Companies House identity verification is now a director-control deadline
Opening
Identity verification is no longer a distant Companies House reform to park for later. It is a live governance control. Directors and people with significant control who wait until a filing is due risk turning a routine compliance task into a last-minute blockage with real consequences for company administration and personal exposure.
What happened
From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a legal requirement, with a 12-month transition period. Companies House says the transition start is not one universal deadline: each company must make sure its directors and people with significant control are verified by their own due dates. Verification can be completed through GOV.UK One Login or, where appropriate, through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider such as a registered accountant or solicitor.
Why it matters
The operational risk is not just a missed form. A company may need its directors and PSCs ready for a confirmation statement, appointment or other Companies House event. If the relevant person has not prepared their identity route, address details or separate One Login account, the administration slows at exactly the point the business needs certainty. The director-protection issue is equally clear: identity should never be lent, sold or shared to allow another person to run a company, because debt and legal responsibility can follow.
Practical takeaway
- Create a director and PSC register with each person’s verification status and their relevant Companies House due date.
- Choose the right verification route early: GOV.UK One Login, another supported route, or an eligible ACSP.
- Check that every person uses their own email address for One Login identity verification.
- Keep verification and filing responsibility visible to the board or business owner rather than buried in an annual-admin checklist.
Do not treat the transition period as spare time. Treat it as the window to remove an avoidable director-control risk.
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Genius Money helps owner-managed businesses put stronger controls around director obligations, compliance records and the financial consequences of missed action. If Companies House verification sits outside your current governance checklist, bring it into view before the next filing turns it into an urgent problem.
