Identity verification coming to Companies House

 As part of the changes being gradually introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCT), identity verification is set to become a Companies House requirement.

This is one of a number of changes that the Act is making to better protect the data held at Companies House.

Who will be affected by identity verification?

Identity verification will ultimately become a compulsory part of incorporation and new appointments for new directors and persons with significant control (PSCs).

All existing directors and PSCs will also need to verify their identity as part of the annual confirmation statement filing, once Companies House make this mandatory. Anyone who files a document will also need to have their identity verified.

Mandatory identity verification is still being prepared for. However, individuals will be able to voluntarily verify their identity from 8 April 2025 using their GOV.UK One Login or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

For further information, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/companies-house-launches-registration-of-authorised-corporate-service-providers

About the Author

Paul Newbold

Partner

After qualifying with KPMG where he gained significant audit experience, Paul joined Torgersens in 1991 and became the firm’s audit partner in 2000. Paul employs his broad range of financial skills to provide commercial and accounting advice to a range of owner-managed businesses in the independent retail, education and professional services sectors. He also has extensive experience dealing with charities, Registered Social Landlords and not-for-profit organisations and co-operatives.   Outside of work, Paul likes to visit Eastern France and South-West German and read novels by David Morrell, Michael Blake and Harper Lee. He also likes watching films, his favourite is The Shawshank Redemption.

To get in touch please e-mail paul.newbold@torgersens.com.