Context
As identity verification for Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) has now become compulsory as of 18 November 2025, Companies House has updated its guidance for Limited Companies, Partnerships and other company types to add details of its approach to non-compliance with mandatory identity verification under the ‘Enforcement’ section of the guidance. For those who do not comply with identity verification requirements, Companies House will take action in line with the following approach and more broadly with its general compliance framework.
Key points to note and next actions
The approach to enforcement includes 4 broad categories:
- informing people of their obligations;
- nudging and guiding;
- dealing with non-compliance (including prosecution through court, referral to The Insolvency Service, and financial penalties); and
- addressing fraud and criminal activity.
Companies House has also updated the following web pages:
- Verify your identity for Companies House (adding a reminder that, from 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes a legal requirement. This date is not a deadline. It marks the start of a 12-month transition period, giving your company time to make sure all directors and people with significant control (PSCs) have verified their identity by their due dates.
- Verifying your identity for Companies House (added a link to the ‘Provide identity verification details for a PSC’ service, and added guidance to ‘What happens if you do not verify’).
- When you need to verify your identity for Companies House (added a link to the ‘Provide identity verification details for a PSC’ service).
- Companies House personal codes for identity verification (guidance added to ‘Where to find your personal code’).