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Companies House Identity Verification in force from autumn 2025

March 2025

24 March 2025 - Last year, we shared a number of incoming changes as part of Companies House’s raft of reforms, which included the introduction of a new identity verification process which will require anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK to verify their identity directly with Companies House. This update aims to provide further clarity about the phased roll out of this new requirement.

Timings of the phased roll out

Who needs to verify their identity?
When?
For newly established companies, all new directors and people with significant control (PSCs) will need to complete identity verification.
From autumn 2025
For existing companies, all directors, or equivalent, and PSCs will have a 12-month transition period to verify their identity.
Transition period to start from autumn 2025
Anyone acting on behalf of a company will also need to verify their identity before they can file information with Companies House.
From spring 2026
Who needs to verify their identity?
For newly established companies, all new directors and people with significant control (PSCs) will need to complete identity verification.
When?
From autumn 2025
Who needs to verify their identity?
For existing companies, all directors, or equivalent, and PSCs will have a 12-month transition period to verify their identity.
When?
Transition period to start from autumn 2025
Who needs to verify their identity?
Anyone acting on behalf of a company will also need to verify their identity before they can file information with Companies House.
When?
From spring 2026

How companies can verify their identity

There are two options available to companies. They can either verify directly with Companies House using the GOV.UK One Login platform, or through a third party known as an Authorized Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), with accepted ID documents.

If opting to verify through an ACSP, companies need to appoint an individual or organization that undertakes anti-money laundering supervised activity. This could include, for example, company formation agents, solicitors, accountants, chartered secretaries and governance professionals.

As experts in entity life cycle management, Citco Corporate Solutions assists clients with their corporate administration, tax compliance and reporting obligations in the UK and globally.

Citco London Limited is well-placed to support clients through the implementation of the new identity verification process. To discuss your needs and requirements, please get in touch.

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