Companies House ID verification becomes m 18 November – Steps to take in Septemberandatory from

The next major milestone under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act is here: identity verification becomes mandatory at Companies House from 18 November 2025. Directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and LLP members will have to verify—either directly via GOV.UK One Login or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

Voluntary verification has been open since April, and guidance was updated in early August with operational detail. September is the moment to organise your internal rollout. Changes to UK company law.

What’s actually changing?

From 18 November, Companies House will require individuals to confirm they have verified when they take up or hold roles, and it will issue personal verification codes. Filing without verification won’t be acceptable: the registrar’s new objectives include promoting the integrity of the register, and identity checks are central to that. A GOV.UK news update last week reconfirmed the 18 November switch-on and how the code will be used across multiple roles. GOV.UK

Who is in scope, and when?

New appointees after go-live must verify before they can act. Existing directors/PSCs will have a transition period but should not delay; organisations with large boards, group structures, or many LLP members will need a plan to avoid last-minute bottlenecks—especially where cross-border individuals or name/ID mismatches exist. Companies House has also refreshed its transition plan to reflect sequencing and registrar powers.

September actions for businesses:

Start by mapping all relevant individuals (directors, PSCs, LLP members) and confirming the verification route—direct via GOV.UK or through an ACSP (for example, your accountant or company secretarial provider). Test the One Login process with a small cohort to identify documentation snags (expired passports, address mismatches). Build verification into on-boarding for new appointments from November, and update board policies and engagement letters to reflect the duty to verify.

For groups with significant officer churn, consider centralising through an ACSP to standardise checks and evidence. Don’t forget overseas persons: ensure they understand the process and timing, and allow for additional ID requirements.

What your accountant can help with:

Acting as (or connecting you to) an ACSP, handling end-to-end verification, cleaning PSC data, and aligning your statutory books with Companies House to reduce rejection risk at filing deadlines.

Why this matters beyond compliance:

ID verification is part of a broader tightening: stronger registrar powers, challenge functions, and data-matching will elevate the quality of the register and reduce impersonation and fraud. That’s positive for credit checks and counter-party due diligence, but only if your own records are pristine.

Bottom line:

Treat September as your preparation window. Get your people verified, fix data quality issues, and avoid the November rush.

Ask us to act as your ACSP and run a turnkey verification programme for your directors and PSCs.