The UK has introduced a new legal requirement: anyone who runs, owns, or controls a company must prove who they are.
This includes company directors and people with significant control (PSCs). The aim is simple — to stop fake identities, reduce fraud, and make the Companies House register more trustworthy. Here’s the basics of what you need to know.
Why ID verification is now required
For years, Companies House relied mostly on trust. People could register companies with very little checking of who they actually were. That made it easier for criminals to hide behind false names. The new rules fix that. By verifying your identity, Companies House can confirm that the person listed as a director or PSC is a real, traceable individual. This helps:
- Reduce fraud
- Improve transparency
- Increase trust in UK companies
Who needs to verify their identity
You must verify your identity if you are:
- a company director
- a person with significant control (PSC)
- a director of an overseas company registered in the UK
- someone who files information on behalf of a company
Most people will only need to verify once, unless Companies House later asks you to do it again.
How the verification works
Step 1 — You verify yourself using GOV.UK One Login
This is the government’s new single sign‑in system. It’s free and guides you through the process. You can verify your identity in several ways:
- using the GOV.UK One Login app
- answering online security questions
- visiting a participating Post Office
- using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)*
* This could be your accountant or an ACSP such as Board Verify (charges may apply)
Step 2 — You receive your Companies House personal code
Once verified, Companies House gives you an 11‑character personal code.
This code is unique to you — not your company. Think of it like a digital signature that proves “yes, this is really me”.
Step 3 — You link your verified identity to your company roles
If you’re a director or PSC, you must use your personal code to connect your verified identity to the company record Companies House holds for you. This ensures the right person is officially linked to the right company.
When you need to verify
It depends on:
- your role
- when you became a director or PSC
- whether you already have a GOV.UK One Login identity
Companies House will tell you when it’s your turn, and the requirement is being rolled out in phases.
What happens if you don’t verify
If you fail to verify your identity when required, you may not be allowed to act as a director, and Companies House may take action against the company. (This is part of the wider Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act reforms.)
In Short
- If you’re a director or PSC, you now need to prove you are who you say you are.
- You need to get your personal code.
- You need to link yourself to your company(ies) on the Companies House register.