Identity Verification for PSCs: Your Questions Answered

Identity verification for Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) is a new legal requirement introduced by Companies House as part of the government's efforts to enhance corporate transparency and tackle economic crime.

 Starting from 18 November 2025, all PSCs associated with UK companies must verify their identity to confirm their role in the company's structure. This initiative is part of broader reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023).

The goal is to ensure that the information on the public register is accurate, secure, and up to date, promoting accountability for individuals who hold significant control over UK companies. The verification process requires PSCs to submit personal information, provide documentation, and obtain a unique Companies House personal code to link their verified identity to their record.

What is identity verification for people with significant control?

Identity verification is a legal requirement introduced by Companies House for all people with significant control of UK companies. The requirement came into force on 18 November 2025 and gives PSCs a 12-month transition period to complete verification by their individual deadlines.

When you verify your identity, you receive a unique Companies House personal code. You must then provide this code to Companies House within a specified timeframe to link your verified identity to your PSC record on the register.

Who needs to verify their identity as a PSC?

You must verify your identity if you are registered as a person with significant control of a UK company. This applies whether you are:

The requirement applies to all PSCs regardless of nationality or residence. Even if you hold multiple PSC roles across different companies, you only need to verify your identity once. However, you must provide your personal code separately for each PSC role.

What documents do I need to verify my identity?

You can verify online if you have one of these forms of photo identification:

You will also need your current address and the year you moved to that address. You must have or create a GOV.UK One Login account for verification.

How do I know if my passport is biometric?

A biometric passport contains an electronic chip that stores your information digitally. You can identify a biometric passport by the small rectangular symbol on the front cover.

All UK passports issued after 2006 are biometric. If you hold a passport from another country, check for the rectangular symbol. Biometric passports from any country are acceptable for online verification.

These passports, also known as machine-readable passports, are designed to work with electronic gates at airports and train stations.

Can I use an expired document for online verification?

For direct online verification through GOV.UK, you should use a valid, unexpired document. The system requires current identification to complete the verification process successfully.

If your passport or other photo ID has expired, you should renew it before attempting to verify online or consider using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider who may accept recently expired documents in certain circumstances.

What if I do not have any of these documents?

If you do not hold any of the acceptable forms of photo ID for online verification, you have two alternatives.

First, you can check whether you are eligible to verify using your bank or building society account details. UK residents may be able to use this route by providing their National Insurance number and answering security questions. Part of this process requires a visit to a Post Office branch.

Second, you can engage an Authorised Corporate Service Provider to verify your identity on your behalf. ACSPs can accept a wider range of documents than the online service.

Can someone else verify my identity for me?

Yes, you can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider to verify your identity on your behalf. These are regulated professionals, such as accountants or solicitors, who have registered with Companies House to provide verification services.

Your chosen ACSP must be supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering body. They will need to examine your original identity documents and will submit verification to Companies House on your behalf.

Most ACSPs charge fees for this service, so you should agree on costs before proceeding. You can check if your existing accountant or solicitor is registered as an ACSP or search the official list on the Companies House website.

What documents can an ACSP use to verify my identity?

Authorised Corporate Service Providers have more flexibility in the documents they can accept. They use one of two options, depending on whether they employ identity document validation technology or conduct manual checks.

The specific documents acceptable to your ACSP will depend on which verification method they use. You should discuss document requirements directly with your chosen provider before beginning the process.

What is Option 1 for ACSP verification?

Option 1 applies when an ACSP uses identification document validation technology that can validate the cryptographic features of your documents. Cryptographic features are advanced security elements that verify the authenticity of the document's issuer.

What is Option 2 for ACSP verification?

Option 2 applies when documents are being checked by a person, either in person or remotely. The ACSP must be satisfied that its checking process is robust enough to validate the documents you provide.

What are Group A documents?

Group A documents are photographic identity documents. You can provide any of the following:

What are Group B documents?

Group B documents do not need to contain your photograph. You can provide any of the following:

Can I use expired documents with an ACSP?

Yes, in certain circumstances, an ACSP can accept documents that are recently expired.

Other documents must generally be current and valid unless the ACSP advises otherwise based on their specific verification procedures.

What happens after I provide documents to an ACSP?

Your ACSP will examine your documents and complete the identity verification checks. They will submit confirmation to Companies House that they have verified your identity.

The ACSP must keep copies of your documents for seven years from the date they complete the identity checks. However, they do not submit copies of your documents to Companies House.

When the ACSP tells Companies House they have verified you, they provide information about the documents used, including reference numbers, expiry dates, and countries of issue where applicable. For Group B documents, these details are not required.

Will I need to verify again if my documents expire?

No, you will not need to verify your identity again if a document expires after the ACSP has completed your identity checks.

Your verified status and Companies House personal code remain valid even after the verification documents have expired. You only verify your identity once unless Companies House specifically instructs you to do so again.

What if I do not have an acceptable photo ID?

If you do not have any of the acceptable forms of photo ID, you can check alternative verification options through the GOV.UK service.

UK residents may be able to verify using their bank or building society account details. This route requires you to provide your National Insurance number and answer security questions. Part of the process takes place at a Post Office branch.

Alternatively, you can use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider who can verify your identity by examining other forms of documentation.

How do I verify my identity online?

You verify online using the free GOV.UK service. The process works as follows:

First, go to the Companies House identity verification service on GOV.UK. You will need to sign in to or create a GOV.UK One Login account.

The system will ask you questions about your circumstances to determine the best verification method for you. You must answer these questions about yourself as an individual, not about your company.

How much does identity verification cost?

Verification through the GOV.UK service is completely free. You do not pay any fees to Companies House for identity verification.

If you choose to use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, they may charge professional fees for their service. The amount varies between providers, so you should obtain a quote before engaging their services.

What is a Companies House personal code?

A Companies House personal code is a unique identifier issued to you after successful identity verification. The code is personal to you as an individual. It does not belong to any company and remains yours even if you change roles or leave the company.

You will need your personal code for various purposes, including:

Treat your personal code as confidential information, similar to your Unique Taxpayer Reference for tax purposes.

When do I need to verify my identity?

The timing depends on whether you were already a PSC before the rules came into force and whether you also serve as a director.

You must complete the verification process as soon as possible. However, the deadline for providing your personal code to Companies House for your PSC role varies based on your circumstances.

When must I provide my personal code if I am both a director and a PSC?

If you hold both roles at the same company, you must provide your personal code for each role separately.

For your director role, you include the code in your company's confirmation statement.

For your PSC role, you must provide it through a separate dedicated service. Your 14-day window to do this begins on the day after your company's confirmation statement date.

For example, if your company's confirmation statement date is 15 March, your 14-day period to provide your PSC code runs from 16 March to 29 March.

When must I provide my personal code if I am a PSC but not a director?

If you are a PSC but not a director of the same company, you must provide your personal code within the first 14 days of your birth month.

Your 14-day period starts on the first day of the month in which you were born, regardless of your actual date of birth.

What if I became a PSC after 18 November 2025?

If you were appointed as a PSC after 18 November 2025, you can provide your personal code in one of two ways:

This gives you the flexibility to provide your code immediately upon appointment or within a short window afterwards.

How do I check my specific deadline?

You can check the exact dates of your 14-day period by using the "Provide identity verification details for a PSC" service on the Companies House website.

Sign in to the service with your details. The system will display your specific 14-day window based on your circumstances.

You should check this well in advance of your expected deadline, so you have time to complete verification if you have not already done so.

How do I provide my personal code to Companies House?

You must use the dedicated "Provide identity verification details for a PSC" service. This is a separate service from the initial verification process.

When you use this service, you will:

You must do this within your 14-day compliance window. The service is available on the Companies House website.

Can someone else provide my personal code on my behalf?

Yes, the service allows someone to provide identity verification details on behalf of a PSC. This might be your accountant, solicitor, or company secretary.

However, you should only share your personal code with people you trust completely. Treat it as confidential information and use secure methods to communicate it to anyone filing on your behalf.

What if I hold PSC roles in multiple companies?

You only need to verify your identity once. Your Companies House personal code works across all your roles and all companies.

However, you must provide your personal code separately for each PSC role you hold. Each company will have its own 14-day window during which you must submit your code for that specific PSC role.

The timing of each 14-day window depends on whether you are also a director of that particular company.

You may also be unable to continue acting legally as a PSC after your deadline passes. The company itself may face consequences if PSCs remain unverified.

Companies House has stated it will use the full range of its powers to ensure compliance with verification requirements.

Can I request more time if I cannot meet my deadline?

Yes, you can request a 14-day extension if you cannot provide your verification details on time.

You must submit your extension request before your original deadline passes. You cannot request an extension after the deadline has already passed.

Use the same "Provide identity verification details for a PSC" service to request an extension. However, you should not assume an extension will be granted automatically. Submit your request with as much notice as possible and be prepared to explain your circumstances.

What if my company files its confirmation statement early?

If your company files its confirmation statement before the due date, this does not change your deadline for providing your PSC code.

Your 14-day period remains fixed based on the confirmation statement date itself, not the date on which the statement is actually filed.

For example, if your confirmation statement date is 30 June but your company files on 15 June, your 14-day period still begins on 1 July.

Do I need to verify again if I have already done so?

No, you only need to verify your identity once in most cases. Your verified identity and personal code remain valid across all your roles and companies.

You should not verify again unless Companies House specifically instructs you to do so. If you receive such an instruction, Companies House will contact you directly with the details you need to do.

What if I have protected my personal information at Companies House?

If you have successfully applied to protect your personal information at Companies House due to safety concerns, you cannot use the standard PSC verification service.

Similarly, if you have submitted an application for protection and are awaiting a decision, you should not use the standard service.

In these circumstances, you should contact Companies House directly to discuss how to comply with verification requirements while maintaining your protected status.

Is my personal code confidential?

Yes, you should treat your personal code as confidential information. Only share it with people you trust completely, such as professional advisers who need to file documents on your behalf.

While identity verification makes impersonation much more difficult, it is not impossible. Keeping your personal code secure reduces risks.

Store your personal code safely alongside other sensitive information such as your Unique Taxpayer Reference or National Insurance number.

Will I need to provide documents to Companies House by post?

No, you should not post or email identity documents to Companies House. The verification process is completed entirely online or through authorised agents.

Companies House does not accept identity documents sent by post or email as part of the verification process. Using these methods will not fulfil your verification obligations.

Can I verify from outside the UK?

Yes, you can verify your identity from any country if you have an acceptable photo ID, such as a biometric passport.

If you choose to use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, they must be registered with Companies House and supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering body, but you can be located anywhere when they verify your identity.

Conclusion

In summary, the identity verification requirement for PSCs is an important step towards improving the integrity of company ownership records in the UK. By verifying their identity, PSCs ensure that their details are accurately reflected on the Companies House register, contributing to the fight against financial crime and enhancing trust in the corporate sector. While the process is straightforward and offers multiple verification options, it is crucial that PSCs comply with the prescribed deadlines to avoid penalties and legal consequences. As the enforcement of this requirement is fully backed by Companies House, ensuring timely verification will help maintain the legal standing of PSCs and their companies.