Companies House is introducing significant changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, a new law aimed at reducing fraud and improving corporate transparency.
One of the major updates is the requirement for all company directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) to complete mandatory ID verification. Companies House has begun emailing directors and PSCs about this, so you may already have received a message.
These new rules take effect from 18 November 2025. Identity verification can be completed through the government’s GOV.UK One Login service or by using an Authorised Company Service Provider. After your identity is verified, you will receive a unique personal code. This code must be used for future submissions for every company where you act as a director or PSC, so please keep it secure.
When you will need to provide this code depends on your role:
• Directors must provide their code as part of their company’s next confirmation statement submitted on or after 18 November 2025.
• PSCs who are also directors of the same company must supply their code separately, within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date from 18 November 2025.
• PSCs who are not directors must provide their code during the first 14 days of their birth month. For example, if a PSC’s date of birth is 22 January, their submission window begins on 1 January.
No implementation date has yet been confirmed for LLPs.
For newly appointed directors, new PSCs, and new company incorporations, ID verification will automatically form part of the process from 18 November 2025.
