Get ahead and verify your identity now

From 18 November 2025, new legal requirements will begin for all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identity under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act 2023.

The introduction of identity verification will reduce the risk of fraud and improve transparency.

Act now to make sure your company is ready.

What you need to do now

1. Prepare your personal identity documents – have valid photo ID ready, such as a passport or driving licence.

2. Choose how to verify – either through the Verify your identity for Companies House service or by using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

To use the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service, you’ll need to sign in to GOV.​UK One Login.

If you’re creating a GOV.​UK One Login for the first time, use a personal email address that is not being used by anyone else. Shared or group email addresses, or an email address already used by someone else to create a GOV.​UK One Login, will not work.

When using this service, if you’re asked for your address you should use your home address.

3. Verify your identity and get your personal code – you’ll need to include this code on your company’s next confirmation statement from 18 November 2025. Find out more about when to include your code, depending on the role(s) you hold.

4. Check when your company’s confirmation statement is due – after 18 November all directors will need to include their personal codes on the company’s next confirmation statement. You will not be able to file the company’s confirmation statement without this information.

If you do not comply with identity verification requirements on time, you may be committing an offence and may have to pay a financial penalty or fine. Find out more about what happens if you do not verify.

Make sure all directors of your company are aware of this requirement so that they have enough time to complete the process, avoid delays and stay compliant.

5. Check your personal information – before you provide your personal code, make sure the details we hold on our records (such as your date of birth) match the details on the documents you used to verify your identity. If they do not match, you will not be able to link your verified identity to your company role(s).

You can check the information we hold for you and your company by signing into WebFiling.

You only need to verify your identity for Companies House once, but you must provide your personal code for every role you hold.

Find out more about verifying your identity for Companies House.

When you’ll need to provide your personal code

18 November 2025 is the start of a 12-month transition period – it is not a deadline. You’ll need to provide your personal code at the right time, which depends on the role you hold.

If you’re a director

You’ll need to include your personal code on your company’s next confirmation statement from 18 November 2025.

Find out more about when you need to verify your identity as a director.

If you’re both a director and a person with significant control (PSC) of the same company

You only need to verify your identity once, but you’ll need to provide your personal code separately for each role.

As a director, you’ll need to include the code in your company’s confirmation statement – as explained previously.

As a PSC, you must use a separate online service to provide your personal code within 14 days of your company’s confirmation statement date. This service will be available from 18 November 2025. PSCs will also be able to use the service to check their individual 14-day verification due date.

If you’re a PSC but not a director of the same company

You’ll need to 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.

Find out more about when you need to verify your identity as a PSC.

Who can provide my personal code to Companies House

You do not need to call or send your personal code separately. If you’re a director, include it yourself on your company’s next confirmation statement after 18 November, or share it with someone who files on behalf of your company so they can include it for you.

If you’re a PSC, your personal code must be provided using the new service. You can complete this yourself, or someone who files on your behalf can do it for you. We will remind you ahead of your verification due date.

Keep your code safe and only share it with people you trust. We will never ask for your personal code over the phone.

Find out more about the Companies House personal code and where to find it.

Key things to remember

Changes to our WebFiling service

From 13 October 2025, you’ll need to use GOV.​UK One Login to sign in to your WebFiling account.

Find out how to prepare for changes to the WebFiling service.

Please forward this message to any company directors or PSCs who need to verify their identity.

Identity verification requirements for limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies, corporate members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and officers of corporate PSCs, will be introduced at a later date.

How to stay up to date

Read all the latest updates on our Changes to UK company law website and sign up for our regular email newsletters.

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