Correct at the time of writing (September 2026). Companies House guidance may change, so check the latest position before acting.
Since 18 November 2025, every director and every person with significant control (PSC) of a UK company has had to verify their identity with Companies House. Introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, this is one of the biggest changes to company law in years, and the transition period for existing directors ends on 18 November 2026.
For many owners, the real deadline is earlier.
Who needs to verify
- Every director, whatever their nationality or where they live, including directors of dormant and family companies.
- Every person with significant control, broadly anyone who owns or controls more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, can appoint or remove most of the board, or otherwise has significant influence.
- LLP members and equivalent roles, under similar rules.
When you need to do it
- New directors must verify before they can be appointed.
- Existing directors must verify before filing their company’s next confirmation statement. The 18 November 2026 date ends the transition period, but your practical deadline is your company’s confirmation statement date if that comes sooner.
- Existing PSCs who are also directors have a 14-day window to provide their verification details, starting the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.
- Existing PSCs who are not directors have a 14-day window at the start of their birth month. For example, if your birthday is 24 February, your window runs from 1 to 14 February.
If you are a director of several companies, your effective deadline is the earliest confirmation statement date across all of them. You can check your due dates on the Companies House register: under the “People” tab for each company, a verified role shows “Verified”, and an incomplete one shows its due date.
Why it matters
This is not just an administrative box to tick.
- You cannot file the confirmation statement unless every director’s personal code is included. One unverified director blocks the whole filing.
- It is an offence to act as a director without having verified your identity once the rules apply to you. The company also commits an offence if it allows an unverified person to act as a director.
- PSCs who do not verify on time may commit an offence and face a financial penalty.
- Buyers, lenders and larger clients increasingly check the register. An up-to-date, verified record is part of looking like a well-run business.
What happens if you miss it
Missing the deadline does not undo your appointment, but it does leave you and the company exposed. The confirmation statement stays blocked, putting the company’s filing record at risk, and prosecutors have already brought the first charges for acting as an unverified director. In one case, a co-director who had verified on time was also prosecuted for failing to stop an unverified colleague acting as a director.
If you are close to a PSC deadline, you can request a 14-day extension online, but only once your window has started and before it ends.
How verification works
There are two ways to verify:
- Directly with Companies House using GOV.UK One Login and photo ID.
- Through an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP), an agent registered with Companies House to verify you on your behalf. This is often easier for directors who live overseas or don't have the documents the online service accepts.
Once verified, you receive a personal code. Directors provide it through the confirmation statement, and PSCs use the separate PSC verification service. Companies House explains the process on GOV.UK and on its official blog.
Watch out for scams
Fake “verify your identity” emails and texts are circulating. Genuine verification only happens through GOV.UK One Login or a registered ACSP. Companies House will not ask you to pay through a link in an unexpected message. If in doubt, go to GOV.UK directly rather than clicking a link.
A simple checklist
- List every company you are a director or PSC of, with each confirmation statement date.
- Verify your identity at least a few weeks before the earliest date.
- Keep your personal code somewhere safe; you will need it for each company and role.
- Check your fellow directors, as the filing cannot go through until everyone has verified.
- Diarise your PSC window separately from the confirmation statement.
Need to verify directors or PSCs?
Upscale Consultants is an authorised agent with Companies House and can verify identities, including for directors and PSCs living overseas.
- UK-based individuals: £25 + VAT per person
- Overseas individuals: £150 + VAT per person
Get in touch and we’ll take care of it.
This article is general information, not legal advice for your specific circumstances.
