Companies House identity verification
In short. Companies House identity verification is a UK requirement for company directors and people with significant control to prove who they are. It became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025, with a transition period, and existing directors provide their personal code as part of their company's next confirmation statement.
Last checked against its sources on 10 October 2026. How we write these.
Identity verification is part of the UK's reforms to company transparency. Directors and people with significant control must verify, either online through GOV.UK One Login, with bank or building society details where offered, in person at a Post Office, or through an authorised corporate service provider such as an accountant or solicitor.
Once verified, a person receives a Companies House personal code. For existing directors, GOV.UK says the code must be provided as part of the company's next confirmation statement, and a director of several companies must do this for each one. Companies House will not accept the confirmation statement until all directors have verified.
People with significant control who are not directors have separate timing, which GOV.UK sets by birth month. Someone newly added as a person with significant control must provide their code on being added or within 14 days of it.
For a small business, the practical step is to make sure every director and owner has verified early, rather than discovering the problem on filing day. A company with a director abroad, for instance, should check which route suits them, because the available methods depend on the identity documents held.
Questions people ask
When must existing directors verify?
GOV.UK says existing directors provide their personal code as part of the company's next confirmation statement. Check the current GOV.UK guidance for your own company's dates.
Can an accountant verify me?
Yes, an authorised corporate service provider, such as an accountant or solicitor, can verify identity on your behalf, provided you give suitable identity documents.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Verify your identity for Companies House checked 10 October 2026
- GOV.UK: When you need to verify your identity for Companies House checked 10 October 2026