Under new UK company law, all company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) must verify their identity with Companies House. This requirement was introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and applies to individuals, not companies.
Filing a Confirmation Statement does not complete this requirement. Identity verification and PSC verification are separate personal obligations.
This guide walks you through both steps, clearly and simply.
Step 1: Verify Your Identity Online with Companies House
Before anything else, you must verify your identity with Companies House.
What you’ll need
- A valid passport or UK driving license
- A device with a camera (phone, tablet, or computer)
- An accessible email address
Where to verify your identity
Use the official Companies House guidance here:
👉 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verifying-your-identity-for-companies-house
What to do
- Follow the online identity verification process
- Enter your personal details
- Upload your photo ID
- Complete the facial check (selfie or short video)
What happens next
Once your identity is successfully verified, Companies House will issue you with a Companies House Personal Code.
What Is a Companies House Personal Code?
A Companies House Personal Code is a unique code given to you after identity verification.
Key points to know:
- Each person has one Personal Code only
- The same code is used for all current and future roles
- It links your verified identity to roles such as director or PSC
- It must be kept private and secure
If you already have a Personal Code from a previous role or company, you do not need to verify your identity again.
Step 2: Complete PSC Verification (Link Your Personal Code)
If you are a Person with Significant Control, verifying your identity alone is not enough.
You must also link your Personal Code to your PSC role.
This is required:
- even if you are also a director
- even if the Confirmation Statement has already been filed
- even if you’ve verified your identity for another company
Where to complete PSC verification
Use the official PSC verification service here:
👉 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/provide-psc-verification
What to do
- Enter your Companies House Personal Code
- Confirm your PSC role
- Tick the declaration confirming your identity is verified
- Submit the form
Once completed, your verified identity will be linked to your PSC record on the Companies House register.
Who Needs to Complete This?
- Every individual PSC must complete this themselves
- This is not done at company level
- One person completing it does not cover others
If a company has two PSCs, both individuals must complete the process separately.
Deadlines and Compliance
Companies House allows a 14-day period for PSCs to complete identity verification and confirmation.
The deadline depends on the role:
- PSCs who are also directors → based on the company’s Confirmation Statement date
- PSCs who are not directors → based on the first 14 days of their birth month
Failure to comply may result in:
- financial penalties
- prosecution
- a compliance note appearing against the PSC’s name on the public register
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming the Confirmation Statement covers identity verification
- Verifying identity but not linking the Personal Code to the PSC role
- One PSC completing verification “for everyone”
- Sharing or using someone else’s Personal Code
Identity verification is personal and role-specific.
Final Summary
To be fully compliant with Companies House, every PSC must complete two steps:
- Verify your identity online and obtain a Personal Code
- Link that Personal Code to your PSC role
Once both steps are completed, no further action is required unless your role changes.
📢 Received an email from Companies House about PSC identity verification?
Don’t panic — it’s a new legal requirement, and it’s separate from the Confirmation Statement.
If you’re a director or Person with Significant Control (PSC), you now need to:
✔ verify your identity online
✔ link your Personal Code to your PSC role
We’ve written a simple step-by-step guide showing exactly what to do and where to go.
👉 Read the full guide here: [insert blog link]
📞 Need help? Message us.
