From 18 November 2025, UK company directors must verify their identity with Companies House before they can set up, own, or manage a Limited Company. This requirement is part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), aimed at improving corporate transparency and reducing fraud.
If you are a company director, you must act now to avoid potential penalty.
The verification process will be conducted online, at a Post Office, or through an authorised agent, resulting in a personal code. This code will be used to access Companies House services and confirm identity in future filings.
Directors must verify their identity before incorporating a company or becoming a director, PSC (Person with Significant Control), or secretary. The verification requirement will be mandatory for all company directors, and it is expected that 6 to 7 million individuals will need to verify their identity by mid-November 2025.
The verification process is expected to take only a few minutes if the correct documents are provided. Companies House will contact companies to inform them of the identity verification due dates for all their roles. It is encouraged to verify as early as possible to avoid delays with filings or appointments.
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