ECCTA 2023: Mandatory identity verification for directors, LLP members and PSCs

Companies House has now confirmed that from 18 November 2025, it will become compulsory for all individuals who become directors, members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and persons with significant control (PSC) to verify their identity with Companies House.

In addition, there will be a 12-month transition period within which existing individual directors, members of LLPs and PSCs will need to verify their identity and provide their personal code (generated as part of the identity verification process) to Companies House. 

How the changes will affect directors and members of LLPs

Individuals that are currently directors and members of LLPs will have until the date of their company/LLP’s next annual confirmation statement, falling after 18 November 2025, to complete the identity verification (IDV) process. They will need to provide their personal code as part of the confirmation statement. If an individual is a director of more than one company, they will need to do this for each company.   

Any individual appointed as a director or LLP member on or after 18 November 2025 must complete identity verification before their appointment can be formally registered. Acting as a director or LLP member without having completed IDV after this date will constitute an offence. 

For existing individual PSCs, the period for completion of IDV varies depending on whether they are also a director of the same entity. When an individual is both a director and PSC of the same company, they must submit their personal code to Companies House on the following two separate occasions:

• As a director: Include their personal code in the company’s confirmation statement.
• As a PSC: Submit their personal code again through a new separate online service within 14 days following the confirmation statement date.

How the changes will affect PSCs

For existing individual PSCs who are not a director of the same entity, they must complete IDV and provide their personal code within the first 14 days of their birth month. For example, if their date of birth is 22 March, the 14-day period starts on 1 March 2026.

If an individual becomes a PSC after 18 November 2025, they will have to verify their identity and provide their personal code within 14 days from the date of their registration as a PSC at Companies House.

Future developments to Companies House

The IDV requirements will initially only apply to individuals. However, Companies House has confirmed that it will introduce IDV later for people who file at Companies House, limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies, corporate members of LLPs and officers of corporate PSCs.   

What do I need to do now?

• While the mandatory compliance date remains several months away, we recommend that all individual directors, LLP members, and PSCs complete IDV voluntarily as early as possible to avoid last-minute delays and ensure smooth future filings. Identity verification can be completed quickly and free of charge via the GOV.UK One Login service. For further details, please see our mini guides in English and French languages.
• Ensure that individuals keep a record of their personal codes.  
• Companies and LLPs should monitor their registered email address for further communications from Companies House regarding IDV.  
• From 18 November 2025, directors and PSCs should check the Companies House register to see the identity verification compliance dates for all their roles.