In one of the biggest company law changes for several years, Companies House will be introducing mandatory ID verification from this Autumn. This means your ID must have been verified in order for you to:

  • be appointed as a director of a company or equivalent (including being a member of an LLP),
  • be notified as a PSC (person with significant control), or
  • make filings on behalf of a company (for example, a company secretary).

If you are already a director/PSC you must still have your ID verified because, from the Autumn, it will be mandatory that evidence of verification is provided when your annual Confirmation Statement is filed. Failure to comply will be an offence and in the case of directors, you could be disqualified.

How do you verify your ID?

We believe the most straightforward route is to verify your identity online using Companies House’s own portal at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house.

You will need to register for a Gov.UK One Login (if you don’t already have one) and provide certain information online. You will then be prompted to switch to your smartphone and download an app in order to carry out biometric checks (for example, reading your passport NFC chip and using the selfie camera to do a “liveness” check). The app can be deleted immediately after the process is complete.

The process should take no more than ten minutes or so, after which you will receive a personal code unique to you. This personal code can be used whenever you are required to identify yourself for Companies House purposes (for example, being appointed to a new company) and you shouldn’t need to re-verify. Your personal code will also need to be provided the first time your Confirmation Statement is filed after the system comes in (our assumption is that the code will then be saved against you for future years).

Other methods of verification include attending a Post Office or using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (such as a firm of solicitors or accountants who are registered as an ACSP with Companies House). But we think it likely that, to comply with their statutory obligations, any ACSP will require you to use a biometric app similar to Companies House so this is unlikely to be any more straightforward.

When do you need to verify?

If you are a director (or LLP member etc) or PSC, then you will need to be verified from this Autumn onwards (Companies House is not being any more specific at this time). However you can verify and get your personal code online now so you are ready for when the system comes in.

Companies House has not yet announced the date on which those who make filings (e.g. company secretaries) will need to be verified, but we believe it will be during the first few months of 2026.

For advice on the forthcoming changes or any other company law matters, please contact our Corporate and Commercial department on 0116 289 7000 or info@bhwsolicitors.com.


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