Companies House identity verification is a legal check proving that a director or person with significant control (PSC) is who they say they are. Existing directors must verify by their company’s next confirmation statement, and everyone by 18 November 2026. It is free through GOV.UK One Login.
You open your inbox and find an email from Companies House, it says your company’s directors need to verify their identity. You assume it’s spam, or that your accountant has it covered, and you close it. Plenty of directors have done exactly that. But the email is real, Companies House estimates that 6 to 7 million people are affected (Companies House press release, August 2025), and the transition period for existing directors and people with significant control (PSCs) ends on 18 November 2026. If you run a small firm or you’re the only director of your own company, this one lands on your desk.
Companies House identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. New directors had to verify straight away, while existing ones were given 12 months. That year is nearly up. Your own deadline may even be earlier than 18 November, because for most existing directors it’s tied to the company’s next confirmation statement. The good news is that the check is free through GOV.UK One Login, and most people finish it in 10 to 20 minutes. The bad news is that missing it can be an offence, and it can stop your company from filing.
In this blog, you will learn what the check is, who has to do it and when, how to verify, where to use your personal code, what happens if you miss the date, and what to do now.
What Is Companies House Identity Verification?
It’s a director identity check (sometimes called director ID verification or a Companies House ID check). Companies House wants to know that the people behind UK companies are real and are who they claim to be. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) brought this in to make it harder to register fake directors or hide who controls a company. Many people search for it as “ECCTA identity verification”, but it’s the same thing.
The check links you to a photo ID document, such as a passport or driving licence. Once you’ve passed, Companies House gives you a personal code. That code links your verified identity to every company role you hold. In most cases you only verify once, even if you’re a director of several companies.
Picture Sam, who runs two small firms through two limited companies. He doesn’t need to verify twice. He verifies once, gets one code, and uses it for both.
When Does the Transition Period End?
Many directors think 18 November 2025 was the deadline, but it was actually the start date. It began a 12-month transition period to give companies already on the register time to get every director and PSC verified.
That period ends on 18 November 2026, and here’s how the timeline looks:
| Date | What happened |
| 8 April 2025 | Verification opened on a voluntary basis |
| 18 November 2025 | Verification became mandatory, and the 12-month transition period began |
| 18 November 2026 | The transition period ends |
| 19 November 2026 | No transition relief left. Unverified directors can’t file a confirmation statement and may be committing an offence by continuing to act |
The transition period gave companies already on the register time to get every director and PSC verified by their due dates. After 18 November 2026 there’s no transition left to lean on. Companies House compliance after that date is simply a matter of whether you’ve done it or not. Companies House has said it is focusing on getting people verified during the transition rather than prosecuting, but that approach is tied to the transition period and shouldn’t be relied on afterwards.
Remember that the 18 November date is the final cut-off. Your own date may come sooner, as the next sections explain.
Who Has to Verify Their Identity With Companies House?
The rule is wider than many people expect. Anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK needs to verify, and that covers more than just the name on the incorporation papers.
Here’s who is in scope:
New directors: This covers anyone appointed since 18 November 2025. You must verify before your appointment is notified to Companies House, so there’s no grace period.
Existing directors: Everyone already on the register has to verify, including directors of dormant companies. It makes no difference how small the company is or how rarely it trades.
Persons with significant control (PSCs): These are usually people who own or control more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or who control the company in other ways. PSCs who aren’t directors still have to verify and give their code separately.
LLP members: The same rules apply to members of limited liability partnerships. They verify in the same way as company directors.
Other groups follow later. That includes people who file documents at Companies House on a company’s behalf, and corporate directors. Companies House has said it will give at least six months’ notice before those rules start.
When Do You Need to Verify Your Identity?
Your deadline depends on your role, and it often isn’t 18 November. Directors are tied to the company’s confirmation statement, while PSCs who aren’t directors follow their birth month.
Find your role in the table below to see your date.
| Your role | When you need to verify |
| New director | Before your appointment is notified to Companies House |
| Existing director | By the date your company files its next confirmation statement, and in any case before 18 November 2026 |
| PSC who is also a director | Verify once, then give your code in the 14 days after the confirmation statement date |
| PSC who is not a director | Within the first 14 days of your birth month during the transition period |
| New PSC | Within 14 days of being added to the register |
Here’s a real-life example. Aisha is the only director of her small firm. Her confirmation statement is due on 30 October 2026. That date is her deadline, not 18 November. If she leaves it until the middle of November, she can’t file on time. Any director whose confirmation statement falls in the next few weeks is effectively at their deadline already.
So, the first thing to do is check your confirmation statement due date on the Companies House register.
How Do You Verify Your Identity for Companies House?
There are two ways to verify. You can do it yourself online with GOV.UK One Login, or you can ask an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP) to do it for you. Most directors choose the first route because it’s free and quick. Either way, you finish with a personal code.
What you need before you start
- A passport or driving licence. GOV.UK One Login will tell you which other photo IDs it accepts.
- A smartphone, if you want to use the GOV.UK One Login app.
- An email address that only you use. An email address can only be used once to verify an identity.
- Your current address and the year you moved in.
- Your name and date of birth exactly as they appear on the Companies House register (check them first).
Route 1: Verify yourself with GOV.UK One Login (free)
Start the service: Go to GOV.UK and search for “Verify your identity for Companies House”. Select the start button.
Sign in or create an account: Use your own email address to create a GOV.UK One Login. If you already have one, sign in.
Answer a few questions: GOV.UK One Login asks simple questions to work out the best way for you to prove who you are.
Prove your identity: The easiest way is the GOV.UK One Login app with your passport, where you scan the photo page and your face. If that doesn’t suit you, the service may offer other routes, such as answering questions online or visiting a Post Office. You can’t use the Post Office without first entering your photo ID details on GOV.UK.
Get your personal code: Once you pass, sign in to Companies House with the same email you used to verify. Go to “Manage account” and your personal code appears under the identity verification section. Save it somewhere safe.
Route 2: Use an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP)
- Choose an ACSP: This is a firm authorised by Companies House to carry out the check, such as an accountant or solicitor.
- Give them your details: You’ll need to provide suitable photo ID and your own email address.
- They do the check: An ACSP must meet the same standard as the direct route. They send your details to Companies House.
- Receive your code: Your personal code is issued to you by Companies House, so confirm with your ACSP how you’ll receive it and check your Companies House account. ACSPs may charge a fee.
Which route should you choose?
Choose GOV.UK One Login, if you have a passport or driving licence and a smartphone. It’s free and you stay in control. Choose an ACSP if you don’t have suitable photo ID, you live overseas, or you’d simply prefer someone to guide you through it. Directors and PSCs based outside the UK can verify through an ACSP without travelling to the UK.
What is a Companies House Personal Code and Where Do You Use It?
A Companies House personal code is an 11-character code that Companies House gives you once you’ve verified. It proves you’ve passed the director identity check, and it links to every company role you hold. It is different from your company’s 6-character authentication code, which is used to file for the company. The personal code belongs to you as an individual and works like a password, so don’t share it publicly.
Where to find it: Sign in to Companies House using your GOV.UK One Login details, then go to “Manage account”. Your code is shown under the identity verification section. If you used an ACSP, check with them how it will reach you.
Where to use it:
On your confirmation statement: Directors provide their personal code with the company’s next confirmation statement. Companies House won’t accept the statement until every director has verified.
On a new appointment: A new director’s code goes on the appointment filing. Without it, the appointment can’t be registered.
For your PSC role: Use the “Provide identity verification details for a person with significant control” service on GOV.UK. If you’re also a director, you still need to do this for your PSC role within the 14-day window.
Keep your code somewhere safe. You’ll need it again, and it’s yours for life.
What Happens If You Don’t Verify Your Identity by the Deadline?
If you don’t comply on time, you may be committing an offence. You could face prosecution and a fine through the courts, or a financial penalty. Companies House can also add a note against your name on the public register.
There are practical problems too:
- You can’t be appointed as a director.
- You can’t start a new company.
- Your company may not be able to make filings, including its confirmation statement.
- From 19 November 2026, an unverified director who carries on acting after their deadline is exposed to enforcement with no transition period to fall back on.
Companies House has said it plans to take proportionate action against people who fail to verify. That means you shouldn’t count on a pass for ignoring it. For a small firm that relies on filing on time, being blocked from the register can cause real trouble with banks, lenders and customers.
What Common Mistakes Cause Problems With ID Verification?
Most problems with the check are small and easy to avoid, but they can cost you days when time is short. These are the six we see most often.
Waiting until the last week: If something goes wrong with your ID or the app, you’ll have no time to fix it. Aim to finish well before your confirmation statement date.
Assuming someone else has done it: An accountant or co-director can’t verify you unless they act as an ACSP with your documents. Check that you have your own personal code.
Using a shared email address: Each person needs their own email to verify. If you share one with a partner or family member, one of you will need a new login.
Mismatched details: If your name or date of birth differs between your ID and the Companies House register, you can run into trouble. Check the register first and correct anything that’s wrong with Companies House before you start verifying.
Forgetting your PSC role: If you’re a director and a PSC, you still need to give your code for the PSC role. Miss it and you may be late on one of your duties.
Losing the code: You can find it again by signing in to Companies House and opening “Manage account”. Use the same email you used to verify.
None of these mistakes is hard to fix, but each one eats into the time you have left. A few minutes spent checking your email address, your details on the register and your personal code now can save you a stressful scramble later. For a small firm with a confirmation statement due soon, that early check is well worth doing.
What Should Directors Do Now Before November 2026?
With less than a month to go, a short checklist is the best way to stay on track. Work through these seven steps in order and you’ll be done well before the deadline.
Check your confirmation statement due date: This is probably your real deadline. You can find it on the Companies House register.
List every director and PSC in your company: Include co-directors and shareholders who might be PSCs. Each person has to verify.
Check your Companies House details: Make sure names and dates of birth are right before you verify. A mismatch can cause problems.
Verify through GOV.UK One Login: Allow 10 to 20 minutes, and have your passport or driving licence to hand. Use the steps in the section above.
Save your personal code: Store it somewhere secure. You’ll need it for your confirmation statement.
Provide your code: Put it on your confirmation statement, and file your PSC details if that applies to you. Do this before the due date.
Ask for help early: If anything is unclear, an accountant can guide you. It’s much easier to ask in October than in November.
Once these seven steps are ticked off, you’ll have a verified identity, a saved personal code and a confirmation statement that’s ready to file. The earlier you start, the more room you have if something unexpected comes up. If you’d rather not leave it to chance, now is the time to get support so your company is fully compliant before 18 November.
Not sure when your Companies House ID verification is due?
Let MyIVA check your confirmation statement date, verify your identity and file on time, so nothing is missed before 18 November.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for Companies House identity verification?
The transition period ends on 18 November 2026. For most existing directors, the real deadline is the date their company’s next confirmation statement is due, which can be earlier.
Do existing directors have to verify their identity?
Yes. Every existing director must verify and give their personal code with the company’s next confirmation statement, within the transition period.
Is it free to verify your identity with Companies House?
Yes, if you verify yourself through GOV.UK One Login. If you use an authorised corporate service provider, such as an accountant, they may charge a fee.
Do I need to verify separately for each company I’m a director of?
No. You verify once and get one personal code, which covers all of your roles. You then provide that code for each company.
Can I still file a confirmation statement if I haven’t verified?
Not in the normal way. Companies House needs the personal code of every director with the confirmation statement, so an unverified director can hold up your filing.
What is the penalty for not verifying my identity?
Missing the deadline can be an offence, with a possible fine or financial penalty. Companies House can also put a note against your name on the register and block filings.
What is the difference between a personal code and a company authentication code?
A personal code is an 11-character code that identifies you as an individual after you verify. A company authentication code is a 6-character code for the company, used to file on its behalf. You need the personal code for identity verification.
Can directors based overseas verify their identity?
Yes. Directors and PSCs who live abroad can verify through an authorised corporate service provider, without visiting the UK.
What if my name or date of birth doesn’t match the Companies House register?
Correct the details with Companies House first, then verify. A mismatch between your ID and the register is one of the most common reasons a check runs into trouble.
What happens after 18 November 2026 if I haven’t verified?
The transition period is over, so an unverified director can’t rely on it. Your company may be unable to file its confirmation statement, and you may be committing an offence by continuing to act as a director.
Conclusion
Companies House identity verification is now a legal duty for directors and PSCs. The 12-month transition period gave existing companies time to prepare, and it ends on 18 November 2026. Your own deadline may fall sooner, so check your confirmation statement date today.
The process itself is simple. Most people can verify for free through GOV.UK One Login in 10 to 20 minutes, then save their personal code and use it for every company role they hold. The risk comes from leaving it too late, or assuming someone else has taken care of it. A missed deadline can mean a fine, a note on the public register and a company that can’t file.
MyIVA helps sole traders, individuals and small firms stay on top of their tax and Companies House compliance. If you’re not sure of your deadline, or you’d like support with your confirmation statement and Corporation Tax, get in touch with MyIVA today and make sure nothing is missed before 18 November.
