If you are a director of a UK limited company, a person with significant control (PSC) or a member of a limited liability partnership, Companies House has a date for you: Wednesday 18 November 2026. That is when the 12-month transition period for identity verification ends for people who were already on the register before the new rules began.
What Companies House identity verification is
Identity verification is the process of proving that you are the person named on the Companies House register. It comes from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. According to Simply Business, Companies House opened verification on a voluntary basis on 8 April 2025, and it became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025. The aim is that every name on the register links to a real, verified individual.
The scale is large. Sovereign Group reports that Companies House estimated more than six million people would need to verify by mid-November 2026. Learnsignal, summarising ICAEW figures from August 2026, put completion at roughly 55% of directors and 42% of PSCs, so many people were still to act as the date approached.
Key dates at a glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 8 April 2025 | Verification opens on a voluntary basis |
| 18 November 2025 | Verification becomes mandatory for new directors and PSCs; the 12-month transition period begins for existing ones |
| Your next confirmation statement | Existing directors are expected to verify before it is filed |
| 18 November 2026 | The transition period ends; this is the backstop date for everyone already on the register |
| After 18 November 2026 | Unverified directors cannot file a confirmation statement or incorporate new companies until they verify |
Who needs to verify
The requirement covers company directors, PSCs and LLP members. Your own deadline is often earlier than 18 November. Several advisers explain that an existing director is tied to the date their company next files a confirmation statement, while a PSC who is not a director follows a date linked to their birth month. Sovereign Group notes that directors and PSCs can check the Companies House register to see the due date for each of their roles, so look yours up rather than assuming.
Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not registered at Companies House, so this rule does not apply to them. If that is you, our guide to registering as a sole trader in the UK covers the basics.
How to verify your identity
There are three main routes. You can verify online through GOV.UK One Login using a suitable photo ID, you can prove your identity in person at a Post Office (GOV.UK updated that guidance on 22 September 2026), or you can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or formation agent. Irwin Mitchell explains that once you are verified you receive a personal code, which you then use to link your verified identity to each company role you hold.
| Route | How it works | Worth considering if |
|---|---|---|
| GOV.UK One Login | Online check using photo ID and your phone | You have suitable ID and are comfortable doing the check online |
| Post Office | In-person identity check | You prefer a face-to-face check or cannot complete the online steps |
| Authorised agent (ACSP) | An accountant or agent verifies you | You already use an adviser who offers this service; ask about fees first |
- Check the due date for each of your roles on the Companies House register.
- Choose a route and complete the check well before your confirmation statement is due.
- Link your personal code to every company where you are a director or PSC.
- Tell your co-directors. AccountingWeb points out that one unverified director can hold up filings for the whole board.
What happens if you miss the deadline
Learnsignal says that without verification you will not be able to file statutory documents, including your next confirmation statement, or incorporate new companies. Companies House said it would not prosecute individuals during the first 12-month transition period, according to MovingToTheUK. After that period, advisers at MyIVA warn that unverified directors may be committing an offence by continuing to act. We are not lawyers, so check the current position on GOV.UK if you are unsure.
More in Business
Good record-keeping helps here. If your company’s paperwork is tidy, deadlines like this are easier to manage, and our guide to bookkeeping for a small business is a sensible place to start.
Is 18 November the finish line?
Not quite. Rules for people who file documents on a company’s behalf are being phased in separately. The government’s transition plan, updated on 5 August 2026 and reported by Learnsignal, says that step will start no earlier than November 2027, with at least six months’ notice. Directors should also expect checks to become routine, as accountants such as those quoted by AccountingWeb advise building verification into normal company housekeeping.
Watch out for scam messages
Whenever a deadline makes the news, fake emails, texts and calls tend to follow. Go to GOV.UK or the Companies House website directly rather than clicking a link in an unexpected message, and never share a one-time code with someone who contacts you. Our guides on spotting a fake website and stopping spam calls and texts explain the warning signs.
Frequently asked questions
Is 18 November 2026 my personal deadline?
Not necessarily. It is the backstop for existing officeholders. Your actual due date may be earlier, usually linked to your next confirmation statement, so check the register.
Does a dormant company’s director still need to verify?
The requirement applies to directors of companies on the register. Confirm your position on GOV.UK if your company is dormant.
Do I have to verify if an accountant files for the company?
Yes. Directors and PSCs are expected to verify their own identity, even if an agent handles the filings.
Where can I check the official rules?
GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current guidance, and this article is general information rather than legal advice. Sources checked include GOV.UK, ICAEW, Irwin Mitchell, Sovereign Group, Simply Business, AccountingWeb and Learnsignal.
