Under the next phase of measures being introduced under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 to improve transparency and deter the use of companies for illegal purposes, from 18 November 2025 identity verification (IDV) will become a requirement for certain individuals.
This article covers the following:
- Who needs to verify their identity under the new Companies House IDV rules?
- When does the identity verification need to be completed?
- How to verify your identity under the new IDV rules
- Conclusions
1. Who needs to verify their identity under the new Companies House IDV rules?
You will need your identity to be verified if you are any of the following in relation to an England and Wales registered company or LLP:
- Director
- Person with significant control (PSCs)
- Someone who files documents at Companies House for the company
- LLP member
2. When does the identity verification need to be completed?
The timing requirements for identity verification are different for directors, PSCs and people filing documents at Companies House on behalf of a company, as shown in the table below:
| Company incorporated before 18 November 2025 | Company incorporated on or after 18 November 2025 | |
| Director | When filing the company’s next confirmation statement (after 18 November 2025) | When applying to register the company |
| Person with significant control (PSC) who is also a Director of the same company | Within 14 days of the company’s next confirmation statement date (after 18 November 2025) | Within 14 days of being added to the Companies House register |
| Person with significant control (PSCs) who is NOT also a director of the same company | No later than the 14th day of your birth month | Within 14 days of being added to the Companies House register |
| Someone who files documents at Companies House for the company | Requirement to be introduced in the future. | Requirement to be introduced in the future. |
3. How to verify your identity under the new IDV rules
Identity verification can be completed by either of the following methods:
- Using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). An ACSP is a service provider registered as a Companies House authorised agent. Burlingtons is an ACSP and as such we can assist our clients directly with the identity verification requirements.
- Creating a GOV.UK One Login and verifying your identity by uploading your identification documents and submitting any other information requested as part of the process.
Once your identity has been successfully verified, Companies House will issue you with a unique identifier. Your identifier is what will need to be submitted under the relevant filing with Companies House discussed in Section 2 above.
4. Conclusions
It is an offence if you are required to verify your identity and fail to do so on time, with penalties including a fine and becoming prohibited from acting as a director.
We would therefore encourage all those who need to comply with the IDV requirements to do so at the earliest opportunity, and not to wait until imminently before the relevant deadline. If you have any questions about the matters covered in this article or would like to discuss how we might be able to assist with IDV, please contact us using the contact form below.
This article is provided by Burlingtons for general information only. It is not intended to be and cannot be relied upon as legal advice or otherwise.
