Verify your identity with Companies House
Get your identity verified with ANNA
To register a company in the UK, you’ll now need to verify your identity with Companies House – it’s part of new rules to boost transparency and crack down on dodgy dealings. The good news? ANNA is an official Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), which means we’re approved to handle the identity check for you – all as part of setting up your company with us.
What is Companies House identity verification?
It’s a new legal requirement for anyone who sets up, runs, owns or controls a UK company. You’ll need to prove you are who you say you are – usually by showing an official ID – as part of a one-time check with Companies House.
This rule comes from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, and it’s all about cutting fraud and making the public register more trustworthy.
Once you’re verified, you’ll get a unique personal code that links you to your company roles on official records – proof that you’ve passed the check and you’re legit.
When do you need to verify your identity?
Identity verification is being rolled out from 2025 – and from 18 November 2025, it’ll be the law.
The general rule is: if you’re already running a company, plan ahead and get verified before the deadline. And if you’re starting fresh, ANNA’s company registration process includes identity verification – quick, simple, and fully compliant from day one.
Starting a new company or LLP
You can’t incorporate without verification. If you register through ANNA, we’ll handle this bit for you. No extra steps, no faff.
Take on a company role
If you're appointed as a new director or PSC, you’ll need to be verified before you’re officially added to company records.
File a confirmation statement
Already in a company role? By the time your next annual statement is due (after the law kicks in), you’ll need to link your verified ID to your filing using your personal code.
Why you need to verify your identity
In order to fight fraud and improve the accuracy of publicly available information, Companies House started implementing identity verification measures for directors of LTDs, partnerships and other companies. This also includes verifying identities of persons with significant control (PSCs). There’s no strict enforcement deadline yet, but this process will become a legal requirement in the near future.
Ways to verify your identity
Companies House offers three ways to get verified – pick the one that suits you best:
Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
That’s where ANNA comes in. As an official ACSP, we’re authorised to verify your identity on Companies House’s behalf. This is especially handy if you're registering a company through us – we’ll sort your identity check at the same time, all in one smooth process.
We’ll ask you for ID from the approved list and handle the checks for you. Once verified, Companies House will email you your personal code. Heads up: some agents may charge a fee for this service – it’s included with ANNA when you register your company.
Online via GOV.UK
Use the free “Verify your identity for Companies House” service through the secure GOV.UK One Login. You’ll need a valid photo ID – like a passport, UK driving licence or biometric residence card. The system will guide you through the process using either a mobile app or your web browser.
If you don’t have one of the listed IDs but live in the UK, you may be offered another way to verify – such as using your UK bank or building society details.
In person at a UK Post Office
If the online route doesn’t work for you, you can verify your identity in person at a participating Post Office. You’ll still start the process online to get a reference, then take your documents to the branch. This option is also free and uses the GOV.UK One Login system. The online service will confirm if you’re eligible and tell you what to bring.
Register your business and get verified in one go
One of the simplest ways to meet Companies House’s identity verification rules? Let ANNA handle it.
As an official Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), we’re approved to verify identities on behalf of Companies House – meeting all the legal standards, including anti-money laundering supervision. Here’s how it works:
Company registration made simple
When you register a company through ANNA, we include identity verification as part of the package. No need to complete a separate GOV.UK process – we’ll collect your ID, run the necessary checks, and submit everything directly to Companies House.
Once verified, you’ll receive your official Companies House personal code by email, and we’ll get cracking with your company registration. That means your directors and PSCs will already be verified and compliant by the time your business is up and running.
Already an ANNA customer? You’re halfway there
If you’ve got an ANNA business account (or use ANNA +Taxes), we’ve already verified much of your information during onboarding. That makes identity verification with Companies House even quicker.
Just ask us to start the process in the app chat – we may only need your consent and a quick doc update. Whether you’re forming a new company or just want to get pre-verified ahead of the legal deadline, ANNA can sort it for you.
Trusted to verify – just like Companies House would
ANNA is officially recognised as an ACSP – registered with Companies House and supervised by a UK AML body.
Companies House personal code
Your Companies House Personal Code: what it is and why you’ll need it
Once your identity is verified – whether online, at the Post Office, or through ANNA – you’ll be issued a unique Companies House personal code. It’s an 11-character alphanumeric ID that links you (as a person) to any roles you hold in a UK company.
It’s not tied to one business – it’s yours for life. Think of it as your official Companies House stamp of approval.
How you’ll get your code
Verified through ANNA? Companies House will email it to you directly – we’ll make sure they’ve got the right address. Just keep an eye on your inbox and store that email somewhere safe.
When and how to use your code
From 18 November 2025, this code becomes essential for linking your identity to company roles. You’ll need it to file a confirmation statement, be appointed to a new company role, and to link existing roles to your verified ID during your next official filing
Keep it safe
Your personal code is sensitive – more like a password than a public ID. Only share it with people you trust (like an accountant filing on your behalf). Otherwise, keep it private and secure, just like you would your tax reference or banking info.
ID verification included with every company registration
Identity verification with Companies House is free – and if you’re registering your company with ANNA, we’ll take care of it as part of the process. One less thing for you to chase. One more thing ticked off your to-do list.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs to verify their identity?
If you’re going to run, own, or file for a UK company – you’ll need to get verified.
Here’s who that includes:
- Directors and key officers – If you’re a company director, LLP member, general partner, or company secretary, you’ll need to verify your identity with Companies House.
- People with significant control (PSCs) – That means major shareholders or anyone who owns or benefits from a company behind the scenes.
- Filers and agents – Anyone submitting official documents (like filings or updates) also needs to be verified. If you're doing it on someone else’s behalf, you must be registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
ANNA’s already an ACSP (sometimes called a Companies House “authorised agent”), so we’re fully set up to handle identity checks for our customers.
What deadlines do I need to meet to verify my identity?
This depends on your role and when you started it. Currently there’s 2 groups:
- Directors and people with significant control (PSCs): from 8 April 2025, you can choose to verify your identity. In the future, it will be a legal requirement.
- Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs), also known as Companies House authorised agents: usually these are accountants, solicitors or company formation agents. From 18 March 2025, all of these representatives need to verify their identities to be able to apply to register as Companies House authorised agents. If you want to be able to verify your clients’ identities, you can do this from 8 April 2025 as long as you are registered as an authorised agent. In the future, businesses will also need to register as authorised agents to be able to file on behalf of clients.
At this moment, people who file at Companies House are not required to verify identity yet. In the future, it will be a legal requirement.
What information gets published online after identity verification?
The identity check itself is private – your documents and personal data stay firmly behind the scenes. What does go public on the Companies House register is a short verification statement next to your name (once your personal code is linked to your role).
This statement shows:
- Your name
- The name of the ACSP (like ANNA) who verified you
- The AML supervisory body for that ACSP
- The date your identity was verified
So, you might see something like:
"John Smith – Identity verified on 15 July 2025 by ANNA (supervised by FCA)"
This tells people your identity’s been properly checked – without revealing any sensitive details like ID numbers or home addresses. Just the facts, nothing personal.
How do I verify my identity online?
You can verify online if you have the identity documents or information required. This route uses GOV.UK One Login to verify your identity and is free of charge.
You’ll need one of the following types of photo ID:
- biometric passport from any country
- UK photo driving licence (full or provisional)
- UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
- UK biometric residence card (BRC)
- UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP)
GOV.UK One Login will ask you some simple questions to find the best way for you to verify your identity online. Depending on your answers, you’ll then be guided to verify using a GOV.UK mobile phone app or in your web browser.
If you do not have any of these types of ID but live in the UK, you may be able to verify with bank or building society details instead. You’ll need to use the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service to find out if you can verify this way.
How do I verify my identity using an Authorised Corporate Service provider (ACSP)?
You can ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify your identity on your behalf. For example, an accountant or solicitor. This is also known as a Companies House authorised agent.
You can do this from any country, but your agent must register with Companies House in order to become authorised. They must be registered with a UK Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory body.
When an agent has agreed to verify your identity, you will need to provide documents from an approved list as evidence of your identity. They may charge a fee for their services.
What if I don’t verify my identity with Companies House?
Not verifying isn’t just risky – it’s illegal.
Once the new rules kick in, you won’t be able to register a new company, file official documents, or take on a new company role unless your identity has been verified. Companies House will reject filings from anyone who isn’t verified.
And if you keep acting in a role (like director or PSC) without verifying after the deadline? That’s a legal offence. You could face fines, criminal penalties, or even be disqualified from your role. The company itself could be penalised too.
The good news? It’s a simple process – and ANNA can help you get verified in time. If you’re unsure where you stand, just drop us a message. We’ll make sure you’re sorted.
Get your identity verified on time
If you do not comply with identity verification requirements on time, you may be committing an offence and may have to pay a financial penalty or fine