll receive a unique personal verification code. Companies House will not email this to you — you must record it yourself and keep it secure, in the same way you would protect your UTR or National Insurance number.
The separate step for PSCs
If you're a PSC, verifying your identity is not the final step. You must also separately provide your personal code to Companies House using the "Provide identity verification details for a PSC" service — this is distinct from the initial verification itself. You have a 14-day window to do this once your verification deadline is triggered. Missing this window is a criminal offence, even if you've already completed the underlying identity verification.
What happens if you don't comply
The consequences of missing your deadline are significant:
- You cannot file your confirmation statement — without all directors' verification codes, the filing is blocked entirely
- Your company becomes non-compliant with Companies House requirements, risking strike-off from the register
- You cannot take up new director or PSC roles until you've verified
- Civil penalties of up to £10,000 can be imposed for non-compliance
- Criminal prosecution is possible in serious cases — both the individual and the company may be committing an offence
Companies House has indicated it will not prosecute individuals for non-compliance during the 12-month transition period to November 2026. This is not, however, an invitation to delay — the practical filing block (being unable to submit your confirmation statement) applies from the moment your deadline passes, transition period or not.
What's coming next
This is the first phase of a broader rollout. Future phases — expected no earlier than November 2026 — will extend identity verification requirements to:
- People who file documents at Companies House on behalf of companies, including company secretaries acting in a filing capacity
- Officers of corporate PSCs and relevant legal entities
- Corporate directors of companies and corporate members of LLPs
- Limited partnerships
Need help with identity verification?
As an accountancy practice, we're helping clients across Macclesfield and Bollington navigate this process — whether that's understanding your specific deadline, supporting your verification through our ACSP capability, or simply making sure your confirmation statement filing won't be blocked. Get in touch.
Book a free 30-minute call →Your action checklist
- Check whether you're a director, PSC, or both for each company you're involved with
- Find your company's next confirmation statement due date on the Companies House register — this is likely your real deadline
- If you hold multiple directorships, identify the earliest confirmation statement date across all companies
- Gather your identity documents — passport or driving licence ideally
- Verify via GOV.UK One Login, or contact us if you'd like ACSP support
- Record your personal verification code securely once issued
- If you're a PSC, separately submit your code via the PSC verification service within 14 days
- Don't wait until the deadline — verify now to avoid system delays as November 2026 approaches
This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Identity verification rules are being rolled out in phases and further changes may follow — please check the current GOV.UK guidance or contact us for the latest position. JAC Accountancy Solutions Limited is regulated by ICAEW (Membership No. 8650147).