From 18 November 2025, some of the new legal requirements regarding identity verification will come into force. The identity verification requirements are being introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. B P Collins’ corporate and commercial team explores what you’ll need to do.
Who needs to verify?
You’ll need to complete identity verification if:
- You are a director
- You are a member of an LLP, or a general partner or a managing officer of a limited partnership
- You are a person with significant control (PSC) of a company, LLP or limited partnership
At a future date, further identity verifications (such as for corporate directors of companies and corporate members of LLPs) will also be required.
How to verify
- Direct with Companies House (this is currently a free service) – using the GOV.UK One Login service. You can verify (depending on certain answers you give) either:
- via the One Login app, which you will be instructed to download via the instructions on Gov.UK (using an accepted form of photo ID, such as a biometric passport, driving licence, UK biometric residence permit); or
- online using security questions and photo ID; or
- after inputting details from your photo ID, but then going in person to selected Post Offices
- Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) (which will most likely be for a fee) – such as an accountant or solicitor authorised by Companies House. They will check relevant documents and confirm your identity.
By what date must verification have taken place
- For directors or members of LLPs, personal codes will be required before filing the next confirmation statement after 18 November 2025 (or at the time of becoming a new director or LLP member).
- For PSCs, the rules are slightly more complicated and to avoid complication, we recommend you get your personal code as soon as possible.
What happens after verification
- You will receive a secure Companies House personal code (11 characters). If you verify your identity through the One Login App, you will only be able to re-access this code by setting up a Companies House account, so we strongly recommend recording this at the time of acceptance of your submission. If you use an ACSP, Companies House will email you the code.
- This code links your verified identity to your role(s) registered at Companies House.
- The code is needed for filings such as a company’s confirmation statement, or if you are appointed as a director or PSC after 18 November 2025 (including if you are incorporating a new company).
What happens if you do not verify?
- The next confirmation statement for a company due after 18 November 2025, will not be accepted without the personal codes of all directors or personal codes of all LLP members. The consequence of not filing a confirmation statement on time is Companies House may take action against a company, and ultimately it could be struck off the register. If that happens you then have to deal with restoring the company to the register, and deal with any assets that have transferred bona vacantia (which is likely to involve the payment of fees to do so).
- Failure to comply could be a criminal offence, leading to fines or possible disqualification. Again, it remains to be seen whether Companies House do start taking enforcement action.
Full guidance from Companies House is available on the GOV.UK website.
If you have any questions about these changes, please contact our corporate and commercial team at B P Collins by email at enquiries@bpcollins.co.uk or call 01753 889995.
This is our understanding of the relevant law and practice as at September 2025.
