New rules are coming into force from 18 November 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA).
These changes affect how your company interacts with Companies House – whether we handle your filings or you do them yourself.
The goal is to increase transparency, reduce fraud, and improve trust in UK company information.
WHEN DOES IDENTITY VERIFICATION NEED TO HAPPEN?
| From 18 November 2025:All new directors and people with significant control must verify their identity before being appointedCompanies House will begin a twelve-month transition period for everyone already on the register | Between November 2025 and November 2026:If you are an existing director, person with significant control or company secretary, you will need to verify before your company’s next confirmation statement can be filed | By late 2026:All directors, secretaries and people with significant control must be verified |
WHO NEEDS TO VERIFY?
You will need to verify your identity if you are:
- A company director (including charity trustees of companies)
- A company secretary
- A person with significant control
- Anyone filing documents with Companies House
If your name is on Companies House records in any of these roles, the new rules apply to you.
HOW DO YOU VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY?
The quickest and easiest way is through GOV.UK’s secure, free online service.
You will need:
- A valid photo identification (passport or driving licence)
- Your current home address
- The year you moved in
Verify your identity for Companies House here
Some Post Office branches may offer in-person verification. Use the GOV.UK link to check eligibility.
Once verified, you will receive a personal authorisation code from Companies House. If we file your company’s documents, you will need to pass this code to us so we can continue doing so.
OUR ROLE AS AN AUTHORISED CORPORATE SERVICE PROVIDER
Brown Butler is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. That means we are approved by Companies House to carry out identification checks on your behalf.
Where possible, we strongly recommend using the GOV.UK service.
If that is not an option, we can support you directly. However, due to the training and cost of being an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, fees will apply if we carry out your identification check.
WHY THIS VERIFICATION MATTERS
If you or another required person does not verify on time:
- We will not be able to file your confirmation statement or accounts
- Companies House may reject your submissions
- Your company could face penalties or be struck off
- It is a criminal offence to act in one of these roles without verification
- You will not be able to register a new company
OTHER CHANGES TO EXPECT
- Filings can only go through once all required individuals are verified
- Paper accounts will soon be phased out – digital-only filing is on the way
- If you verify yourself, your authorisation code must be sent to us for use in filings
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW
- Check which directors, people with significant control, and secretaries in your business need to verify
- Make sure your person with significant control register is up to date
- Provide us with authorisation codes when you have them
- Ensure your name is consistent across all Companies House records (for example James Smith versus Jim Smith)
A quick note on anti-money laundering requirements
Verifying with Companies House does not replace our legal requirement to complete anti-money laundering checks under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. We will still need to carry out Customer Due Diligence as part of our own process.
Get in touch for further information or if you are unsure what applies to you.