Companies House ID verification: are your directors and PSCs up to date?

With the transition period for Companies House identity verification approaching its end on 17 November 2026, now is a good time to check that your directors and people with significant control (PSCs) have met the necessary requirements. 

The process itself is designed to be straightforward, but deadlines vary depending on an individual's role. 

Recent enforcement action has also highlighted the importance of directors taking a company-wide approach to compliance, rather than focusing solely on their own identity checks. 

What are the ID verification requirements?

Mandatory identity verification was introduced on 18 November 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. 

The aim is to make the Companies House register more accurate and transparent and help prevent UK companies from being misused. 

The requirements apply to both directors and PSCs, but what you need to do and when depends on your role: 

• Existing directors must verify their identity and provide their Companies House personal code as part of their company's next confirmation statement during the transition period. 

• New directors must verify their identity before acting as a director and provide their personal code through the relevant appointment or incorporation process. 

• Existing PSCs must provide their personal code within a designated 14-day period. For those who are also directors of the same company, this begins the day after the company's confirmation statement date. For other PSCs, it falls within the first 14 days of their birth month. 

• New PSCs must provide their personal code when added to the Companies House register or within 14 days afterwards. 

If you're both a director and a PSC, you'll need to provide your personal code separately for each role, although you'll generally only need to verify your identity once. 

You can check individual deadlines using the Companies House guidance. 

Why is it important to get this right?

In September 2026, the Insolvency Service announced the first convictions for breaches of the new identity verification rules. 

Three company directors were convicted in two separate cases. Two had continued acting on behalf of their companies without completing the necessary checks. 

In one case, another director had verified their own identity but failed to take reasonable steps to prevent an unverified colleague from continuing to act. 

All three received fines and were also convicted of offences relating to late confirmation statement filings. 

Both directors who hadn't verified their identities had completed the process before appearing in court. However, completing verification late didn't stop them from being prosecuted.  

The cases highlight why directors should check that their fellow board members have completed verification and take appropriate action if they haven't. 

You can read the full details in the Insolvency Service's announcement. 

What happens if I miss the deadline?

If you fail to meet the identity verification requirements, you could receive a fine or face criminal prosecution. In more serious cases, directors could also face disqualification. 

Companies House has confirmed that it will take a proportionate approach to enforcement, offering guidance and opportunities to comply where appropriate. 

However, you shouldn't assume that verifying your identity after a deadline has passed will automatically resolve the issue.

What should businesses do now?

These practical steps can help you stay on top of the requirements: 

• Check your records. Identify all directors and PSCs and confirm the deadlines for when they need to verify. 

• Confirm verification is complete. Make sure everyone has completed their identity checks and provided their personal codes to Companies House for each relevant role or appointment. 

• Assign responsibility. Decide who monitors deadlines, manages confirmation statements and checks new director appointments. 

• Build checks in to your processes. Include identity verification in your existing company secretarial procedures, particularly as your business grows or changes. 

Need help navigating the requirements?

If you're unsure whether your directors and PSCs have met the new requirements, our corporate team can review your current arrangements, confirm whether anything still needs attention and help you take the appropriate next steps.