New rules requiring company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identity have come into effect.

The rules stem from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and require that, from 18 November 2025:

• New directors must verify their identity to incorporate a company or be appointed to an existing company;
• Existing directors will need to confirm they have verified their identity at the same time as they file their next annual confirmation statement, during a 12-month transition period;
• New PSCs will have a 14-day period after they have registered with Companies House to submit a statement confirming they have verified their identity; and
• Existing PSCs who are not directors will have to submit a statement confirming that they have verified their identity within a 14-day period starting from the first day of their month of birth.

Individuals can verify their identity using the ‘Verify your Identity for Companies House’ service here or can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

Companies House has also published guidance on when identity verification will be required (here) and what information individuals will need to provide (here). More detailed guidance addressing further matters such as different ways to verify and the consequences of not doing so can be found here.