Companies House Identity Verification: What Directors and PSCs Must Do in 2026

Companies House identity verification is now a legal requirement for company directors and people with significant control, commonly known as PSCs.

The new rules began on 18 November 2025, but this was not one deadline for everyone. It marked the beginning of a 12-month transition period. Your actual deadline depends on whether you are:

• an existing or newly appointed director;

• a PSC as well as a director;

• a PSC who is not a director; or

• becoming a director or PSC for the first time.

Missing your deadline could prevent your company from filing its confirmation statement and may lead to financial penalties or other enforcement action.

Companies House identity verification at a glance

You can check the specific dates connected to your roles on the Companies House register.

Why has Companies House introduced identity verification?

Identity verification was introduced under reforms intended to improve the accuracy of the Companies House register and make it harder for people to use false or stolen identities when forming or controlling companies.

Previously, information provided about directors and company owners was not always independently checked.

The new system connects a verified individual to their company appointments through a unique Companies House personal code.

These requirements are particularly important for owner-managed businesses. If you need help keeping your company accounts and filing obligations organised, our limited company accountants provide ongoing support with annual accounts, Corporation Tax and Companies House deadlines.

Who must verify their identity?

The current requirements cover individual:

• company directors;

• members of limited liability partnerships;

• general partners;

• people with significant control; and

• people applying to register as Companies House authorised agents.

Some additional roles, including certain people who file documents and officers of corporate PSCs, will be brought into the identity verification system later.

A company secretary does not currently need to verify solely because they are the company secretary. However, they may need to verify if they also hold another affected role, such as director or PSC.

What is a person with significant control?

A person with significant control is someone who owns or controls a company.

A person will commonly be registered as a PSC if they:

• hold more than 25% of the company’s shares;

• control more than 25% of its voting rights;

• have the right to appoint or remove a majority of the directors; or

• otherwise exercise significant influence or control over the company.

Some people are both directors and PSCs. This is common where one person owns and manages a limited company.

What is the deadline for existing directors?

If you were already a director before 18 November 2025, you must provide your personal code when your company files its next confirmation statement after that date.

The company cannot file the confirmation statement until every director has verified their identity and supplied a valid personal code.

For example, if a company has three directors, all three must complete verification. The person filing the confirmation statement will need the personal code for each director.

If you are a director of several companies, you only need to verify your identity once. However, your personal code must be provided separately for every company appointment.

Each company may have a different confirmation statement date, so check every company rather than assuming that one filing covers all your appointments.

Companies House confirms that a confirmation statement will not be accepted until every director has verified.

What must new directors do?

Anyone becoming a director from 18 November 2025 must verify their identity and obtain a personal code.

The code must be included when:

• registering a new company; or

• submitting the appointment of a new director to an existing company.

If you are planning a new business, complete identity verification before the incorporation application is prepared. This can prevent the registration from being delayed because a proposed director does not have a personal code.

Our start-up and new business accountants can help with company formation, tax registration, bookkeeping and the wider accounting requirements of starting a limited company.

What are the identity verification deadlines for PSCs?

Every individual PSC has a 14-day period during which their personal code must be provided to Companies House.

The timing depends on whether the PSC is also a director of the same company.

If you are both a director and a PSC

You only need to verify your identity once, but you must use your personal code separately for both roles.

You must:

1. provide the code as a director through the company’s confirmation statement; and

2. provide the same code again as a PSC through the separate PSC verification service.

The PSC’s 14-day period starts on the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.

For example, if the confirmation statement date is 31 March, the PSC verification period will normally run from 1 April to 14 April.

The PSC deadline is based on the confirmation statement date, not necessarily the date on which the statement is filed. Filing the confirmation statement early does not bring the PSC’s 14-day period forward.

If you are a PSC but not a director

An existing PSC who is not a director must provide their personal code during the first 14 days of their birth month.

For example, if the PSC’s birthday is 24 September, their submission period will begin on 1 September.

Check the Companies House register for the exact dates applying to your PSC role.

If you became a PSC after 18 November 2025

A new PSC can provide their personal code when they are first added to the register or within 14 days of being added.

Companies House provides a separate service for submitting a PSC’s personal code and verification statement.

If you cannot provide your PSC verification details by the deadline, you may be able to request a 14-day extension. The request must be made before the original deadline expires.

How to verify your identity for Companies House

There are two main verification routes:

1. directly through Companies House using GOV.UK One Login; or

2. through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, known as an ACSP.

Verify directly using GOV.UK One Login

Direct verification through GOV.UK One Login is free.

Depending on your documents and circumstances, verification may be completed:

• using the GOV.UK One Login mobile application;

• by answering security questions online; or

• through an identity-checking appointment at a participating Post Office.

You may be able to use:

• a biometric passport from any country;

• a UK photocard driving licence, including a provisional licence;

• a UK biometric residence permit;

• a UK biometric residence card; or

• a UK Frontier Worker permit.

You will also normally need your current address, the year you moved there and your own GOV.UK One Login.

Start through the official Companies House identity verification service.

Verify through an authorised agent

An ACSP is a business authorised by Companies House to verify identities. ACSPs can include regulated accountants, solicitors and company formation agents.

An authorised agent may be useful where:

• the online service cannot verify you;

• you do not have suitable documents for the direct route;

• you are an overseas director or PSC;

• your personal details are complicated; or

• you need assistance completing the process.

An ACSP may charge for its services. Check the official Companies House list and confirm the service, fee and identification requirements directly with the agent.

What happens after you verify?

After successful verification, Companies House will issue your personal code.

This code belongs to you as an individual. It does not belong to one particular company.

You should:

• keep the code secure;

• save it in your Companies House account;

• record the email address connected to the verification;

• use it for every company role that requires it; and

• share it only with someone you trust to file on your behalf.

If an accountant or another authorised person files your confirmation statement, they will need the personal codes for all directors.

You do not need to give them your GOV.UK One Login password.

Is the personal code the same as the company authentication code?

No. These are different codes with different purposes.

A Companies House personal code belongs to a verified individual. It connects that person’s verified identity to their director or PSC roles.

A company authentication code belongs to the company. It is used as an electronic equivalent of a company officer’s signature when filing information online.

Do not confuse the two when preparing a confirmation statement.

Check your Companies House details before verifying

The name, date of birth and other personal details used for identity verification must match the information held by Companies House.

Common causes of a failed match include:

• an incorrect date of birth on the Companies House register;

• different versions of a name;

• missing middle names;

• spelling errors;

• an incorrectly entered personal code; or

• incorrect details submitted during verification.

If the date of birth held by Companies House is wrong, it may need to be formally corrected before the personal code can be connected to the appointment. Some corrections can take several weeks, so do not leave this until the confirmation statement deadline.

What happens if a director or PSC does not verify?

Failure to comply with the identity verification requirements can have serious consequences.

These may include:

• rejection of the company’s confirmation statement;

• financial penalties;

• prosecution and a court fine;

• a note being added to the public register;

• action against the company and its directors; and

• possible director disqualification in serious cases.

A director who continues acting after their deadline without complying with the verification requirements may be committing an offence. The company and its other directors may also be in breach.

Companies House has published its approach to identity verification non-compliance.

Does identity verification replace the confirmation statement?

No.

Identity verification is an additional legal requirement. Companies must still file their confirmation statement and confirm that the information on the register is correct.

They must also continue to meet separate obligations for:

• annual accounts;

• Corporation Tax returns;

• registered office and email details;

• director and PSC changes; and

• other Companies House filings.

Our year-end accounts service provides support with annual accounts, Companies House filing and related company deadlines.

Companies House identity verification checklist

Directors and PSCs should complete the following checks:

• Find every company for which you are a director or PSC.

• Check the verification deadline shown for each role.

• Confirm that your name and date of birth are correct.

• Decide whether to verify directly or through an ACSP.

• Complete the verification and obtain your personal code.

• Save the code securely.

• Provide it separately for each director appointment.

• If you are also a PSC, submit it again during the correct PSC window.

• Make sure the company’s confirmation statement deadline is recorded.

• Do not leave corrections or verification until the filing deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Is 18 November 2025 the deadline for everyone?

No. It was the date on which mandatory identity verification began and the 12-month transition period started. Existing directors and PSCs have individual deadlines based on their roles, confirmation statement dates or birth months.

Do I need to verify separately for every company?

You only complete the identity check once. You then use the same personal code to connect your identity to each company appointment.

I am both a director and a PSC. Do I submit the code twice?

Yes. You provide it as a director through the confirmation statement and separately as a PSC using the PSC verification service.

Can my accountant use my personal code?

You can share the code with a trusted accountant or other person who files on your behalf. Do not share your GOV.UK One Login password.

Do overseas directors need to verify?

Yes. The requirements apply to directors regardless of where they live. A biometric passport from any country may be accepted through the direct service. An ACSP may be an alternative where direct verification is not possible.

Is Companies House identity verification free?

Direct verification through GOV.UK One Login is free. An ACSP may charge a fee for carrying out verification or providing related support.

Does a company secretary need to verify?

A person does not currently need to verify solely because they are a company secretary. They may still need to verify if they are also a director, PSC or hold another affected role.

Is the personal code required when filing annual accounts?

At present, the personal code is required for the relevant director and PSC processes. It is not currently required simply because annual accounts are being filed.

What if I cannot meet my PSC deadline?

You may be able to request a 14-day extension through the PSC verification service. The extension must be requested before the original deadline expires.

Need help with your company filing obligations?

Gondal Accountancy helps limited companies in Birmingham and across the UK with:

• annual and statutory accounts;

• Companies House filing support;

• Corporation Tax returns;

• bookkeeping and VAT;

• director Self Assessment; and

• company deadline reminders.

Identity verification must be completed directly through Companies House or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. We can help you understand how the requirement fits alongside your company’s wider accounting and filing responsibilities.

Contact Gondal Accountancy or call 0121 439 9760 to discuss your limited company accounting requirements.

This guide was updated on 16 August 2026 and provides general information only. Companies House requirements may change, and the correct action depends on each individual’s roles and deadlines.