Verify your identity for Companies House
- John Massey
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 20
Company Directors / persons with significant control (PSC's) e.g. shareholders need to verify their identity for Companies House.
You may have received an email “Verify your identity for Companies House now”.
Whether you've received the email or not - you must take action.
How to verify your identity
You can do this online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house
Click “Verify your identity >” button to get started.
Tips to help:
Start the process on a laptop and only switch to using the mobile app when prompted.
Once verified you’ll get a code – keep the code safe and send it to your accountant.
All Directors / shareholders must complete the process.
From late 2025 you'll need to link your verified ID (using your code) to your Companies House record.
Already verified your identity but lost your code?
Step-by-step guide to finding your personal ID code:
Click the green “Start now” button.
On the next page, click Sign in/Register (top right-hand side).
On the next page, click the link to sign in with GOV.UK One Login.
On the next page, click the grey “Sign in” button.
On the next page, enter the email you used for GOV.UK One Login and click the green “Continue” button.
On the next page, enter your GOV.UK One Login password and click the green “Continue” button.
On the next page, enter the six-digit code texted to your mobile phone and click the green “Continue” button.
Then you are in – you should see a menu across the top of the page: Manage account/ Your filings/ Companies you follow/ Basket (0)/ Sign out.
If you go to “Manage account”, you should see your 11-character personal code.
There is also a grey “Copy” button you can click to copy your code accurately.
You can then paste the code into an email to your accountant.
Identity verification (IDV) and ECCTA2023 background detail
Identity verification is part of the implementation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA2023).
ECCTA2023 gives Companies House greater powers to maintain a more accurate company register, share data with law enforcement and imposes more serious consequences for non-compliance.
Directors / PSC’s that don’t verify their identity will be flagged online as “unverified” possibly affecting your credit score.
Another notable requirement under ECCTA2023 will be that by the end of 2026, Micro entities / Small Companies (capturing all with a turnover < £15m) will be required to file their Profit & Loss report on the publicly available register at Companies House.
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