What is Companies House identity verification?

Identity verification is a new legal requirement under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. All company directors and PSCs must verify their identity to receive a Companies House personal code.

How much does identity verification cost?

Digital verification starts from £39, with video call verification available from £49. We also offer in-person verification from £59 and priority same-day service at £99.

What documents do I need?

For digital verification, you need a biometric passport or UK driving licence. For video call and in-person verification, a wider range of documents is accepted including national ID cards.

How verifying your identity first speeds up incorporation

Every director and PSC of a new company must be verified at the point of incorporation. The fastest path is to verify everyone before you start the application, so each person's personal code is ready to drop in — nothing to wait for, nothing to resubmit.

Key facts

Verify when:: Before you start the incorporation application
Who:: Every director and PSC of the new company
What you need ready:: Each person's Companies House personal code
Why:: An unverified person can hold the whole formation up

Why "verify first" is faster

At incorporation, the application asks for the personal code of each director and PSC. If someone hasn't verified yet, you can't complete that part — the formation stalls until they do. Verifying everyone in advance removes that dependency entirely.

The simple sequence

Get every director and PSC verified (each as an individual — no company number needed).
Collect each person's Companies House personal code.
Start the incorporation with all codes ready — there's nothing left to verify mid-application.

Do it as a group

If you're forming with co-founders, line everyone up at once rather than one at a time. See verifying before incorporation for the full picture, or verify before you form your company with us.

Frequently asked questions

What slows a company formation down?

The most common avoidable delay is an unverified director or PSC. Because everyone must be verified at incorporation, one person who hasn't verified holds up the whole application.

Can my co-directors verify before the company exists?

Yes — verification is person-level, so each director and PSC can verify in advance and bring their personal code to the incorporation.

How long does verification take?

A digital check takes only a few minutes; Companies House then issues the personal code. Doing it ahead of time means it's done before you need it at incorporation.

Written and reviewed by TaxStats ID

TaxStats Ltd is a Companies House Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP AP006589) — an independent agent authorised by Companies House, not Companies House or a government body. We verify identities and submit them on your behalf; the Companies House personal code is issued by Companies House. Last updated June 2026; checked against GOV.UK guidance. Our Companies House record