The 18 November 2025 deadline — what UK companies and LLPs must do now
This article updates our earlier article “Director ID verification and person with significant control” and explains what changes on the deadline of 18th November 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) and how MSP Company Secretarial can help you prepare.
ECCTA strengthens the integrity and reliability of the Companies House register. From 18th November 2025, identity verification (IDV) becomes mandatory for in‑scope individuals. Companies House will operate a 12‑month transition period for existing appointments, but many actions need to be taken now.
1 million people have verified their identities early – have your directors verified theirs?
Companies House have announced that they have reached the 1 million identity milestone for director ID verification. These verifications have been voluntarily submitted before the 18th November deadline and reflect the importance of complying with the ECCTA. As an ACSP, we can help make the verification process simple and straightforward. Find out more by contacting us.
Which directors must verify their identification from 18th November 2025?
There are a wide range of individuals who may require ID verification, beyond the traditional position of director. Limited Liability Partnerships and Persons with Significant Control should be aware of their obligations, too.
The identity verification requirements deadline applies to:
- All individual company directors.
- People with significant control (PSCs).
- All individual members of LLPs.
- Individual directors of overseas companies that have a registered UK establishment.
Your organisation must identify who these individuals are and provide a register as well as verifying identification with Companies House. More information on who qualifies can be found in our original article here
MSP Company Secretarial can help your organisation identify who is required to register Contact us here to find out more
How company director verification works
Verification is easy and can be completed either:
- Directly with Companies House using GOV.UK One Login; or
- Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as MSP Company Secretarial.
Once verified, you receive a permanent personal code (sometimes called a “unique identifier”). You’ll use this code when you file at Companies House, when you are appointed, or when you are identified as a PSC.
Identity verification transitional timing — existing appointments
There is a 12‑month transition window from 18 November 2025. During this period:
- Directors (and individual LLP members) who are already in post must provide their personal code at the time of the entity’s next Confirmation Statement (CS01) filed on or after 18 November 2025.
- PSCs who are also a director/member of the same entity must provide their personal code via a separate online PSC service within 14 days of the CS01 date.
- PSCs who are not a director/member of that entity must provide their personal code within the first 14 days of their birth month.
- Directors of overseas companies with a UK establishment must verify by the date falling within 14 days after the next anniversary of the UK establishment’s registration (for existing appointments).
- MSP Company Secretarial can help your leadership team and PSCs register and obtain their personal code. Contact us here to arrange a meeting with our team
New incorporations and directorial appointments from 18th November 2025
- New incorporations: Personal codes for individual directors and (for LLPs) individual members must be provided on incorporation forms (IN01 / LL IN01). If an individual PSC has not yet verified, Companies House will notify them to provide their code within 14 days.
- New directors or LLP members appointed after 18 November 2025: The company/LLP must confirm the person has completed IDV and supply their personal code when notifying the appointment (within 14 days of appointment).
- New PSCs identified after 18 November 2025: On first notification, indicate whether the PSC has verified. If so, provide the code; if not, Companies House will issue a notice requiring the code within 14 days.
- New UK establishments of overseas companies: Supply personal codes for all individual directors of the overseas company on registration; notify changes within 21 days.
How MSP Company Secretarial can help meet the director identification and verification deadline
- ACSP support: we can provide identity verification services and manage evidence securely on your behalf.
- Bulk onboarding for boards and wider PSC groups, including non‑UK directors.
- Planning and diarying of all trigger dates, plus confirmation statement preparation and filing.
- Template updates: Board/LLP appointment documents, PSC notices and internal checklists aligned to the new regime.
- MSP can start verification early to avoid backlogs and can capture and securely store each individual’s personal code.
- We can diarise the trigger dates: your next CS01 filing date; PSCs’ birth‑month windows; and (for UK establishments) the next anniversary of registration.
Act now — contact MSP
To avoid last‑minute bottlenecks, contact MSP Company Secretarial so we can plan and complete the identity verification process for your directors, PSCs and LLP members, and help you update filings and registers. Contact us here
Company director identity verification: Frequently asked questions
What happens if we don’t register our identities in time?
An offence will have been committed under the Companies Act that may lead to a fine or disqualification. If a director isn’t verified with Companies House by the time their company’s confirmation statement is due, it won’t be possible to file the statement. This can lead to compliance issues for the company. For PSCs, there will be a separate process to follow.
Do directors of dormant or non-trading companies still need to verify their identity?
Yes. The requirement applies to all individual directors, regardless of whether the company is trading or dormant. If you are appointed as a director, you need to verify.
Will company director identity verification need to be repeated every year?
No. Identity verification is a one-off process. Once a director’s identity is verified, they will receive a permanent personal code that will be reused whenever your confirmation of verified status is required (for example, for multiple appointments). The same personal code will be used to confirm who they say they are and that they are verified for each of their appointments. A director does not need to submit to identity verification checks annually.
Similar articles you may also be interested in:
Director ID Verification and Persons With Significant Control
Digitisation Taskforce – Modernising the UK Shareholding Framework