Since 18 November 2025, every company director and person with significant control (PSC) must verify their identity with Companies House. You verify once, through GOV.UK One Login or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, and get a Companies House personal code. Directors then give that code in the company's next confirmation statement, and PSCs give it within their own 14 day window.
The verification itself is quick. What catches people out is that the deadline isn't one date for everyone: it depends on your role, and on whether you're a director, a PSC or both.
Who has to verify
- Directors (or equivalent) of UK companies.
- People with significant control (PSCs).
- Anyone applying to register as a Companies House authorised agent, such as an accountant, solicitor or company formation agent.
Companies House says it'll bring in verification later for people who file at Companies House, limited partnerships, corporate directors, corporate members of LLPs and officers of corporate PSCs. So if you only file for a client today, you aren't covered yet, but you will be.
The 3 ways to verify through GOV.UK One Login
| Route | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| GOV.UK One Login app | Prove your identity on your phone using your photo ID | Depends on your device and the type of photo ID you have |
| Security questions online | Answer questions instead of using the app | An option if the app route doesn't suit you |
| At a Post Office | Book online, take your customer letter and original photo ID to a branch | Free, but you must finish within 21 days of booking |
The alternative to GOV.UK One Login is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP): a regulated business such as an accountant, solicitor or formation agent that does the same checks and submits them for you. The Companies House blog notes that GOV.UK One Login can't prove every identity, which is why the ACSP route exists. If you already use an accountant, ask whether they're registered. And if you're an accountant weighing up how to handle the extra admin, our guide for accountants in the UK covers what to automate first.
When you have to give your personal code
| Your role | When you give your code |
|---|---|
| Director | In the company's next confirmation statement, for each company you direct |
| Director of a new company | In the incorporation filing when the company is registered |
| PSC and director of the same company | Separately for each role: in the confirmation statement as director, and within 14 days starting the day after the confirmation statement date as PSC |
| PSC but not a director | Within the first 14 days of your birth month |
| Became a PSC after 18 November 2025 | When you're added to the register, or within 14 days of being added |
Two details people miss. First, if you're a PSC who isn't a director, your window is set by your birthday, not the company's dates: born on 22 January, your 14 days start on 1 January. Second, if the company files its confirmation statement early, a director-PSC's 14 day window doesn't move.
You can check your exact dates on the Companies House register, which shows when each role is due.
How to give a PSC code
- Verify your identity and get your Companies House personal code.
- Go to the Provide identity verification details for a PSC service on GOV.UK and sign in.
- Enter the company number and your personal code.
- Tick the statement confirming your identity is verified.
Companies House says the service takes up to 10 minutes. You can't use it if the PSC's personal information is protected at Companies House, or while a protection application is pending.
If you can't make your deadline
You can ask for a 14 day extension through the same service, but only before your deadline has passed. If you don't comply, Companies House says you may be committing an offence, and it'll display a note against your name on the public register. For a director whose name appears on client-facing searches, that note is the part that hurts.
The Post Office route, step by step
- Enter your photo ID details in the Verify your identity for Companies House service and pick a Post Office.
- Download your customer letter from the confirmation email. A posted copy can take up to 6 working days and leaves you less time.
- Take the letter and your original photo ID (not a photocopy or a digital image) to any branch that offers in-branch verification, by the date on the letter. That's usually around 15 days after your confirmation email.
- Staff scan the QR code, take your photo and scan your ID.
- You'll usually get your result by email from GOV.UK One Login within 1 day.
Miss the date on the letter, or go past 21 days from booking without viewing your result, and you'll have to start again.
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My advice
Verify now, even if your window is months away. It's a one-off, the code works for every role you hold, and the same GOV.UK One Login then gets you into other government services without proving your identity again. Then put your 14 day window in your calendar, because the birth-month rule means it rarely lines up with anything else you file. If you're starting a business in the UK, do it before you incorporate so the filing goes through first time.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs to verify their identity with Companies House?
Every company director and person with significant control must verify their identity. Anyone registering as a Companies House authorised agent must verify too, and other roles such as people who file will follow later.
When do PSCs need to verify their identity?
Each PSC has a 14 day period. A PSC who isn't a director uses the first 14 days of their birth month. A PSC who is also a director uses the 14 days starting the day after the confirmation statement date.
Can I get an extension for Companies House identity verification?
Yes. You can request a 14 day extension through the Provide identity verification details for a PSC service, but only before your verification deadline has passed.
Is Companies House identity verification free?
Verifying through GOV.UK One Login is free, including the Post Office route. Authorised Corporate Service Providers can verify you instead, on their own terms.
What happens if I don't verify my identity for Companies House?
Companies House says you may be committing an offence, and it'll display a note against your name on the public register.
