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If you are asking how often you need to verify your ID with Companies House online, the short answer is usually once. Once you have successfully verified, Companies House gives you a personal code and you use that code for the relevant company roles you hold. You do not normally verify again unless Companies House asks you to.
How often do you verify? Usually once, then you use your personal code for each role.
Directors: Existing directors provide their code at the next confirmation statement. New directors provide it on appointment.
PSCs: Have a 14 day period to provide their code, timing depends on their role.
Both director and PSC: Must provide the code separately for each role.
Already verified? Do not verify again unless Companies House asks you to.
This guide reflects the Companies House identity verification rules in force from 18 November 2025, which began a 12 month transition period for directors and PSCs. At Taxwise Accountancy, we have been helping limited company directors and business owners navigate Companies House compliance for over a decade, and while the verification process itself is straightforward, the timing and role based requirements catch many people out.
Companies House identity verification is a legal process that links your verified identity to your company role. Once you complete it, Companies House issues a personal code that stays with you, not with the company. You then use that code when required for filings such as confirmation statements or PSC updates.
The government introduced the change to improve the accuracy of the register and reduce impersonation and misuse of company identities. From 18 November 2025, verification became a legal requirement, but the date itself is not a deadline. It marks the start of the transition period.
In practice, what this means for you is simple: before your company can file a confirmation statement, every director must have verified their identity and obtained their personal code. If you are forming a new limited company, identity verification is now part of the incorporation process.
If you are already a director, you usually verify once and then provide your personal code in your company's next confirmation statement. If you become a director, you provide the code as part of the appointment filing or when you incorporate the company. After that, you normally do not reverify unless Companies House asks you to.
That is the practical answer most directors need. The identity check itself is generally a one off step, but the code must be connected to the company record at the correct filing point. If you are a director of more than one company, the code is still personal to you and can be used for each role.
If your company needs help staying on top of confirmation statements and compliance deadlines, our online company secretarial services ensure nothing gets missed.
For directors, the common mistake is not the verification itself. It is leaving the personal code until the last minute and then finding the confirmation statement cannot be filed without it. In practice, the cleanest approach is to verify early, save the code securely, and make sure your accountant or company secretary knows who holds it.
PSCs have a 14 day period to provide their personal code and verification statement. If you are a PSC and also a director of the same company, you must provide the code separately for each role. If you are only a PSC, your 14 day period normally starts in the first 14 days of your birth month, depending on when you were registered.
The timing is not the same for every PSC. Companies House sets the 14 day period based on whether you were already on the register before 18 November 2025 and whether you are also a director. If you became a PSC after 18 November 2025, you can provide your code when you are first added to the register or within 14 days of being added.
If your company property is held in a limited company SPV for property investment, the PSC verification rules apply just the same. Every person with significant control must verify, regardless of the company's trading status.
Yes, but only if they are registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, or ACSP. A registered accountant, solicitor or company formation agent can verify your identity and tell Companies House on your behalf. They must meet the Companies House identity verification standard and use the ACSP service.
If you already have an accountant or solicitor, ask whether they are registered as an ACSP. If not, you can look for one on the Companies House list of authorised agents. The ACSP route is useful where directors, PSCs or overseas clients want support with the process rather than dealing with the identity checks themselves.
If your company has several directors and PSCs, create a simple internal tracker showing who has verified, who still needs to verify, and who has the personal code. It avoids missed filing deadlines, especially around confirmation statement time.
If you verify yourself, Companies House says you can use GOV.UK One Login with a biometric passport, UK driving licence, or certain UK immigration documents. If you do not have those, you may be able to verify using bank or building society details, National Insurance number and security questions, or in person at the Post Office.
You also need your current address, the year you moved in, and a GOV.UK One Login. Once verified, your identity is linked to that account and the personal code is personal to you. Companies House says the same email address cannot be used to verify more than one identity.
Biometric passport
UK or certain foreign biometric passports accepted
UK driving licence
Full or provisional photocard driving licence
Bank or building society
Alternative verification using account details
Post Office in person
Verify at selected Post Office branches if other methods fail
If you do not comply with the identity verification requirements on time, you may commit an offence. Companies House says you may face prosecution, a fine or a financial penalty. In future, a note may also appear against your name on the public register, and you may be blocked from appointing new directors or registering a new company.
This is why the question is not just "how often do I need to verify my ID?" The real issue is timing. Once the code is issued, keep it safe and use it when required so your company filings are not delayed.
If you have received a Companies House penalty warning notice, acting quickly is essential. The 28 day deadline is strict and missing it puts your company at risk of being struck off.
The best approach is to verify once, save your Companies House personal code securely, and make sure each role is matched to the right filing deadline. Directors should be ready for the next confirmation statement, and PSCs should watch their 14 day window carefully. If an ACSP is handling the process, keep a written record of who is doing what.
Check whether you are a director, PSC, or both.
Verify your identity using GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP.
Save your personal code securely.
Provide the code at the right filing point for each role.
Do not verify again unless Companies House asks you to.
Verify your identity for Companies House
GOV.UK guidanceWhen you need to verify your identity for Companies House
GOV.UK guidanceTell Companies House you have verified someone's identity
GOV.UK guidanceIn most cases, Companies House ID verification is a one time process, but the code must be used at the right time for each role you hold. Directors usually provide it at the next confirmation statement, PSCs have a 14 day window, and if you are both, you need to connect the code to each role separately. If you want support from an accountant or solicitor, they can only do it through the ACSP route if they are registered for it.
If you would like help checking which company roles need verification, or you want support coordinating directors, PSCs and confirmation statements, Taxwise Accountancy can help you put the process in order. Speak to one of our limited company accountants today.
Do not let the new identity verification requirements catch you out. Our expert team can help you navigate the process, ensure your company records are up to date, and file your confirmation statement on time.
Expert company compliance • Identity verification support • Confirmation statement filing
Verified by Taxwise Accountancy
ACCA, AAT & IFA Qualified Accountants
Taxwise Accountancy is a UK-based firm of qualified accountants with over a decade of experience advising limited companies, directors and business owners on Companies House compliance, corporation tax, and company law. Our team includes ACCA, AAT and IFA qualified professionals.
All content is reviewed for accuracy and compliance with current UK legislation as of the publication date.
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