Companies House ID Verification

Written By Will Farmer

Companies House now requires all limited company directors, shareholders, secretaries and people with significant control (PSC) to formally verify their identity with Companies House.

This will become mandatory for new company incorporations from Autumn 2025 and a requirement for Confirmation Statement filings.

There is twelve-month window for existing limited company directors, shareholders, secretaries and people with significant control (PSC) to complete ID verification to Autumn 2026.

 

How To Complete ID Verification

There are three options to complete ID verification.

1-     Online via Gov.uk One Login

You can verify online if you have the identity documents or information required. This route uses GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity and is free of charge.

 

You’ll need one of the following types of photo ID:

 

·       biometric passport from any country

·       UK photo driving licence (full or provisional)

·       UK biometric residence permit (BRP)

·       UK biometric residence card (BRC)

·       UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP)

 

GOV.UK One Login will ask you some questions to find the best way for you to verify your identity online. Depending on your answers, you’ll then be guided to verify using a GOV.UK mobile phone app or in your web browser.

 

If you do not have any of these types of ID but live in the UK, you may be able to verify with bank or building society details instead. You’ll need to use the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service to find out if you can verify this way.

 

You can find a link to complete this here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house

 

2-     In Person at a Post Office

If you cannot verify online, you may be able to verify your identity in person at a Post Office. You’ll need to use the ’Verify your identity for Companies House’ service first to find out if you can verify this way. This route uses GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity and is free of charge.

 

You can find further details here - https://www.gov.uk/using-your-gov-uk-one-login/proving-your-identity

 

3-     Matrix Accountancy Services can verify your identity as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

Matrix Accountancy Services can verify your identity on your behalf as a Companies House approved ACSP.

 

To complete this you will need to confirm the following information we hold is up to date and correct;

  • full name and any former names

  • date of birth

  • home address

  • address history for the last 12 months

  • mail address

 

We will then require one of the following ID documents;

  • a biometric or machine readable passport, or an Irish passport card – these can be up to 6 months expired if identity checking technology can still validate the cryptographic features

  • a UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and EU photocard driving licence (full or provisional)

  • an identity card with biometric information from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

  • a UK biometric residence permit (BRP) – these can be up to 18 months expired

  • a UK biometric residence card (BRC)

  • a UK Frontier Worker permit

 

A digital copy of the ID can be provided remotely. We will use identification document validation technology (IDVT) to verify the ID document and provide confirmation of this to Companies House.

Note – there is a fee payable to cover the cost of ID verification software if option 3 is chosen. This is invoiced by Matrix Accountancy Services and payable upon successful ID verification.

 

What happens once my ID has been verified?

When you have successfully verified, you’ll get a unique identifier known as a Companies House personal code. The code is personal to you, not your company or a company you work for.

Companies House will require the personal code when filing the next company confirmation statement.

 

Please note that information in this article is based on Companies House guidance, please see the guidance in full here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house#why-you-need-to-verify-your-identity

 

If you have any questions regarding the new requirements, you can contact Will at will@matrixaccountancyservices.com or call 01788 486065.  

 

Will Farmer
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