19/09/2025
From 18 November 2025, significant changes will come into effect under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. These reforms introduce a new legal requirement for anyone involved in setting up, running, owning, or controlling a company to verify their identity. The changes apply to all types of companies, including charitable companies, even where there are no persons with significant control (PSCs).
You must verify your identity if you are a company director, a person with significant control (PSC), or someone who files documents at Companies House. This includes anyone being appointed to an existing company or founding a new one. Charitable companies are not exempt. Even if your charity does not have PSCs, the directors (or charity trustees if they are registered as such) must still complete the verification process.
The identity verification requirements begin on 18 November 2025 and will apply immediately to anyone incorporating a new company or being appointed to an existing one. From that date, you will not be able to proceed with incorporation or appointment unless the relevant individuals have completed the verification process in advance.
18 November 2025 also marks the start of a one-year transition period for existing companies. During this time, all directors must verify their identity before their company’s next confirmation statement is due. For example, if your company’s confirmation statement is due on 31 March 2026, all directors must be verified by that date. When filing the confirmation statement, you will need to provide each director’s unique Companies House personal code and include a verification statement confirming that their identity has been verified. If this information is not included, your company will not be able to submit the confirmation statement.
If you are a director of multiple companies, you will need to complete this process for each company separately. However, you can use the same personal code for each submission. It is therefore essential to check when your next confirmation statement is due and begin the identity verification process early to avoid delays or non-compliance.
There are two main ways to verify your identity. You can verify directly with Companies House using the GOV.UK One Login and a valid form of photo ID such as a UK passport or driving licence. Alternatively, you can verify through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor who is registered with a relevant anti-money laundering supervisory body. Once verified, you will receive an 11-character personal code which you will need to use when filing documents or confirming your role in a company.
Charitable companies often do not have PSCs due to their governance structures. However, this does not exempt them from the new requirements. Directors and trustees of charitable companies must still verify their identity, and charities must ensure this is done ahead of any relevant filings.
The reforms aim to improve the accuracy and reliability of the Companies House register and provide an added layer of protection against identity fraud. For charitable organisations in particular, this means increased assurance that only legitimate individuals are listed as company officers.
Failure to comply with these new requirements may result in your company being unable to submit its confirmation statement. This can lead to late filing penalties, reputational harm, and in some cases, the company being struck off the register. Directors and PSCs who fail to verify their identity may also face fines or disqualification.
To ensure your organisation is ready:
These changes will significantly affect how all companies interact with Companies House. Charitable organisations should begin preparing now to ensure compliance well ahead of the relevant deadlines.
