ID Checks Incoming: What UK Company Directors Need to Know Before November 2025

Starting 18 November 2025, Companies House will require company directors, PSCs, and anyone filing on behalf of a company to verify their identity. It’s part of the government’s crackdown on fraud and dodgy dealings—but for honest business owners like you, it’s mostly about keeping things up to date, simple, and penalty-free.

Let’s walk you through what’s changing, when you need to act, and how to make sure your company isn’t caught snoozing when the new rules land.

So, What’s All This About Then?

If you’ve ever looked up a company on Companies House and raised an eyebrow at the director’s name, you’ll know why this change matters.

From 18 November 2025, Companies House is tightening the rules:
✅ No more anonymous directors
✅ No more mystery PSCs
✅ And definitely no more “appointments” made without the person’s knowledge

This is all part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023—a big effort to clean up the UK business register and stop fraud before it starts.

Who Needs to Verify – and By When?

This isn’t just for brand-new companies. Here’s who’s affected and what the timeline looks like:

Role	What You Need to Do	Deadline
New directors or PSCs (from 18 Nov 2025)	Must verify before being appointed or incorporated	Immediately at point of appointment
Existing directors and PSCs	Verify identity and link to company	Anytime between Nov 2025 – Nov 2026
Anyone filing on behalf of a company	Must be verified or an approved agent (ACSP)	From Spring 2026

And yes—if you’re all three, you’ll only need to verify once, not three times. Small win, but we’ll take it.

How to Get Verified (It’s Easier Than You Think)

There are two main ways to verify your identity. Good news: one option doesn’t involve queuing at the post office or digging out your GCSE certificates.

✅ Option 1: Do it online (free)

If you’ve got a passport, UK photocard driving licence, or biometric residence card—you’re in luck. You can use GOV.UK One Login and be done in minutes.

You’ll take a photo, maybe a short selfie video, and that’s that. Magic.

✅ Option 2: Do it in person

Don’t fancy the online route? You’ll be able to verify in person at certain post offices using a barcode from Companies House. We’re not 100% sure how many branches will offer this—so maybe don’t leave it to the last minute.

What Happens If You Ignore It?

Tempting as it is to treat this like another HMRC email and “mark as unread,” ignoring these rules could land you in hot water.

• You won’t be able to file anything with Companies House (confirmation statements, appointments, etc.).
• Your company may get flagged as non-compliant, which doesn’t look great to customers or lenders.
• Directors could be disqualified, and yes, fines may apply.

Put simply: you won’t be able to do very much with your company until you verify. And if you’re late, Companies House may assume you’re either asleep at the wheel or not who you say you are.

What You Need to Do Now

Here’s your easy-action plan—no jargon, no fuss:

• ✅ Set up a GOV.UK One Login if you haven’t already (you’ll need this whether you’re filing your own tax return or verifying with Companies House).
• ✅ Check your Companies House email address is correct—this is where the invitation to verify will go.
• ✅ Tell your directors and PSCs (if you’re not the only one) that they’ll need to verify too.
• ✅ Put it in your diary: confirmation statement due dates between Nov 2025–Nov 2026 will trigger the requirement.

We’d suggest not waiting until the last possible moment. Nobody wants to be sorting this during the Christmas rush in 2026.

This identity verification stuff might feel like a faff, but it’s one of those once-in-a-decade changes that’s going to reshape how UK companies are run.

Get ahead of it now, and you’ll avoid any last-minute scrambling or awkward fines later. And if you’re still not sure where to start?

That’s what we’re here for.

Whether you need help registering your One Login, linking your Companies House profile, or just someone to double-check what needs doing—we’ve got your back.