Associate Emma Ford, in our Corporate & Commercial team, provides a helpful overview of the new Companies House verification process coming into force later this month.
The landscape of UK corporate compliance is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). From 18 November 2025, Companies House will introduce mandatory identity verification for all company directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and those involved in forming new companies. This major reform under the ECCTA represents one of the most significant changes to UK company law in recent years. The new verification process aims to strengthen the accuracy and integrity of the Companies House register by ensuring that only verified legitimate individuals can create or manage companies, whilst reducing the risk of fraud and combatting misuse of companies for illegal activities.
For businesses and their officers, understanding these changes is critical to ensure compliance with the new requirements.
The identity verification can be completed directly by an individual with Companies House, using a secure online system that checks their details against official photo ID. Alternatively, verification can be carried out via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as a solicitor, accountant or company formation agent, who is approved by Companies House to act as an intermediary for registered entities such as companies and LLPs.
The Role of an Authorised Corporate Service Provider
ACSPs are able to confirm a person’s identity on their behalf and submit this confirmation to Companies House on behalf of clients. By operating via an ACSP, companies and individuals can ensure that verification is completed correctly, efficiently and in full compliance with the new legal standards.
Blandy & Blandy is an ACSP and is authorised by Companies House to complete this process on behalf of individuals and companies.
Key stages of identity verification
The identity verification process involves several key stages to confirm an individual’s identity securely and efficiently.
First, the individual will be required to provide a valid form of photo identification, such as a passport or driving license, which will be checked using secure digital technology to confirm that the photo on the ID matches a live image or video taken during the process. The system will also verify the authenticity of the document by cross-referencing official records.
Once these checks are successfully completed, the individual’s identity will be confirmed and they will receive a unique personal verification code. This code will be a permanent digital identifier, linking that person to all of their company roles on the Companies House register. The code confirms that the individual has completed the verification process and can be officially associated with a company record. The verification code is non-transferable, meaning it cannot be shared, re-used or assigned to another individual.
The same verification code will need to be applied to any future appointments or company incorporations, removing the requirement for repeated verification unless personal details change. This system will ensure a secure, transparent link between verified individuals and the companies they are associated with, strengthening accuracy and accountability of the public corporate registers.
An ACSP will complete the verification and report the confirmation to Companies House on the individual’s behalf.
How Using a Law Firm Authorised Corporate Service Provider Benefits Your Business
For UK companies, particularly those with complex structures, overseas officers, or those looking to streamline their compliance, using a law firm that is a registered ACSP can provide significant advantages:
- Integrated Compliance: A law firm ACSP can seamlessly integrate the new Companies House identity verification requirements with your existing legal and regulatory compliance procedures, ensuring a holistic and risk-managed approach.
- Expert Oversight: As an AML-regulated entity, a law firm is already accustomed to robust due diligence. By using a solicitor as your ACSP, you benefit from their expertise in compliance and corporate governance to manage your filings.
- Reduced Administrative Burden: Outsourcing the verification and filing process to a trusted ACSP reduces the administrative load on your internal team, allowing key personnel to focus on core business activities.
- Mitigation of Delays: Given the mandatory deadlines, engaging a professional ACSP in advance is arguably the most reliable way to ensure that your company meets the requirements and avoids delays or rejected filings.
Blandy & Blandy, as an ACSP, would be pleased to assist our existing clients with completing this necessary identification process, providing guidance at each stage and giving you the peace of mind that your company is fully compliant with the imminent requirements under the ECCTA. Please contact our Corporate & Commercial team for further assistance.
For further information or legal advice, please email law@blandy.co.uk or call 0118 951 6800.
This article is intended for the use of clients and other interested parties. The information contained in it is believed to be correct at the date of publication, but it is necessarily of a brief and general nature and should not be relied upon as a substitute for specific professional advice.
