Companies House Identity Verification New Prosecution Risk Explained

Directors who fail to complete Companies House identity verification when required can face fines and prosecution. This is now a real enforcement risk, with the Insolvency Service securing its first convictions for identity verification offences on 16 September 2026.

The rules became mandatory from 18 November 2025. New directors must verify before acting, while existing directors are being brought into the regime during the transition period.

For property company directors, identity verification is no longer just admin. It is a legal responsibility that needs to be dealt with on time.

Companies House identity verification is there to make it harder for people to use false or stolen identities to set up or control UK companies. The rules were introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to improve the quality of information on the Companies House register and help tackle fraud.

Directors and people with significant control (PSCs), now need to verify their identity. In most cases, you only need to complete the identity check once.

But verification is only the first step. Once your identity has been confirmed, Companies House gives you a personal code. You then use that code to link your verified identity to each company role you hold. Existing directors do this through the relevant confirmation statement, while new directors provide the code when they are appointed or when a company is set up.

There is no single deadline for all existing directors to complete Companies House identity verification. For most, the key date is the company’s next confirmation statement. New directors have had to verify their identity since 18 November 2025, while existing directors are being brought into the rules during the 12-month transition period. It is therefore worth checking your confirmation statement date now, rather than leaving it until later.

Failing to complete Companies House identity verification is no longer something directors can afford to overlook. If you continue acting as a director after your verification deadline without meeting the requirements, you are committing an offence.

Companies House can take a range of enforcement action, including financial penalties, court prosecution and referral to the Insolvency Service. In serious cases, prosecution may lead to a criminal conviction, fines or director disqualification. Companies House can also add information to the public register and use other enforcement powers where appropriate.

And this is no longer just a warning on paper. In September 2026, three directors were fined in the first Insolvency Service prosecutions for Companies House identity verification offences, showing that enforcement is now happening in practice.

What Can Directors Learn from the First Prosecutions?

The first prosecutions show that Companies House is now taking identity verification seriously.

In one case, an unverified director continued taking part in board decisions and signing company accounts before completing verification shortly before the court hearing.

In another, a director had verified his own identity but was still prosecuted because he did not take reasonable steps to stop an unverified co-director from continuing to act. Both were also convicted over a late confirmation statement.

There are two main ways to complete Companies House identity verification. You can do it yourself for free through GOV.UK One Login, using an app, online checks or, in some cases, a participating Post Office.

You can also use a Companies House registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor.

Once verified, you will receive an 11-character personal code to use for your relevant Companies House roles.

Need a step-by-step breakdown? Read our Companies House identity verification guide to see exactly what you need to do.

For property company directors, the key is to deal with Companies House identity verification early, rather than waiting until the next filing deadline is close.

• Check that every director has completed identity verification.
• Make sure each director has their Companies House personal code to hand and only shares it securely with someone filing on their behalf.
• Check when the next confirmation statement is due. The company cannot file it until all directors are verified.
• Check whether any director is also a person with significant control (PSC). Being verified as a director does not automatically complete the PSC requirement.
• Check the PSC’s separate 14-day deadline, where this applies.
• Do not let an unverified director continue acting once their verification deadline has passed.
• Get help from a Companies House registered ACSP, such as an authorised accountant or solicitor, if you cannot complete the verification process yourself.

A few checks now can prevent a missed filing deadline from turning into a wider Companies House compliance problem.

Companies House identity verification is now something directors need to stay on top of, not leave until the last minute.

For property investors, especially those with several SPVs, keeping verification details and deadlines under control can prevent avoidable filing problems and enforcement risk.

A little preparation now can save a much bigger compliance headache later.