Company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) are approaching the end of the initial transition period for Companies House identity verification, with businesses being urged to check that individuals have completed the requirements applying to each of their roles.
The 12-month transition began on 18 November 2025 under reforms introduced through the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The measures aim to improve the accuracy of the UK company register and make it harder for individuals to conceal their identities behind corporate structures.
Although the transition concludes on 17 November 2026, Companies House makes clear that this is not a universal personal deadline. The date by which somebody must comply depends on their role, when they assumed it, and the company’s filing timetable.
Sarah Makin, trainee solicitor at Holmes Mackillop, said: “People should check the Companies House register for the due date applying to each role.”
Verification involves establishing an individual’s identity through an approved process and obtaining a personal code, which must subsequently be connected to the relevant appointment or position of control recorded at Companies House. Completing an identity check is therefore not necessarily the same as fulfilling every associated filing obligation.
Different roles require separate submissions —
Existing directors generally provide their personal codes when their companies file their next confirmation statements. Someone serving as a director of several companies must ensure the code is submitted for each appointment, although the underlying identity check ordinarily needs to be completed only once.
PSCs follow separate arrangements. An existing PSC who is also a director of the same company must provide their code separately for the PSC role, normally during a 14-day period beginning the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.
An existing PSC who is not also a director generally has a 14-day submission window beginning on the first day of their birth month. Different deadlines apply to individuals who became PSCs after the verification requirements commenced.
These distinctions are particularly relevant where ownership structures involve multiple companies, directors hold several appointments, or shareholders exercise significant control without serving on the board.
Companies House provides the applicable verification dates through its public register, allowing individuals and company administrators to check the requirements attached to each role.
Identity checks can be completed through GOV.UK One Login or a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider, such as an accountant or solicitor authorised to verify clients.
The government verification service is free, although professional advisers may charge for assistance. Successful verification produces an 11-character personal code that can be used across multiple qualifying roles.
Non-compliance creates legal exposure —
Companies that have not obtained the required verification details for their directors may be unable to file their confirmation statements, potentially creating further compliance problems if filing obligations remain outstanding.
A director who continues acting after an applicable deadline without complying with the requirements may commit an offence. The company and other directors can also face consequences, while PSCs who fail to comply may be subject to financial penalties or prosecution.
Companies House has indicated that enforcement will be proportionate, with powers including financial penalties and court proceedings. Individuals who cannot meet their PSC submission deadline may be able to request an extension before that deadline expires.
Holmes Mackillop has advised directors and PSCs to check their existing records rather than assume that obtaining a personal code has completed the process.
With the initial transition nearing its end, companies need to establish whether the correct verification information has been connected to every relevant role, particularly where individuals are involved in more than one business.
