Companies House ID Verification
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) is introducing identity verification requirements for directors, people with significant control, and individuals filing on behalf of UK companies.
Who needs to verify?
All directors, members, general partners and managing officers will need to verify their identities with Companies House. Also any PSC (Person with Significant Control, Authorised Corporation Service Provider (eg accountants) and anyone who files for your company (eg secretary) will also need to verify their identity.
Why do I need to verify my identity?
Companies House have introduced new idea checks to prevent individuals from using companies for illegal purposes such as fraud. It also provide an additional layer of protection for businesses by ensuring filings and registrations are only carried out by authorised individuals.
When do I need to verify my identity by?
Companies House have announced that this will be mandatory from 18th November 2025. However, we would recommend that you verify your identity as soon as possible, to prevent potential delays and to safeguard the integrity of your business data at Companies House.
How do I verify my identity with Companies House?
There are a number of ways you can verify your identity with Companies House:
• Online – using the Gov.uk One Login app (free of charge)
• Post office – in person at your local Post Office
How to complete the Companies House Identity Verification
We have found the easiest way to complete the verification is online using a smartphone, and have therefore set out the steps for this method below. These instructions assume that you have a UK passport.
1. Follow this link on your smartphone
2. Click Verify your identity
3. Click go to GOV.UK One Login
4. Create your GOV.UK One Login (you must use the email address associated with your Companies House account). Click continue
5. Input the 6 digit security code sent to the email address you have provided and click continue.
6. Create your password and click continue.
7. Set up 2 factor authentication
8. Click open GOV.UK ID Check
9. Select whether your ID has been verified yet, if not select No and click continue.
10. Click continue again
11. Select where you live and click continue
12. Confirm whether or not you have the forms of ID listed on the screen, then click continue.
13. Select “no, I am on a smartphone”. Click continue
14. Select which smartphone you are using and click continue
15. Confirm you have a calid passport then click continue
16. Select whether or no your passport has this symbol on the front, then click continue
17. Click continue to use the your passport and ID Check app to verify your identity
18. Keep the browser page open and/or bookmark it as you will need to come back to it later in the process, then click download or open GOV.UK ID check
19. Once you have downloaded the app, return to the page in step 18 and click Link GOV.UK ID Check
20. In the app click continue to capture the information on your Passport’s photo ID page
21. Once you have successfully captured an image of your Passport photo page click continue
22. Follow the onscreen instructions to scan the biometric chip on your passports front cover.
23. Click start and follow the onscreen intsructions, to scan your face using your phones camera
24. Click go to GOV.UK
25. You should receive a message to say “We have successfully matched you to the photo on your ID”. Click continue
26. Enter your postcode and click find address
27. Once you have selected your address, you will be taken to another page. Click Continue to the service
28. Click continue
29. You should then be taken to a page that says “Identity verification complete”. You should save the code provided as your will need this in the future.
30. If we act as your accountant you will also need to email this code to us
Your Companies house Identity Verification is now complete.