COMPANIES AFFECTED:

all entities e.g. Ltd, CIC, Charity, LLP

MANDATORY FROM:

18 November 2025 with your next Confirmation statement filing and any company incorporation. Therefore, if your confirmation statement falls on or after 18th November, you will need to provide your verification code.

WHO IT AFFECTS:

directors, PCS and secretary

WHAT IS IT?

A Companies House personal code is an 11-character, unique identifier issued to individuals after they successfully verify their identity with Companies House.

WHAT IT MEANS:

You will need to provide your personal ID verification code as part of your next confirmation statement filing. If your accountant does this on your behalf, send your verification code securely to them upon their request.

DULE ROLES:

If you are both a director and PCS, you will need to provide your personal ID verification code for each role. As a director, at time of filing the confirmation statement, however as a PCS, this is to be provided using a separate service within 14 days of the company confirmation statement date.

PCS STIPULATION:

If you are only a PCS, not a director, then you will need to provide your personal ID verification code within the first 14 days of your birth month. For example, if your date of birth is 22 January, your 14-day period will begin on 1 January.

WHAT TO DO

Best act now and be prepared. You do not need your accountant to provide this service for you, although it is expected that most will offer this as a fee-based service.

NOTE:

Currently most accountants are waiting for the necessary regulations and firm supervision that allow them to become an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). Meaning once in place most accountancy firms, including ourselves, will be able to confirm your identity. However, the checks required are far more stringent than previous, and if your company CS01 aka Confirmation statement aka Annual Return, falls on or after the 18th November, you would be best placed to get ahead and get your verification code as soon as possible.

ACSP Identity verification will be a fee-paying service.

Ridgell & Guildway Accountants Ltd fee for this service will be £50 plus VAT

What you need and what you will need to do to receive your ID verification code 

Requires

• Email address
• ID: biometric passport, full UK photo driving license, UK biometric residence permit or card, UK Frontier Worker permit
• Your current address and the year you moved in.
• Tech: Mobile phone with working camera: iPhone 6s upwards, Android, Samsung or Google Pixel, must be Android 10 or higher.
• Software applications for mobile phones:
  • Authenticator app for 2FA: Google or Microsoft, or your phone number for text message for login authentication
  • Gov.UK ID Check app if you are using the technology to prove your identity and gain personal verification code. Optional app for Gov.UK One Login.

Gov.UK One Login app

Gov.UK ID Check app

downloadable via your phone app store or online at:  https://play.google.com/store/apps?hl=en_GB How to use it: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/linking-the-govuk-id-check-app-to-govuk

GOV.UK ONE LOGIN

There are a few scenarios for setting up the necessary accounts to verify your identity. Below is a brief outline of the basics, if this does not match your situation please visit the Companies House website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house

You already have a Companies House account – you will need to link this to your newly created Gov.UK One Login account

You do not have a Companies House account – after creating your Gov.UK One Login account, you will need to create and link by following their online instructions.

Different email address used for GOV.UK One Login or Companies House account – you will need to update so that both are the same

Once you have created your GOV.UK One Login account, you should be presented with two methods to verify your identity,

A) post office
B) software app

Use which is most suitable for you.

Recommendation for the non-tech savvy – I would suggest going to the post office. However, this can take longer, so make sure to do this as soon as possible to prevent delays and potential problems when it is time to file your company’s confirmation statement.

POST OFFICE AS YOUR METHOD

Follow online instructions, entering identity details, however then select option to verify identity at a post office.

You should then receive a verification letter with instructions on which documents to bring to post office
You will then visit a post office with the following for them to check, scan and forward to Gov.UK One Login confirming your identity.

• Verification letter received
• The same ID used to initially set up online i.e. passport, driver’s license

Once check is complete, you’ll receive an email sent to the one you registered with for Gov.UK One Login, with the outcome.

USING SOFTWARE – YOUR PHONE AND GOVERNMENT ID CHECKING APP

Set up or login on to the Gov.UK One Login via your desktop, follow their online instructions to verify your identity: Start Here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house