Director Identity Verification

Director Identity Verification

Upcoming changes to Company Registers – what you need to know by 18 November 2025

From 18 November 2025, major reforms will come into force at Companies House that will significantly change the way company information is managed and reported. The most important of these is the introduction of director identity verification, alongside new rules on company registers. These updates stem from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA), which aims to increase transparency, tackle fraud, and make it harder for bad actors to misuse UK companies.

For directors, company secretaries, and anyone with significant control over a business, these changes will introduce new obligations – and it’s essential to understand them now so you are prepared ahead of the deadline.

 

Why Director Identity Verification matters

Historically, incorporating a company or becoming a director in the UK has been relatively straightforward. While this ease of process helped entrepreneurs, it also left the system open to abuse. Fake directors, identity theft, and fraudulent company setups have been persistent problems.

The new director identity verification rules are designed to fix this. From November 2025, every director will need to confirm their identity through Companies House before they can take up their position or, for existing directors, before certain filings are made. This ensures that the person named as a director really exists, reducing the chances of fraud and improving trust in UK businesses.

 

Director identity verification – who needs to verify their identity and when?

The timeline for director identity verification and related roles depends on whether the individual is new or already in office when the rules go live. The requirements are as follows:

• New Directors: Anyone seeking to become a director from 18 November 2025 must complete their identity verification before they can either form a company or be appointed to an existing one.
• Existing Directors: Current directors must verify their identity before their company files its first confirmation statement after 18 November 2025.
• Persons with Significant Control (PSCs):
  • New PSCs will need to verify their identity within 14 days of being added to the Companies House register.
  • Existing PSCs who are also directors must complete their identity verification before the company’s next confirmation statement is filed.
  • Existing PSCs who are not directors must verify their identity within 14 days of the start of their birth month following 18 November 2025 (for example, a PSC with a May birthday must complete the process by 14 May 2026).
• LLPs: The same rules will also apply to individual members and PSCs of limited liability partnerships from the same date.

At a later stage (with the date still to be confirmed), these obligations will be extended even further to cover:

• Limited partnerships,
• Corporate directors,
• Corporate LLP members,
• Officers of corporate PSCs, and
• Individuals who file documents with Companies House on behalf of companies.

 

What happens if you don’t comply with the Director Identity Verification?

Failure to meet the new director identity verification requirements could have serious consequences. Companies House will gain stronger enforcement powers, meaning directors who do not verify may be prevented from acting, and filings could be rejected. For businesses, this could mean delays in incorporation, blocked transactions, or even penalties.

 

Changes to Company Registers

Alongside director identity verification, companies will also see changes to the way they maintain statutory registers. From 18 November 2025, businesses will only need to keep an internal register of members (shareholders). This register must still meet the requirements set out in the Companies Act 2006, but other registers will no longer need to be maintained internally.

This means companies will no longer be responsible for keeping their own:

• Register of directors,
• Register of directors’ residential addresses,
• Register of secretaries, and
• Register of PSCs.

Instead, the information filed with Companies House will serve as the official, definitive record. This centralisation is intended to make records clearer, more reliable, and easier for third parties – such as banks, investors, and regulators – to verify.

 

Director Identity Verification – preparing for November 2025

With the implementation date now confirmed, businesses should start planning for these changes. Here are some practical steps to consider:

1. Review your director and PSC information now – make sure details held by Companies House are accurate and up to date.
2. Educate your directors and PSCs – explain the upcoming director identity verification rules so they understand when and how they must comply.
3. Update your internal processes – especially around onboarding new directors or shareholders, so identity checks can be completed on time.
4. Prepare for new filing practices – since many registers will no longer be held internally, filings at Companies House will become the single source of truth.
5. Plan for the transition period – particularly around confirmation statements filed after 18 November 2025.

 

Director Identity Verification – how can RPGCC help?

The introduction of director identity verification is one of the biggest changes to UK company law in recent years. While the new rules will create additional steps for businesses, our team at RPGCC is here to make the process as straightforward as possible.

For those unable to utilise the free Gov.Uk One account identity verification route, we can offer a director identity verification service at £250 plus VAT per director. This ensures that your verification is completed correctly and on time, avoiding unnecessary risks or rejected filings.

Our experienced company secretarial and compliance team can also help you:

• Review your current Companies House filings and registers,
• Manage identity verification for directors and PSCs,
• Handle confirmation statement planning around the implementation date, and
• Ensure your internal processes are aligned with the new requirements.

 

Next steps

If you are a director, PSC, or company secretary, now is the time to prepare. Waiting until November 2025 could leave you scrambling to complete verifications or risk non-compliance.  With our support, you can manage director identity verification smoothly, avoid penalties, and focus on running your business with confidence.  If you would like to speak to a member of our team regarding director identity verification, please contact us or telephone our office on 020 7870 9050.