From 18 November 2025, every director and person with significant control on the companies house register must prove who they are – no exceptions for virtual offices. Here is what the new identity verification requirements mean for your company, your address, and your next confirmation statement.
Key takeaways
From 18 November 2025, all UK company directors and people with significant control pscs must complete companies house identity verification, whether they use a home address, a traditional office or a virtual office.
Using a virtual office or registered office address in 2026 and beyond is still allowed, but companies house will separately verify the real individuals behind each company via gov.uk one login or an authorised corporate service provider acsp.
Failure to verify your identity before your company’s next confirmation statement due after 18 November 2025 can block filings and may lead to criminal offences, a financial penalty, and even the company being struck off the companies house register.
Non-UK residents must also verify their identity under the same rules.
Corby Business Centre does not itself carry out companies house id verification checks, but works alongside accountants and other ACSPs to ensure your registered office address and director service address remain fully compliant under the new requirements.
1. What is the Companies House identity verification requirement?
Identity verification is a core part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). It goes live on 18 November 2025 and affects every company on the companies house public register.
In plain English, companies house identity verification is a legal requirement that company directors and people with significant control are real, verified individuals. Once verified, each person is issued a unique companies house personal code – a permanent identifier linked to their name on the register. Verification is required under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to reduce fraud, combat economic crime, and stop companies being used for illegal purposes.
This sits alongside wider reforms to introduce identity verification across the register, tighten registered office address rules, and give Companies House greater powers to query filings and reject suspicious information.
→ See Is Your Virtual Office Provider AML Registered? Here’s How to Check.
Who is covered at launch:
Company directors (existing and new directors appointed after November 2025)
People with significant control pscs
Members of any limited liability partnership
General partners in limited partnerships
Other roles, including corporate pscs and companies corporate members acting as directors, may be brought in at a later date by regulations.
Verification can be done either directly via the official “Verify your identity for Companies House” service using gov.uk one login, or indirectly through an authorised corporate service provider such as an accountant or company formation agents.
2. Does this affect me if I use a virtual office or registered office address?
Yes. The identity verification rules apply to you personally even if your company’s registered office address is a virtual office, serviced office, accountant’s address, or similar arrangement. There is no exemption based on address type.
It helps to understand the distinction between three things:
Your company’s registered office address – the address shown on the public register
Each director’s service address – also public, often the same virtual office
Your private residential address – used during identity checks but not normally shown publicly
Identity verification is about the person, not the address. Companies House wants to know who is behind the company, whether you trade from home in Corby, a virtual office at a business centre, or a high-street shop.
As long as your registered office address continues to meet Companies House rules – real UK address, able to receive and acknowledge post, not a PO Box – using a virtual office remains lawful after 18 November 2025 and into 2026.
For example, a director using a registered office address in Corby or a virtual office Corby address will still need to verify their identity and obtain a house personal code before their company’s next confirmation statement due after November 2025.
3. Registered office address requirements from 2024–2026 (and how virtual offices fit in)
The corporate transparency act reforms introduced tightened registered office address requirements from early 2024, running alongside the identity verification deadlines that hit in 2025–2026.
Key requirements for a registered office:
Must be a full, physical postal address in the same UK jurisdiction as the company (England & Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland)
Must be capable of receiving official post and acknowledging delivery
Must not be a Royal Mail PO Box
Must belong to either the company or a compliant service provider
Reputable virtual office providers meet these rules by being staffed during business hours, scanning or forwarding Companies House post promptly, and keeping appropriate records. A registered email address for the company is also increasingly expected.
From 2024 Companies House can reject or change a non-compliant registered office and place the company on notice. If the address is not corrected, the company can ultimately be struck off the register.
Directors using virtual offices should check their provider is ready for ECCTA – for example, that they ask for ID under anti-money-laundering rules and can demonstrate the address will still meet companies house requirements in 2026.
4. When do I need to verify – and what’s my actual deadline?
Identity verification is mandatory from 18 November 2025, with a mandatory 12-month transition period tied to each company’s confirmation statement date. There is no single deadline for everyone.
Here are the relevant deadlines by scenario:
Existing directors as at 18 November 2025: must complete the identity verification process and obtain a companies house personal code before filing the first confirmation statement with a due date on or after 18 November 2025.
New directors appointed after 18 November 2025: must verify either before or at the point of appointment filing. Companies House will not accept the appointment unless the person has a verified identity.
PSCs who are also directors: can usually rely on the same verification, but must ensure their personal code is correctly linked to their PSC role.
PSCs who are not directors: must verify and submit their personal code within 14 days of being added to the register, or within 14 days from the first day of their birth month after the rules take effect.
Your real deadline depends on your company’s confirmation statement cycle and your role start date. Verifying early – for example in late 2025 – avoids last-minute blocks when you try to file in 2026.
An estimated 6 to 7 million individuals will need to verify their identity with companies house by mid-November 2026.
5. How to verify your identity with Companies House
The identity verification process is a simple process that most directors can complete online. Verification usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. Here are your options.
Default route – GOV.UK One Login:
Create or sign in to gov.uk one login using your own email address.
Select the “Verify your identity for Companies House” companies house service.
Choose your method: the login app with a biometric passport or uk photo driving licence, online security questions, or an in-person post office check.
Accepted id documents:
A current UK biometric passport (all UK passports issued after 2006 are biometric)
An in-date photo id driving licence
Certain overseas identity documents
Expired passports and non-biometric id documents are generally not accepted via the direct route.
What happens in each route:
App route: scan the chip in your biometric passport, take a selfie, complete identity verification checks in about 10 minutes.
Online questions route: answer security questions about financial products (credit cards, mortgages) and provide building society details or a national insurance number, plus details from an accepted document.
Post Office route: start online, then attend a participating post office branch with your original ID. The result is normally emailed within one working day.
Once approved, you will receive your personal code via email. You only need to verify your identity once for a personal code – it stays with you permanently.
6. Using an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP) instead
An authorised corporate service provider is a firm – such as an accountant, solicitor or company formation agent – that is supervised for AML and has been approved by Companies House to carry out identity checks and file on your behalf. A corporate service provider acsp can be the right choice for certain situations.
When an ACSP is helpful:
You cannot use gov.uk one login (non-biometric passport, limited digital footprint, overseas director)
You prefer someone to manage all companies house service filings as a package
You need authorised agents to handle confirmation statements, incorporations, or other company time-sensitive filings
Typical ACSP process:
The ACSP collects your id documents (passport, proof of address, possibly additional AML evidence).
They carry out identity verification checks that meet the same standard as Companies House direct verification.
They notify Companies House that your identity is successfully verified and ensure your personal code is created and shared with you securely.
They may also handle incorporations, confirmation statements and other filings using your personal code.
Directors should only use properly registered ACSPs – avoid unregulated providers who do not mention AML or ECCTA. ICAEW provides guidance on ACSP registration for firms offering these services.
Corby Business Centre is not itself an ACSP but works alongside local accountants and company formation agents who are registered as ACSPs and can undertake id verification for clients using our virtual office addresses.
7. What happens once you’re verified: Companies House personal code and filings
Successful verification leads to the issue of a unique companies house personal code – a unique identifier that permanently links your verified identity to your entries on the companies house register. The personal code is unique to each individual.
The code is an alphanumeric string delivered by email to the individual, not to the company or your registered office address. You receive your personal code via email after verification is complete.
How the code is used in practice:
Existing directors: must provide their personal code when the company files its first confirmation statement after 18 November 2025.
New directors: must provide their personal code on appointment or during new company incorporation. The personal code is required for company incorporation filings.
Existing pscs: use a dedicated online service to link their personal code to their PSC record, usually within 14 days.
The code is tied to the person, not to any single company. A director of multiple companies – or someone who becomes a director again at a later date – reuses the same personal code each time. You must provide your personal code for company filings across every existing company or new company you are involved with.
Keep the code confidential. Share it only with Companies House, your ACSP or trusted accountant. The public register will show that an individual is “verified”, but will not publish passport numbers or sensitive details.
8. What happens if I don’t verify – especially if I rely on a virtual office?
Failure to verify identity in company time is not a minor admin issue. It carries serious consequences for both the individual and the company, regardless of address type.
Consequences for individuals:
Non-verified individuals cannot act as directors or pscs after their verification deadline passes.
Continuing to act without a verified identity may amount to a criminal offence under ECCTA, with potential prosecution and fines.
Directors acting without verification may face disqualification from serving as a director in future.
Failure to verify identity can lead to fines and restrictions on company filings.
Consequences for companies:
Companies house can refuse to accept filings – including confirmation statements, new director appointments or PSC changes – if relevant people are not verified.
Companies cannot file confirmation statements without verified directors, which effectively blocks the entire company.
A company may eventually be struck off the register for non-compliance.
A public note may appear against the name of an unverified director or PSC, which could alarm banks, suppliers and customers.
Using a virtual office does not protect you from these outcomes. If post about non-verification is sent to your registered office and ignored, the risk of strike-off increases. Treat any Companies House letters or emails about identity verification, your personal code, or “unverified director” status as urgent. Contact your address provider or accountant immediately if unsure.
9. Does Corby Business Centre verify my identity for me – and what should I do now?
As a virtual office and registered office provider in Corby, Corby Business Centre ensures your company address complies with the new registered office address rules. However, we are not currently registered as an authorised corporate service provider for companies house identity verification.
What this means for clients:
We continue to receive, scan and forward Companies House post promptly so you do not miss any identity verification reminders or due dates.
We expect all clients to complete their own companies house identity verification, either directly via gov.uk one login or via their accountant or other ACSP.
If you need an ACSP, we can signpost you to firms familiar with ECCTA and the new requirements.
Your “do this now” checklist:
Confirm your registered office address (with us or elsewhere) is fully compliant and actively monitored.
Make sure each director and PSC understands they must verify their identity before their company’s confirmation statement date in 2026.
Create a gov.uk one login and complete id verification as soon as possible.
Keep your companies house personal code secure and share it only with trusted professionals who file on your behalf.
If you are setting up a new company and want to use a virtual office in Corby, speak to us early so we can coordinate with your accountant or formation agent on both address and verification.
If you use, or are considering, a Corby registered office address, contact Corby Business Centre to keep both your address and identity verification fully compliant for 2026 and beyond.
→ See our full Virtual Office Compliance & Setup Guide for the complete checklist
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to common queries that directors and PSCs raise about virtual offices, the identity verification process, and edge cases not fully covered above.
Do I still need to verify my identity if my company is dormant and only uses a virtual office?
Yes. Dormant status and use of a virtual office do not remove the legal requirement. If you are a director or PSC on the companies house register on or after 18 November 2025, you must verify your identity before your company’s next confirmation statement. Failing to do so can still block filings and risk strike-off, even where the company has never traded. Directors of dormant companies using low-cost registered office services should not ignore the new rules.
Will Companies House check my home address as part of identity verification if I use a virtual office?
Companies House will usually require your current residential address as part of identity verification, but this address is distinct from your public registered office or service address and is not normally shown on the public register. Using a virtual office or director service address keeps your home address off most public records, while still allowing Companies House and AML-supervised firms to hold it privately for verification and compliance purposes.
What if I’m an overseas director without a UK biometric passport?
Overseas directors can still comply. They may be able to use gov.uk one login with certain international documents, but non-biometric passports or limited credit history often mean they will need to verify through an authorised corporate service provider instead. Overseas directors using a Corby-based virtual office should speak to their UK accountant or formation agent early so there is enough time to complete ACSP identity checks and obtain a personal code before appointment filing or confirmation statement deadlines.
Does identity verification replace anti-money-laundering (AML) checks done by my accountant or virtual office provider?
Companies house identity verification is separate from, and in addition to, AML checks that accountants, ACSPs and some virtual office providers must perform under UK AML regulations. In practice the same documents (passport, proof of address) may be used for both, but clients should expect to complete checks with both Companies House and their service providers. One does not automatically satisfy the other.
What happens if I change virtual office provider after I’ve verified my identity?
Your companies house personal code stays with you, not with your address provider. Changing from one registered office address to another in Corby or elsewhere does not require you to re-verify your identity. You must still file the appropriate form to change your company’s registered office and ensure the new provider can receive all Companies House correspondence, including any future notices relating to your verified status or confirmation statement. Get Your Virtual Address in 2023 – The Benefits of a Registered Office Address
