Companies House - ID Verification
Things are changing at Companies House from 18 November 2025.
From 18 November 2025, if you are a company director, or a person with significant control (PSC)/hold 25% or more of the issued share capital, you must verify your identity by your due date.
The Companies House register will be updated on 18 November 2025 to show the due dates for each role you hold.
What you need to do
1. You need to verify your identity to get your Companies House personal code.
2. You need to provide your personal code to Companies House to confirm you are verified for each role you hold.
When you need to verify your identity for Companies House
This depends on your role and when you started that role.
Directors (or equivalent)
For any confirmation statement submission after 18 November 2025 you will need to provide your code.
If you are director of more than one company, you will need to do this for each company.
If you’re registering a new company, you’ll be asked to provide the Companies House personal code for each director as part of the registration filing.
People with significant control (PSCs) – so a shareholding of 25% or more of a company’s issued share capital
PSCs must verify their identity and provide their Companies House personal code. The period for doing this depends on your situation.
If you’re both a director and PSC of the same company:
You will need to provide your personal code separately for each role.
As a director, you must provide the code in the company’s annual confirmation statement.
As a PSC, you must provide it using a separate service within 14 days of your company’s annual confirmation statement date. This service will become available when the requirement comes into force on 18 November 2025.
If you’re a PSC but not a director of the same company:
You must provide your personal code within the first 14 days of your birth month. For example, if your date of birth is 22 January, your 14 day period will begin on 1 January.
If you become a PSC after 18 November 2025 for the first time:
You can provide your personal code when you’re first added to the Companies House register, or within 14 days of being added.
Filing your next annual confirmation statement after 18 November 2025
You will not be able to file your company’s annual confirmation statement after 18 November 2025 unless all directors have verified their identity.
You must include the personal code of each company director in the annual confirmation statement.
This means, if we file the annual confirmation statement on your behalf, we will need the personal codes for each director to enable us to file this.
Your filing will be rejected if you do not include this information.
How to verify your identity
There are two ways to verify your identity for Companies House:
1. Using the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service
This service uses the GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity.
Should you not already have a GOV.UK One Login, you will need to set this up first, before being able to verify your identity.
2. Using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
England & Company are a registered ACSP, so can help you with this, if required.
What England & Company need from you to verify your identity
In order for us to do this for you, you will need to provide us with the following information:
1. At least two ID documents from the list below. At least one of the documents must be from Group A.
Group A
· Passport
· Irish passport card
· Identity card with biometric information from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
· UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
· UK biometric residence card (BRC)
· UK accredited PASS card
· UK or EU driver digital tachograph card
· UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and EU photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
· UK HM Forces ID Card
· UK HM Armed Forces Veteran Card
· UK Frontier Worker permit
· Photographic work permit (government issued)
· Photographic immigration document
· Photographic Visa
· UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man Firearms Licence
· Photographic ID listed on PRADO (such as a Permanent Resident Card (USA))
Group B
· Birth or adoption certificate
· Marriage or civil partnership certificate
· Non-photographic immigration document
· Non-photographic visa
· Non-photographic work permit
· Bank or building society statement
· UK local authority or social housing rental agreement (for the person’s current address)
· Mortgage statement (for the person’s current address)
· UK council tax statement (for the person’s current address)
· Utility bill (for the person's current address)
We will endeavour to use ID information we already hold and will only contact you if this is out of date.
2. The email address where you would like your personal code sent to.
Please note; the email address provided can only be used for one individual’s identity verification. Therefore, as an example, we will not be able to use the same email address for a husband and wife.
We are not provided with a copy of your personal code.
3. Once you have received your personal code, you must share it with us if we are to file your annual confirmation statement on your behalf.
What this will cost you
If you choose to verify your identity for Companies House using the GOV.UK One Login service and provide us with your personal code upon receipt of your email, then your identity verification will cost you nothing.
Note; our standard annual confirmation statement fees will still apply for us to provide that service for you.
However, should you wish for England & Company, as a registered ACSP, to verify your identity for Companies House, then this will represent a chargeable service.
Our fees will be £30 + VAT for each individual’s identity verification.
Act now
Please verify your identity using the GOV.UK One Login and send us your personal code details now.
Or, alternatively please let us know and highlight the personal email address you wish to be used, along with confirmation you are happy to pay our fee of £30 + VAT.
As ever, should you have any queries or concerns regarding the upcoming changes, please do not hesitate to contact us.
