As part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, Companies House is introducing a new identity verification process for anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company or charitable company in the UK.
From 18 November 2025, identity verification will be required for:
- New or existing company directors
- New or existing people with significant control
- Members of a limited liability partnership
- Director equivalents (general partners, managing officers, etc.)
- People who file on a company’s behalf
This also applies to people running charitable companies. Note that trustees of a charitable company are called directors for the purposes of company law.
Why do you need to verify?
Generally, you will only need to verify your identity once, unless otherwise instructed by Companies House.
Once successful verified, you will receive a Companies House personal code, unique to you, not your company. This will be needed for filing confirmation statements and legally verifying your company records. If you’re a Burton Sweet client, please send this code to us, so we can submit these statements.
Failing to verify will mean you can’t make any filings or start a new company or entity.
For charities, trustees could consequently be prohibited from acting as directors. Conversely, disqualified directors are automatically disqualified from acting as trustees. Incurring penalties in this way could negatively affect your charity’s reputation by deterring donors and grant-makers.
These requirements do not apply to the trustees or officers of Charitable Incorporated Organisations.
How to verify…
1. GOV.UK One Login, free of charge.
2. Certain Post Office branches, where they can conduct a face-to-face check for you. Note that you will be required to start the verification process online before going to the Post Office.
3. A third-party provider in association with Burton Sweet, for a fee of £50 plus VAT for each director. Authorised Corporate Service Providers are qualified to undertake anti-money laundering supervised activities. Should you choose this method of verification, we will need to initiate this process for you.
4. Burton Sweet, by scheduling a meeting in-office with one of our team for the cost of their hourly rate. We can guide you through one of the processes above (1 or 3), if you don’t feel confident verifying independently.
If you have any questions or would like assistance with this process, please contact us…
