From 18 November 2025, Companies House will require every new company director and person with significant control (PSC) to complete identity verification.
For existing directors and PSCs, verification must be completed ahead of the next annual confirmation statement. The countdown has begun — and businesses across Northern Ireland and England should not leave this to the last minute.
If you haven’t caught up with this important legal change yet, there’s still time – here’s what you can do:
1. What’s changing & when
- New directors and PSCs must verify their identity before their appointment or incorporation from 18 November.
- Existing directors will need to provide a personal verification code when filing the next confirmation statement after 18 November.
- Companies House estimates 6-7 million individuals will need to verify by mid-November 2026.
- Failure to verify means you cannot act as a director, and the company may face penalties or inability to file key documents.
2. Why this matters for NI/England businesses
For SMEs, family businesses or group structures with operations in Northern Ireland or England, this is not just an administrative task — it’s a strategic risk. The multi-jurisdictional nature of many businesses (NI ↔ England ↔ ROI) means you must ensure every director or PSC across the group is verified.
As Andrew Campbell, Partner at Allsopp Campbell Rainey, explains:
“Many firms see verification as a tick-box exercise — in truth, it is a gate-keeper to your company’s ability to act. Get it wrong and you can’t file, or worse, you’re acting unlawfully as a director.”
3. Practical steps your business should take now
- Map every role: list all directors, PSCs and roles in your UK (and NI) companies and check their verification status.
- Check identity documentation: passport, driving licence, address history — verify via GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
- Set an internal timeline: don’t wait until the confirmation statement deadline — many firms are experiencing delays in verification.
- Update your onboarding & maintenance processes: make ID verification a standard step when someone joins the board or becomes a PSC.
- Communicate with stakeholders: ensure senior management understands the impact — unverified roles cannot act, may block filings.
4. Beyond verification: registers, directors’ duties & risk
While the ID checks grab headlines, the underlying changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) bring broader implications: registers are being streamlined, directors’ liability is increasing, and transparency expectations are higher.
As Neil Allsopp, Partner at Allsopp Campbell Rainey puts it:
“Verification is the door — what happens behind it matters equally. Cleared registers, clean onboarding and robust governance are what separate businesses that survive from those that stumble.”
For businesses with cross-jurisdiction interests (NI/England) this means: check all entities, ensure consistency, and avoid fragmentation of compliance.
5. Final thought
The deadline of 18 November 2025 is now firmly on the calendar. Most firms will still have time to prepare — but the earlier you act, the less risk you incur (for example the relevant websites being down) and the smoother the transition will be.
At Allsopp Campbell Rainey our corporate team has already verified on GOV.UK One Login, and can talk you through it as such. It should only take 5-10 minutes. We are here to supports directors, boards and businesses across Northern Ireland and England — helping you verify, document and govern with confidence.
Want to start your verification plan or review your governance readiness? Contact Andrew Campbell, Neil Allsopp or the Allsopp Campbell Rainey team today to discuss your needs.
We want to be uniquely practical for our clients, giving them something that might be useful in the day to day cut and thrust. See our previous articles on other crucial administrative issues, such as rectifying a company that has been struck off the register.