Identity verification at Companies House for a business’ key figures has now become a legal requirement, regional law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors has warned.
The new rules apply to company directors, Persons with Significant Control (PSC) and those who file documents for a business, such as a company secretary.
Ellis Jones, with 189 staff including 24 Partners in eight offices, is advising that anyone who continues to act without verifying their identity will be committing an offence.
The requirement has been introduced to reduce the risk of fraud, to tackle economic crime and improve the transparency and accuracy of the information held at Companies House.
“There are a number of ways you can verify your identity,” says Victoria Simpkin, a Solicitor in the Business Services department at Ellis Jones.
“One way is via the GOV.UK One Login service which will allow you to conduct your identity verification yourself.
“You will be asked a series of questions which will determine the best method of completing your verification. This could be via an app, security questions or by entering your details from photo ID on GOV.UK One Login first and then going to a participating post office.
“This process can prove to be time consuming and is not straightforward. The alternative is that you can verify your identity through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as Ellis Jones, to ensure the process is smooth and hassle free.”
Companies House, which is an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), introduced the requirement after gaining enhanced powers in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
The verification rule came into force in November 2025 but some directors may not be aware or realise that there is an issue until they try to file entries at Companies House.
Victoria says: “When you have successfully verified your identity at Companies House, you will receive a unique identifier most commonly referred to as a Companies House personal code.
“It is important to note that this code is personal to you, not to your company or the company you work for.
“If you are currently a director or a PSC you are required to use your Companies House personal code to connect your verified identity to the Companies House records.
“This is a legal requirement that ensures Companies House knows that the correct identity is linked to the correct role within the selected company.”
She adds: “If you do not verify your identity at Companies House, you will not be able to file your company’s annual confirmation statement or make any filings for your company.
“Any director who continues to act without verifying their identity will be committing an offence. The company is also committing an offence if they fail to rectify this.
“If you do not comply with the verification requirements, Companies House may take enforcement action. This may include prosecution and financial penalties for the company and its directors.
“Furthermore, the company and its directors may also be committing an offence for failing to file a confirmation statement.”
Identity verification requirements have not yet been introduced for limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies and corporate members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs).
However, Companies House has advised that further identity verification measures will be introduced at a later date.
Victoria adds: “Many directors and PSCs of relevant companies have already verified their identity but those who have not yet, are advised to do so as soon as possible.
“Clearly the direction of travel is towards greater verification and transparency for all business entities, so it is prudent to take advice to ensure you are ready for any future measures to ensure compliance.”
Ellis Jones has offices in Bournemouth, Dorchester, Poole, Ringwood, Swanage, Wimborne and London.
Visit https://www.ellisjones.co.uk/business/business-solicitors-bournemouth/ to find out more about the support on offer from Ellis Jones Solicitors for businesses.