Companies House Identity Verification Becomes Mandatory
Companies House started bringing in identity checks for company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) on 18th November 2025. November 2026 marks the end of the 12-month changeover period, but it is not a single deadline for everyone. When you need to act depends on your role.
Change at a glance
Change: Company directors and people who own or control a company must prove their identity to Companies House.
When: The changeover period began on 18th November 2025 and ends in November 2026. Different people have different deadlines.
Who it affects: Company directors and people who own or control a company.
What to do: Check whether you have proved your identity, find your personal code and check when you must give it to Companies House.
Last checked: 17th October 2026.
What is Companies House identity verification?
Identity verification means proving to Companies House that you are who you say you are. It is now a legal requirement for company directors and people who own or control a company.
Important: proving your identity is only the first step.
You usually only need to prove your identity once. Companies House then gives you a personal code. You must still give that code to Companies House for each relevant company role you hold. Completing the identity check does not automatically finish the filing steps.
A person with significant control (PSC) is someone who owns or controls a company, for example by holding enough shares or voting rights, or having other control over how it is run.
Does everyone have a deadline in November 2026?
No. November 2026 marks the end of the first 12-month changeover period. It is not one deadline for everyone. Your deadline depends on whether you are a director, a PSC, or both, and when you took on the role.
Existing directors must give their personal code when the company files its next confirmation statement. This is the company’s regular filing to confirm its details are up to date. PSCs must give their code and confirm they have proved their identity within a set 14-day period. The dates differ depending on their circumstances. Check the official guidance and Companies House register for your own deadline.
Who needs to do what?
Existing directors
Prove your identity and give your personal code when your company files its next confirmation statement. This is the company’s regular filing to confirm its details are up to date. If you are a director of more than one company, you must give your code for each company.
People who own or control a company but are not its director
You must give Companies House your personal code and confirm that you have proved your identity during your own 14-day deadline period. Do not assume the same dates apply to everyone. Check the Companies House register and official guidance to find your dates.
If you are both a director and someone who owns or controls the company
You must give your code separately for each role. As a director, you give it when the company files its confirmation statement. As a PSC, you must also use the separate PSC service within your own 14-day deadline period. Check the Companies House register for the dates that apply to you.
New directors and people who own or control a company
There are different rules for new roles. If you become a director from 18th November 2025 onwards, you must give your code when the company registers your appointment or when a new company is registered. If you become a PSC, you must give your code when you are added to the register or within 14 days of being added.
What is a Companies House personal code?
Your Companies House personal code is an 11-character code you receive after proving your identity. It belongs to you, not to a company. You use the same code for each company role you hold, so you do not need a new code for every company.
If you proved your identity using GOV.UK One Login, sign in to your Companies House account with the same email address and look under “Manage account”. If an approved accountant, solicitor or other agent checked your identity, Companies House sends your code to the email address they gave. Keep your code safe. You can share it with an accountant or agent you trust if they submit company forms for you.
How to verify your identity
1. Choose how to prove your identity. You can use GOV.UK One Login, which may let you complete the check online or at a participating Post Office. Or you can ask an approved agent, such as an accountant or solicitor registered with Companies House, to check your identity. The agent may charge a fee.
2. Follow the steps. Use the official instructions and provide the identity documents or details requested.
3. Find your personal code. Check your Companies House account or the email sent after your identity check.
4. Give Companies House your code for each role. Directors usually give it when the company files its confirmation statement or when their appointment is registered. PSCs use the separate PSC service by their deadline.
Use the official Companies House identity check guidance to start or check the process. An approved agent (called an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, or ACSP) is registered with Companies House to check people’s identities. Check that your accountant or solicitor is registered before using them.
How do I check my personal deadline?
Check your role and the date
Do not assume that your deadline is in November 2026. Your deadline depends on your role and circumstances. Use the official guidance and Companies House register to check the dates that apply to you.
What happens if you miss your deadline?
If you do not meet the rules by your deadline, you may be breaking the law. A director who keeps acting as a director without completing the required steps may have committed an offence. The company and its other directors may also be breaking the law. A PSC who does not comply may also face legal action or a fine, and Companies House may add a note beside their name on the public register.
The company cannot file its confirmation statement until all its directors have completed the required identity checks. If you think you will miss your PSC deadline, you can ask Companies House for an extra 14 days, but you must ask before your deadline passes. An extension is not automatic.
What should company directors do now?
Your quick checklist
- Check that you have proved your identity.
- Find and keep your Companies House personal code safe.
- Check what you must submit for each role and the deadline.
- If you use an accountant or agent, confirm which steps they will handle.
- If you have roles in more than one company, check each company separately.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Companies House requirements and guidance can change. Check the official guidance for your own role and circumstances before acting.
