Companies House ID Verification – FAQs Q1. What is Companies House identity verification and why is it now mandatory? Companies House identity verification is a process that confirms the real-world identity of every UK company director and Person with Significant Control (PSC). It became a legal requirement under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), which took effect from 18 November 2025. The aim is to reduce fraud, money laundering, and abuse of UK corporate structures. Verification can be done directly through GOV.UK One Login or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider like Atlas Tax Advisors. Q2. Who needs to complete Companies House ID verification? Verification is required for all UK directors, PSCs, members of LLPs, and anyone else who files documents at Companies House on behalf of a company. New directors and PSCs must verify before being appointed or before their company is incorporated. Existing directors must verify alongside their next confirmation statement after 18 November 2025, while existing PSCs have a 14-day window starting on the first day of their birth month after that date. Q3. What documents do I need to verify my identity with Companies House? You need a valid government-issued photo ID. Acceptable documents include a UK or international passport, UK driving licence, UK biometric residence permit, or national identity card from an EEA country. The document must be in date and machine-readable. You will also need a smartphone with a working camera to complete the facial verification step. If your documents are unusual or the GOV.UK route is rejecting you, we can verify you directly as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. Q4. How long does Companies House identity verification take? For most directors with standard UK documents, verification through GOV.UK One Login takes 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish. Where we verify clients directly through Atlas Tax Advisors, the typical turnaround is the same working day once you provide the required documents and complete a brief video call. The slower scenarios involve older passports, expired ID, or unusual nationalities, which is exactly where having a professional service provider helps to avoid frustrating loops. Q5. What happens if I do not verify my identity by the deadline? The consequences are serious. An unverified director cannot lawfully act in that role, the company cannot file its confirmation statement, and you commit a criminal offence by continuing to act as an unverified director. Companies House can also issue financial penalties and annotate the public register, damaging your business reputation. We strongly recommend verifying well before your deadline rather than risking enforcement action that could disrupt your trading and lender relationships. Q6. Do non-UK resident directors need to verify their identity? Yes. Identity verification applies to every director and PSC of a UK company regardless of where they live. Non-UK residents can use a non-UK passport or national ID card through GOV.UK One Login, but the system can sometimes struggle with certain document types. As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, Atlas Tax Advisors can verify overseas directors directly, which is often faster and more reliable than working through the standard online route. Q7. Can someone else verify my identity for me? No. Identity verification must be completed by you personally because the whole point of the process is to confirm a real human being is genuinely behind the company filings. However, an Authorised Corporate Service Provider like Atlas Tax Advisors can guide you through the process, conduct the verification on the regulated side, and issue your personal Companies House code. We cannot impersonate you, but we can take all the administrative pain away. Q8. How much does Companies House identity verification cost? Verifying directly through GOV.UK One Login is currently free. Verification through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider attracts a professional fee that varies between providers. Atlas Tax Advisors offers verification on its own or bundled with company registration, annual accounts, and confirmation statement services for clients who prefer a single, trusted point of contact for every Companies House obligation. We always quote a fixed fee upfront with no hidden charges. Q9. Will I need to verify my identity again in the future? Verification is currently a one-off process for each individual, with the resulting personal code used for all your future Companies House interactions. However, if your circumstances change significantly (such as becoming a director of additional companies in unusual structures), Companies House may flag the entry for re-verification. Keep a secure record of your personal code, because you will need it for filings, appointments, and resignations across every company you are involved with going forward. Q10. Can Atlas Tax Advisors verify multiple directors of the same company together? Yes, and many of our Milton Keynes corporate clients prefer this approach. We schedule a coordinated verification session for all directors and PSCs, which speeds up the process, ensures everyone is verified before key filing deadlines, and gives the company a clean, fully compliant position at Companies House in one go. We then store records of every verification securely for your future reference and any subsequent appointments to other group companies.