What You Need to Know (and What You Need to Do!)
If you’re a director or someone who owns or controls a company (known as a Person with Significant Control or PSC), there’s a big change coming your way and it’s one you can’t ignore.
From 18 November 2025, Companies House will begin verifying the identity of all company directors and PSCs. This is part of a wider plan to clamp down on fraud, improve corporate transparency and give businesses like yours more confidence in the register.
What’s Changing?
Currently, anyone can set up a company without proving they are who they say they are. That’s changing. As part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, Companies House will soon require ID verification for:
- All new and existing company directors
- People with Significant Control (anyone who owns or controls more than 25% of a company)
- Anyone filing documents with Companies House on your behalf
In the future, you won’t be able to register or remain a director unless your identity is verified. That’s not us being dramatic – it’s the law.
Why Is This Happening?
In recent years, Companies House has been used by criminals and fraudsters to register fake companies and commit identity theft. These new checks aim to:
- Reduce the risk of fraud
- Make company ownership more transparent
- Improve trust in the Companies House register
It’s a good thing, but it does mean a few extra hoops to jump through.
What Do You Need to Do?
If you’re a company director or a PSC, you’ll soon be required to verify your identity with Companies House.
To stay ahead of the changes and avoid any delays once the rules come into force on 18 November 2025, you’ll want to start preparing now.
Here’s what you can do:
- Speak to your accountant or whoever submits documents on your behalf and ask how they plan to handle ID verification. If you are a GreenStones customer, you should have received an email with instructions.
- Start gathering your identification documents (see below) so you’re ready when verification becomes mandatory.
- If you’re not yet working with an accountant, and want help staying compliant, we’d be happy to help. Drop us an email at advice@greenstones.co.uk or give us a call on 01733371180.
What ID Will You Need?
You’ll need to provide proof of who you are – ideally:
- A copy of both your passport and driving licence.
If you don’t have both, you can send either one, along with one of the following:
- A current year council tax bill
- A bank statement (no more than three months old, showing your current address)
- A utility bill (gas, electricity or water – again, dated within the last three months and showing your current address)
Our Advice?
Don’t wait until Companies House start rejecting submissions and cause important filing delays. This is a great chance to get everything in order before it becomes a problem.