As we previously reported here, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) has been introduced with the aim of increasing corporate transparency and tackling economic crime. The legislation is being introduced in phases.
The identity verification requirement, which has been voluntary since April 2025, is set to become mandatory from this Autumn for all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs).
It is important to note that failing to comply with these requirements will be a criminal offence both for relevant companies and individuals.
Who needs to verify their identity
From 18 November 2025:
- New directors/PSCs
- New directors must verify their identity when first appointed as a director to a new or existing company
- New PSCs must verify their ID within 14 days of being added to the Companies House Register
- Existing directors/PSCs
- Existing directors must verify their ID when filing the company’s next annual Confirmation Statement after 18 November 2025
- Existing PSCs who are not directors of that company must verify their ID in the month of their birth from November 2025
How to verify your identity
Relevant individuals can verify their identity:
- for free and online with Companies House directly using their Gov.uk One Login (Verify your identity for Companies House);
- in person at a post office; or
- by paying an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify their identity.
Next steps
- Identify the individuals in your company who need to verify their identification
- Pinpoint the relevant deadline for each individual
- Start verifying identities as soon as possible to ensure deadlines are not missed
If you want more information on any of the above, or indeed any other matters relating to your business, please get in touch with Varishma Assani, Corporate Solicitor at Streathers.
