Companies House has announced that the new identity verification (IDV) requirements for directors and PSCs will take effect on 18 November 2025.
The IDV requirements were introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. It is estimated that 6 to 7 million individuals will need to have their identity verified by mid-November 2026.
From 18 November 2025:
- New directors will need to verify their identity before incorporation of a company or appointment to an existing company.
- Existing directors will need to confirm they have verified their identity when the company's next annual confirmation statement is filed.
- Existing PSCs will need to confirm they have verified their identity in line with an appointed day during the 12 month transition period – either within 14 days of the company's confirmation statement date (if they are also a director of the same company) or within the first 14 days of the month of their birth (if they are not a director).
- New PSCs will need to confirm their identity has been verified within 14 days of being added to the Companies House register.
When identity has been verified, the individual will receive a 'unique identifier' (an IDV personal code) from Companies House. This code needs to be provided in the relevant Companies House filing to confirm the identity has been verified.
IDV requirements for LLP members who are individuals are expected to take effect from 18 November 2025.
Companies House has also announced that, from 18 November 2025, directors and PSCs will also be able to check the Companies House register to see identity verification due dates for all their roles.
IDV requirements will take effect at a later date for:
- people who file at Companies House
- limited partnerships
- corporate directors of companies
- corporate members of LLPs, and
- nominated officers of relevant legal entities.
Companies House has also confirmed that on 18 November 2025 the current requirement for companies to maintain their own PSC register and registers of directors and secretaries will be abolished.
The option for private companies to elect to use the central register to maintain certain information is also being removed.
For more detailed information on the IDV requirements and how to have your identity verified (using the GOV.UK One Login route or via an authorised corporate service provider), see our guide, New identity verification requirements under ECCTA: what you need to know.
