From autumn 2025, significant changes are coming to Companies House that will impact all company directors, persons with significant control (PSCs), and anyone filing on behalf of a company. These changes are part of a wider government effort to improve corporate transparency and reduce economic crime in the UK.
What’s Changing?
A new identity verification requirement will be introduced for anyone involved in forming or managing a company. Whether you’re a newly appointed director or an existing PSC, you’ll be required to confirm your identity before you can carry out certain activities with Companies House.
What Does This Mean for You?
- All directors, PSCs, and company filers (new and existing) will need to verify their identity.
- The process involves uploading a government-issued photo ID (like a passport or driver’s licence) and either a selfie or short video for facial matching.
- Verification can be completed:
- Directly through Companies House using the GOV.UK One Login, or
- Via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) like Fortus.
Key Dates to Be Aware Of
- From Autumn 2025: All new directors and PSCs must complete identity verification before appointment.
- By Autumn 2026: All existing directors and PSCs must have verified their identity to remain compliant.
Why Is This Happening?
The aim is to make the UK’s company register more trustworthy, ensure only genuine individuals are in control of companies, and crack down on fraudulent activity. It’s a significant move toward increasing the accountability of UK-registered businesses.
How Fortus Is Supporting You
At Fortus, we’re preparing the necessary processes to support our clients with the new identity verification requirements. While we’ll soon be able to complete verification on your behalf as an ACSP, you also have the option to verify yourself now.
How to Verify Your Identity Yourself
If you’ve received an email from Companies House, you can follow the link provided to complete the verification process. Here’s what’s involved:
- Set up your GOV.UK One Login account.
- Create or link your Companies House account.
- Upload a photo of your driving licence or biometric passport, and a selfie or short video to confirm it’s you.
- Once verified, you’ll receive a unique 11-digit identity verification code (similar to a UTR).
⚠️ Important: Keep this code safe and share it with us so we can continue to submit filings on your behalf without delays or disruptions.
Need Help?
If you have any questions or would like support completing your identity verification, our team is here to help. Don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 01904 558 300, or email us.
