Companies House: Identity Verification (IDV), your questions answered

The most wide-reaching and significant part of the Companies House reforms is now live and IDV is compulsory from 18 November 2025. Please see our recent article here and the update on Companies House.

Why have these rules been introduced?

The Identity Verification rules are part of The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) and are designed to tackle economic crime and deter those wishing to use UK companies for illegal purposes.

Do I need to verify my identity?

If you are a company Director, a Member of an LLP or a Person with Significant Control (PSC) you will need to verify your identity.

What’s an IDV Code?

Once your identity has been verified by Companies House, you’ll receive an 11 digit code, which is unique to you. The code is made up of a mixture of numbers and letters. We’re calling this your ‘IDV code’.

When do I need to verify my identity by?

Identity verification is currently voluntary but will become compulsory from 18th November 2025.

After that date:

• All new Directors will need to have verified their identity and provide an IDV code on appointment or on the incorporation of a new company. You will not be permitted to act as a Director unless and until your identity has been verified.
• All existing Directors will need to have verified their identity and provide an IDV code with their company’s next CS01 confirmation statement.
• The rules around new and existing PSCs are slightly different – but all PSCs will also need to verify their identity and report their IDV codes to Companies House within a strict timeframe.

We strongly recommend that anyone who needs to verify their identity does so at the earliest opportunity.

How do I verify my identity myself?

You can verify your identity directly with Companies House via their portal here.

You can verify this way either using a mobile phone app or web browser, or face-to-face at a designated Post Office.

There’s more information about the process and about what forms of identification can be used here.

As part of the process, you’ll need to set up your own GOV.UK account.

The service is free of charge.

I’m struggling with the online portal – how do I get help from Companies House?

Please contact Companies House on 0303 123 4500 or email them at enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk.

Because the process is personal to you, Gerald Edelman won’t be able to provide any more than very general guidance.

I’m struggling to verify my identity – can someone else do it for me?

Yes – you can verify your identity through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

Non-UK resident individuals who do not have a suitable biometric passport available or don’t want to use the UK One Gov app will need to use the services of an ACSP.

Can Gerald Edelman do this for me?

Yes – we have registered as an ACSP and as such, our Compliance Team are able to verify your identity for you. Because of the work involved (and associated risks) there is a fee of £200 + VAT per person.

For more information, please email the team at IDV@geraldedelman.com.

What should I do once I have my IDV code?

You need to retain your code in a safe place, keep it secure and only share it with people you trust.

The code will need to be included in future Companies House filings to confirm that your identity has been verified.

If we look after the Company Secretarial work for your company or LLP, we will be requesting your IDV code and will store them safely within our specialist software.

Will you be contacting me directly about IDV?

If we look after the Company Secretarial work for your company, we will be contacting a primary contact within your organisation about IDV.

We will provide them with a list of all the IDV codes required (for all of your current Directors and PSCs) and will ask them to collate all codes and report them to us.

If you look after your own Company Secretarial work, we suggest you:

• Identify everyone in your organisation who will need to have their identity verified.
• Ensure they carry out IDV checks and pass their codes to whoever undertakes your Companies House statutory filings (CS01 etc).
• Consider when your next CS01 is due, so that the IDV codes can be collected in good time.

What happens if I don’t verify my identity?

The penalties for failing to meet these requirements are serious and wide-ranging. Ultimately:

• If Directors and PSCs fail to verify their identity within the required timeframe, they’ll commit a criminal offence and the company itself will also be liable for criminal prosecution.
• If your Confirmation Statement (CS01) filing is delayed (because IDV codes are not available) Companies House are now able to enforce a late filing penalty and will ultimately take action to strike the company off the register.
• Companies may face restrictions and reputational damage if their non-compliant officers flagged publicly. This could lead to complications with banking, insurance, and other business relationships.