If you're a director or a Person with Significant Control (PSC) of a UK company, you've probably heard that Companies House identity verification is now mandatory. What's less clear to most people is exactly when their personal deadline falls — and the answer isn't the same for everyone.
The Two Dates You Need to Know
Identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025. That date did not require every director to act immediately — it started a 12-month transition period that ends on 18 November 2026, which is the hard, final deadline for every existing director and PSC.
Between those two dates, your actual personal deadline is tied to your company's confirmation statement, not a single fixed calendar date for everyone.
How to Find Your Actual Deadline
If you were already a director before 18 November 2025, you must verify your identity before your company files its next confirmation statement due on or after 5 March 2026. Since confirmation statements are filed annually, this means your deadline could fall anywhere between now and November 2026, depending on your company's filing date.
If you're a director of more than one company, you only need to verify once — but your deadline is set by whichever of your companies has the earliest confirmation statement date.
If you're being appointed as a new director from 18 November 2025 onwards, verification happens before appointment. You cannot be validly appointed without providing your Companies House personal code as part of the filing.
What Happens If You Verify But Don't Provide Your Code
Verifying your identity is only half the process. Once verified, you receive an 11-character personal code from Companies House. If you're a PSC, you then have a separate 14-day window to submit that code using the dedicated "Provide identity verification details for a PSC" service on GOV.UK — missing this step is treated as a criminal offence under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, even if you've already verified.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline Entirely
After 18 November 2026, there is no grace period. Directors who haven't verified cannot file confirmation statements, cannot be appointed to new companies, and are committing an ongoing criminal offence for as long as the situation continues. In practice, an unverified director effectively freezes their company's ability to file anything with Companies House.
How to Actually Verify
Most directors can complete verification in under a few minutes using GOV.UK One Login with a biometric passport or UK driving licence. If you don't have suitable ID, or you're an overseas director, you can verify in person at a participating Post Office branch free of charge, or use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — typically an accountant or solicitor — to verify on your behalf.
One detail that trips people up: your date of birth on the Companies House register must match your ID document exactly. If your Companies House record shows a different month or year than your passport, you'll need to correct the register entry before you can verify.
A Change Coming for Agents Too
If you currently rely on an accountant or company secretary to file on your behalf, it's worth checking whether they're registered as an ACSP. From late 2026, agents filing documents at Companies House will themselves need to be ACSP-registered — so your usual filing route could be affected if they haven't completed that registration.
Why Verifying Early Makes Sense
Because the requirement is tied to your confirmation statement date rather than a single deadline, it's easy to assume you have more time than you do — especially if you're a director of several companies with staggered filing dates. Verifying now, well ahead of whichever deadline actually applies to you, removes the risk of a last-minute problem blocking a filing you didn't expect to need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to verify if I'm a director of a dormant company?
Yes. The requirement applies to all directors and PSCs regardless of whether the company is trading.
What if I hold directorships in multiple companies?
You only verify once — your personal code applies across every company — but your deadline is set by the earliest confirmation statement date among them.
Is 18 November 2026 the deadline for everyone?
No. It's the outer limit of the transition period. Most directors' actual deadline is earlier, tied to their company's next confirmation statement after 5 March 2026.
Read next: Every UK Director Now Has to Prove Who They Are. Here's How
Where to Go From Here
If you want a complete, plain-English walkthrough covering exactly which deadline applies to your situation, how to prepare for verification, and what to do about your PSC and ACSP obligations, the Companies House Identity Verification Compliance Blueprint covers the whole process step by step.
Get the Companies House Identity Verification Compliance Blueprint →
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This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always verify current requirements directly with Companies House and seek professional advice where appropriate.