ID Verification: What’s Changing at Companies House and What You Need to Do
From November 2025, Companies House is introducing new identity verification requirements for company directors as part of the UK government’s broader reforms to tackle economic crime and improve corporate transparency.
These changes will impact all existing and new company Directors, People with Significant Control, and Members of LLPs - so we’ve put together a summary of what you need to know.
What Is Changing?
Companies House has not previously asked for verification of the identity of individuals when a company is incorporated or when directors are appointed. This has made it easier for fraudsters to create fake or misleading corporate structures.
The new legislation will require that:
All new and existing company directors must verify their identity with Companies House.
Verification will be mandatory before a person can be appointed as a director.
Existing directors will be given a twelve month transition period to complete verification.
Non-compliance may result in penalties, including fines or being barred from acting as a director.
Identity verification will also be mandatory for People with Significant Control (PSCs) and Members of LLPs (Limited Liability Partnerships).
How Will ID Verification Work?
Identity verification will be available through two routes:
Directly with Companies House, via a new digital process using official documents like a passport or driving licence.
Through an authorised agent who can complete verification on your behalf, which includes the Post Office, as well as other registered authorised agents.
Once verified, individuals will receive a unique identifier confirming their status.
When Will This Happen?
Companies House have recently announced the changes are expected to begin in November 2025, and there will be clear communication in advance to allow companies and directors to prepare. Some emails have already been sent to Directors by Companies House giving them notice of the changes.
There will be a 12-month transition period for existing directors, PSCs and Members of LLPs, in order to give everyone adequate time to verify their identification. This transition period will end in late 2026. However, ID will need to be verified ahead of the due date for a company’s Confirmation Statement, as it is expected that after this process officially launches in November 2025 Confirmation Statements won’t be able to be filed without all Directors, PSCs, and Members of LLPs having already been verified.
What You Should Do Now
Although the process isn’t being made mandatory until November 2025, a voluntary scheme for verifying your identity with Companies House is already up and running. This means that existing directors, PSCs and members of LLPs can get a head start and verify their identity now via the Companies House website.
You may well have already received emails from Companies House with details on how to do this, or you can find more information and begin the verification process on the Companies House website.
Need help?
If you are a company director, a company PSC or a Member of an LLP and you are unsure what this means for you, we are here to help. We’ll be offering support and guidance for clients through the verification process.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and reflects the law and guidance at the time of writing. It does not constitute professional advice. Please consult a qualified advisor before making financial or tax-related decisions.