Your Board Has Until 18 November to Verify Its Identity at Companies House — Don't Miss the Deadline

Published: July 2026 | First CoSec Ltd

What Is Identity Verification?

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, all company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) must complete mandatory identity verification during a transition period ending 18 November 2026 — and for most, the due date is earlier. Directors must provide their Companies House personal code with their company's next confirmation statement, and PSCs within a 14-day window linked to that date (or to their birth month, if they are not also a director). Identity verification for those who file on behalf of companies is expected to follow from late 2026. Missing your due date is an offence, with consequences including financial penalties and being unable to make filings or start a new company.

 This includes all company directors, persons with significant control (PSCs), and anyone filing on behalf of a company — such as accountants, solicitors, or company secretaries.

The purpose is to tackle fraud and improve the integrity of the UK company register. Companies House estimates that there are millions of unverified individuals currently on the register, many of whom may be using false identities.

The Deadline

The deadline for completing identity verification is 18 November 2026. After this date:

- Unverified individuals will be unable to file documents at Companies House, including confirmation statements, accounts, and change of officer notifications.
- Directors and PSCs who have not verified their identity may be in breach of their statutory obligations.
- Companies with unverified officers may face consequences when filing becomes necessary.

This is not a future consideration — with fewer than five months remaining, businesses need to act now.


Who Needs to Verify?

The following individuals must complete identity verification:

- Company directors — all individuals named as directors of a UK-registered company
- Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) — anyone who holds more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or who otherwise controls a company
- Individuals filing on behalf of companies — this includes accountants, solicitors, and company secretaries who submit documents to Companies House

If you are a director of more than one company, you only need to verify once. Verification is linked to your individual identity, not to each company.


How Does Verification Work?

There are two ways to complete identity verification:

1. Direct Verification via Companies House

Individuals can verify directly through the Companies House website. The process involves confirming your identity using a valid UK passport or driving licence, and may include a biometric check. The process takes approximately 10–15 minutes online and is free.

2. Verification via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

Alternatively, individuals can verify through a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider. An ACSP carries out identity checks on behalf of Companies House and confirms that verification has been completed. This route is particularly useful for businesses with multiple directors or PSCs, or where directors are based overseas or lack the required UK identity documents for the online portal.

First CoSec Ltd is registered as an ACSP, which means we are authorised to carry out identity verification on your behalf. We can handle the process for all of your directors and PSCs, confirm completion to Companies House, and ensure your business remains compliant.


Usine First CoSec as your ACSP

- We manage the entire process for you, saving directors' time
- We handle multiple directors and PSCs in a single engagement
- We are experienced in dealing with individuals who may face difficulties with the Companies House online portal
- We provide written confirmation once verification is complete
- We flag any issues before the deadline, giving you time to resolve them


What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

From 18 November 2026, unverified directors and PSCs will be restricted from filing at Companies House. This could mean:

- Being unable to file your confirmation statement (annual return)
- Being unable to update officer details, registered address, or share structure
- Potential annotations on the Companies House register noting non-compliance
- Reputational risk if your company appears non-compliant to investors, lenders, or counterparties


What Should You Do Now?

We recommend taking the following steps:

1. Identify all directors and PSCs who need to verify — check your current Companies House record
2. Check whether any have already verified — Companies House will note verified status on the register
3. Contact us to arrange verification for those who have not yet completed the process

The sooner you act, the more straightforward the process will be. Leaving it until October or November risks delays if any director's identity documents cause issues.


Get in Touch

If you would like First CoSec to handle identity verification for your company's directors and PSCs, please contact us at enquiry@firstcosec.co.uk.

We are happy to provide a no-obligation quote for businesses of any size.



This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. First CoSec Ltd is not a law firm. Readers should seek independent legal advice before taking any action based on the content of this article.