General information for practice owners, current at the time of writing (July 2026). Figures are as reported by industry sources; rules and deadlines change — check the current position and take your own advice.
Identity verification at Companies House became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025 and is being phased in over roughly twelve months. It's a significant change — and for practice owners there are two distinct jobs: getting directors and PSCs verified, and deciding how your firm files on behalf of clients going forward. Miss either and there are real consequences.
1. Director & PSC verification
The headline obligations:
| Who | What they must do & by when |
|---|---|
| Existing directors & PSCs | Verify identity, generally by their first confirmation statement and no later than 17 November 2026 |
| New directors | Verify before appointment |
| How | Free, ~15 minutes via GOV.UK One Login; you receive a Companies House personal code |
| If you don't | Acting as a director without verifying after the deadline can be a criminal offence — for the individual and the company |
2. The ACSP question for your firm
If your firm files at Companies House on clients' behalf — as most do — you'll need to be a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), which requires being supervised for anti-money-laundering purposes. This isn't a box-tick; it's a decision every practice needs to make deliberately and early, because it affects how (and whether) you can continue to make filings for clients. Firms already supervised for AML will find this more straightforward, but it still needs registering.
Practice owner checklist
- List every director and PSC across your own firm and verify them
- Brief clients on their own verification obligations and deadlines
- Decide whether to register as an ACSP — and confirm your AML supervision
- Build verification and filing checks into onboarding and your annual cycle
- Diarise the 17 November 2026 backstop for existing directors
The client-communication opportunity
Verification is landing on all your clients at once, and most won't understand it. That's an administrative burden — but also a genuine opportunity to be the proactive, trusted adviser: a clear, timely note explaining what clients need to do, and offering to help, is exactly the kind of moment that deepens relationships (and, done as a packaged service, can be chargeable). The firms that handle this well will look organised and on top of things; the ones that stay silent will field a scramble of last-minute queries.
Another layer on an already-loaded year
Verification and the ACSP regime add administrative weight to firms in 2026, on top of MTD for Income Tax and everyday compliance. It all feeds the capacity crunch — which makes freeing up time, through better process and outsourcing routine work, more valuable than ever. If the accumulating burden has you weighing your options, a confidential conversation about the future of the firm is always worth having.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Companies House identity verification deadline?
Identity verification became law from 18 November 2025 and is phased over about twelve months. Existing directors and PSCs generally must verify by their first confirmation statement and no later than 17 November 2026; new directors must verify before appointment.
How do directors verify their identity with Companies House?
It's free and takes around 15 minutes online via GOV.UK One Login, after which you receive a Companies House personal code. Check the current process, as details can change.
What is an ACSP and does my firm need to be one?
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider is a firm registered to file at Companies House on clients' behalf, which requires AML supervision. If your practice files for clients, you'll generally need to be a registered ACSP — a decision to make deliberately and early.
What happens if a director doesn't verify their identity?
Continuing to act as a director without verifying after the relevant deadline can be a criminal offence, potentially exposing both the individual and the company to prosecution and penalties.
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