Companies House Identity Verification: The Complete Guide (2026)
The short version
- Every UK company director and PSC must verify their identity with Companies House — a legal requirement since 18 November 2025.
- You verify once and receive a personal code that covers all your roles.
- Three routes: free DIY via GOV.UK One Login, the Post Office, or a faster assisted check through an ACSP like us.
- Check failed or based overseas? Jump to verification failed.
What Companies House identity verification is — and who must do it
Companies House identity verification is the process of proving you are who you say you are before you can run or control a UK company. It works like the ID check a bank does when you open an account — confirming a real person stands behind the company.
It was introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to reduce fraud, and it became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025. Two groups must verify:
Every director of a UK company, new or existing.
Anyone who owns/controls more than 25% of shares or votes, or otherwise exerts significant control.
You only need to verify once: the personal code you receive covers every company where you are a director or PSC. If you want it handled for you, our Companies House identity verification service for directors and PSCs completes the check and confirms it to Companies House.
The GOV.UK One Login route, step by step
The free, do-it-yourself route uses GOV.UK One Login. In outline:
- Create or sign in to your GOV.UK One Login account.
- Answer a few questions so One Login can pick the best way to check you.
- Verify using one of: the ID Check app (scanning a biometric passport or UK photo ID with a selfie), answering security questions online, or entering your photo-ID details online and finishing at a Post Office.
- Once verified, Companies House issues your personal code and emails it to you.
It’s free and works well if you have a biometric passport or a valid UK driving licence and a smartphone. Its weak points: it needs those specific documents, and if it can’t match you it won’t tell you why — see verification failed.
Verifying your identity as a person with significant control (PSC)
A PSC verifies their identity in exactly the same ways a director does — the difference is what happens afterwards. As well as the individual getting a personal code, a PSC verification statement (form VS01) is filed against the company to record that the PSC is verified.
If you’re a PSC, our dedicated PSC identity verification service handles both parts — verifying you and filing the PSC verification statement — so nothing is missed. If you already have your personal code, we can file just the statement for you.
Accepted documents — what you need
What you need depends on the route:
- Digital / app check: a biometric (chip) passport, a UK or EU photocard driving licence, a UK biometric residence permit, or an EU biometric national ID card.
- Video call / in person: one photo ID (your passport) plus one proof of address dated within the last 3 months (bank statement, utility bill — not a mobile bill).
- Every document must be in date — expired documents are automatically rejected.
See our full list of accepted documents for Companies House verification for the complete breakdown.
The Companies House personal code — what it is, where it comes from
Your Companies House personal code is a unique code that proves your identity is verified. It’s issued by Companies House after your check passes, and emailed to you directly. You then use it for every company where you are a director or PSC — you don’t verify separately for each one.
It’s not the same as a company authentication code (the 6-character code used to file documents for a specific company). One is about you; the other is about the company. Learn more about the Companies House personal code.
Post Office vs online vs through an ACSP — the routes compared
There are three ways to get verified. All three end with the same personal code — they differ on cost, speed, documents and how much help you get. Here’s an honest comparison:
| Route | Cost | Time | What you need | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY — GOV.UK One Login (online app) | Free | ~10–15 min if it passes | Biometric passport or UK photo ID + a smartphone | People with standard UK documents who are happy to self-serve |
| Post Office (via GOV.UK One Login) | Free | A trip + queue; then a short wait for your code | Photo ID; enter details online first, finish in person | People without a smartphone/app, or whose app check failed but who hold UK photo ID |
| ACSP — TaxStats ID (assisted) | From £39 (digital) · £49 (video) | 5–20 min, same/next-day | Passport (+ proof of address for video); a wider range of documents accepted | Anyone wanting it done fast and reliably, overseas directors, failed DIY checks, non-standard documents |
The DIY and Post Office routes are free and fine when they work. An ACSP (Authorised Corporate Service Provider) is the fast, assisted option: a real person checks you, we accept a wider range of documents, it works from anywhere, and we confirm the result to Companies House for you. That’s exactly what we do — Companies House identity verification through an ACSP, from £39.
Timeline & deadlines
The key dates:
- 18 November 2025 — identity verification becomes a legal requirement, starting a 12-month transition.
- Existing directors & PSCs — must be verified by your company’s next confirmation statement date, and by 18 November 2026 at the latest.
- New directors & new companies — must verify at the point of appointment or incorporation.
Leaving it risks not being able to file your confirmation statement, penalties, and ultimately the company being struck off. See our guide to director verification deadlines.
“Verification failed” or GOV.UK One Login problems
Most people who get stuck tried the free GOV.UK One Login digital check and it wouldn’t pass — and it won’t tell you why. Common reasons:
- You’re an overseas director or don’t hold UK documents.
- Your passport has no biometric chip for the app to scan.
- The app couldn’t read your document, or your name/date of birth didn’t match.
If the free check fails, Companies House itself points you to an ACSP as the alternative. Our video identity verification for Companies House is built for exactly this: a real person verifies you on a short video call, we accept a wider range of documents, there are no notarised copies, and it works from anywhere in the world. It’s the reliable way through when the DIY route won’t pass.
Emails & notifications about identity verification
After you verify, Companies House emails your personal code to you, and may email reminders about your obligations. One important safety note: Companies House will never ask you to pay for your personal code, or to enter card details, by email — treat any such message as a likely scam.
If you verify through an ACSP, any fee you pay is for that agent’s service (verifying you and confirming it to Companies House), not for the code itself, which Companies House issues free.
Want it done for you — quickly and correctly?
We’re a Companies House Authorised Corporate Service Provider (AP006589). Get verified and receive your personal code — from £39.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify my identity at Companies House?
You verify once, in one of three ways: (1) yourself online for free using GOV.UK One Login; (2) online then in person at a participating Post Office if the app check does not work; or (3) through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as TaxStats ID, who verifies you and confirms it to Companies House. All three routes result in the same Companies House personal code.
Is Companies House asking directors to verify their identity?
Yes. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, every company director and every Person with Significant Control (PSC) must verify their identity with Companies House. It became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025, with a transition period tied to your company’s next confirmation statement.
Why does Companies House want to verify my identity?
To reduce fraud. Before the new rules, anyone could be appointed a director without proving who they were, which made it easy to set up fake companies or hide behind them. Verifying the real people behind UK companies helps deter economic crime.
What is the Companies House personal code?
It is a unique code issued to you once your identity is verified. It proves you are verified and is used across all of your directorships and PSC roles — you only verify once. Companies House issues it and emails it to you directly after verification; it is separate from a company’s authentication code.
Can I verify my identity at the Post Office?
Yes, as part of the free GOV.UK One Login route. You enter your details online first, then take your photo ID to a participating Post Office to finish the check in person. It suits people who can’t complete the app-based check but have standard UK photo ID and don’t mind a trip.
How do I submit my identity verification statement to Companies House?
For a PSC, a separate "PSC verification statement" (form VS01) is filed against the company to confirm the PSC is verified — this is different from verifying your identity to get your code. If you already have your personal code, an ACSP like TaxStats ID can file the statement for you.
How do I provide identity verification details for a person with significant control (PSC)?
A PSC verifies their identity the same way a director does (online, Post Office, or via an ACSP) to get a personal code, and then a PSC verification statement is filed against the company. We offer a dedicated PSC identity verification service that handles both the verification and the statement.
Will Companies House email me about identity verification?
Companies House emails your personal code to you after your identity is verified, and may email reminders about your obligations. Be cautious of scams: Companies House will not ask you to pay for your personal code or to enter card details by email. Your fee, if you use an ACSP, is for that agent’s service, not for the code itself.
What is the timeline for verifying my identity?
Identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025, starting a 12-month transition. In practice, existing directors and PSCs must be verified by their company’s next confirmation statement date (and by 18 November 2026 at the latest). New directors and new companies must verify at the point of appointment or incorporation.
What if my GOV.UK One Login verification fails?
The free digital check needs a biometric passport or a valid UK photo ID, and it won’t tell you why it failed. If it doesn’t pass — common for overseas directors, non-chip passports, or documents the app can’t read — you can use an ACSP instead. Our video identity verification uses a real person and accepts a wider range of documents, so you can still complete your check remotely.