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.

How long does verification take?

Most digital verifications are completed within 24 hours. The actual identity check takes just 5-10 minutes.

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.

What happens if you don't comply

Miss a Companies House deadline and it doesn't stop at a letter. Here's how it escalates — and how not to get there.

Not sure where your company stands? Run a free Companies House Health Check — see any strike-off risk, overdue filings or identity checks, with plain-English fixes.

317,985

late-filing penalties issued in one year (2024–25)

~870 a day

companies penalised for filing late

£90.5m

Companies House filing-fee income (2023–24)

How it escalates

1. A warning

Companies House writes to you first — a reminder or a penalty warning notice.

2. A penalty or offence

A financial penalty, or a criminal offence your company and its directors can be prosecuted for.

3. Struck off

The registrar removes the company from the register. It is dissolved — it stops existing.

4. It gets personal

Directors can be disqualified and, in some cases, held personally liable.

The three things that catch people out

Annual accounts

An automatic penalty — no warning, no discretion:

Up to 1 month late	£150
1 to 3 months	£375
3 to 6 months	£750
More than 6 months	£1,500

Doubled if you're late two years running.

Confirmation statement

A financial penalty — and a fresh one for each day it stays unfiled.
Company and directors can be prosecuted.
The company can be struck off.

Act within 28 days of a penalty warning notice and the penalty is avoided.

Identity verification

Mandatory since 18 November 2025.

It's an offence to act as a director without verifying.
A court fine or a financial penalty — on the company or the individual.
A note published against your name on the public register.

Figures are for private companies and LLPs. Late-filing penalties are collected on behalf of HM Treasury, not kept by Companies House.

Never become a statistic

Let us file your Confirmation Statement every year and keep you on the right side of every deadline — £89/year, cancel anytime.

Keep me compliant — £89/year Free compliance check

Last reviewed: 15 July 2026. Rules are still being phased in — always check the current GOV.UK guidance.

Sources