When Sophie opened her email from Companies House last week, her heart sank.
The subject line mentioned the 18th of November 2025, and as she scanned through the jargon about “identity verification” and “personal codes”, one thought kept going through her mind:
“I need to get this done by the 18th of November.”
She reached out to us in a bit of a panic, worried she was running out of time. And here’s the thing – Sophie wasn’t alone. We’ve had other clients get in touch with similar concerns, all sparked by that same email sitting in their inbox.
So let me clear this up right now. If you’ve received one of those emails and you’re anxious that you’ve missed a deadline, don’t worry.
I’m going to walk you through what’s actually happening, when you really need to take action, and why this change is genuinely good news for honest business owners like you.
What the 18th of November actually meant
Here’s the crucial bit that’s causing all the confusion: the 18th of November 2025 is not a deadline.
It’s the start date.
From the 18th of November onwards, identity verification becomes a legal requirement for company directors and people with significant control (PSCs).
And this marks the beginning of a 12-month transition period, giving you and your company time to get everything sorted.
If you’re an existing director, you need to verify your identity and provide your personal code before your next Confirmation Statement that’s due on or after the 18th of November 2025.
For Sophie, that meant her Confirmation Statement due in January 2026, not a scramble to get everything done in a matter of days.
Over one million people have already completed their verification. The process typically takes just a few minutes, and you only need to do it once.
Why this is happening
We know regulatory changes can feel like just another thing on your to-do list, but this one actually has your back, I promise.
The identity verification requirement comes from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. Its purpose is to make the Companies House register more reliable and protect legitimate business owners from being impersonated by criminals.
Company fraud is a real problem.
Directors have found themselves linked to companies they never set up, involved in schemes they knew nothing about, with their names and details used without permission. This verification process helps shut down those opportunities for fraud.
Think of it as Companies House finally checking that the people listed as running companies are actually who they say they are.
For those of us running honest businesses, this makes the whole system more trustworthy and protects our reputations.
When you actually need to take action
Your timeline depends on when your Confirmation Statement is due.
The Confirmation Statement is the annual check-in you do with Companies House to confirm your company details are still correct – your registered address, directors, and so on.
- For new directors or new companies: If you’re incorporating a new company or being appointed as a director from 18 November 2025 onwards, you’ll need to verify your identity before that incorporation or appointment happens.
- For existing directors: You need to verify your identity and provide your personal code before you file your next confirmation statement that’s due on or after 18 November 2025.
If your Confirmation Statement is due in March 2026, that’s when you need your verification sorted by. If it’s due in September 2026, you have until then.
You can do it earlier if you want to get it ticked off your list – and I recommend it, to save a last-minute panic – but there’s no need to rush if your confirmation statement isn’t due for months.
Finding your Confirmation Statement date
One of the most helpful pieces of feedback Sophie gave us was this: she was lucky that we’d already told her when her Confirmation Statement was due. But what if you don’t know?
The easiest way to find out is to look up your company on Companies House. Simply search for your company name or number on the Companies House register, and your next confirmation statement due date will be listed there. After 18 November, you’ll also be able to see verification due dates for each role you hold.
If you work with us at Fearless Financials, we already keep track of this for you. But it’s always good to know where to find the information yourself.
How to verify your identity
The actual verification process is straightforward, and honestly, most people find it easier than they expect.
The DIY approach (and we recommend you try this first) If you have a valid (in date)
- UK passport
- UK driving licence
- Non-UK biometric passport
plus access to a smartphone, the quickest route is doing it yourself through the UK Government’s website. Most people complete the whole thing in just a few minutes.
You’ll create a GOV.UK One Login (or sign in if you already have one), enter your personal details, scan or upload your ID, take a quick selfie or video, and receive your unique Companies House personal code.
Then you simply share that code with us so we can include it in your company filings.
If technology makes you nervous Some people feel more confident with a bit of guidance. If that’s you, we can arrange a Zoom call where we’ll walk you through the process step by step. You’ll still do the clicking, but we’ll be there to guide you through each screen and answer any questions. We charge £50 plus VAT for this hand-holding service.
The Post Office option If you don’t have the right documents for online verification, or you’d rather do this in person, you can visit a Post Office branch that offers identity verification services for a face-to-face option.
Whichever route you choose, you only need to verify once. After that, you’ll use your personal code whenever it’s required for company filings.
What you’ll need
Before you start, make sure you have:
- Your passport or driving licence
- A smartphone or computer with a camera
- Your personal details that match your ID and Companies House records (full name, date of birth, home address)
- Your National Insurance number (if prompted)
The system will cross-check your details with government databases and the Companies House register to confirm everything matches up.
Clearing up some common questions
Will this replace my Government Gateway login? Eventually, yes. The plan is for GOV.UK One Login to become the single sign-in for government services, but that transition isn’t happening immediately. For now, keep your Government Gateway credentials, as you’ll still need them.
Is this creating a digital ID or tracking system? No. This verification process is designed solely to prove that you are who you say you are when you interact with Companies House. It links your verified identity to your company roles, making it harder for criminals to impersonate directors or set up fraudulent companies. The conspiracy theories floating around about government tracking are just that – conspiracy theories. This is about fraud prevention, nothing more.
What if I don’t have a British passport or driving licence? The GOV.UK One Login service accepts non-UK biometric passports. If you’re having difficulty with the standard verification routes, get in touch with us and we can discuss your options.
What happens if I file my confirmation statement without the verification codes? From the 18th of November onwards, Companies House will reject your confirmation statement if all directors haven’t verified their identity and provided their personal codes. You legally need to complete this step to file.
Your next steps
Here’s what we recommend:
- Check when your confirmation statement is due – Look it up on Companies House or check with us if we handle your company filings
- Gather your documents – Make sure you have your passport or driving licence to hand
- Choose your verification method – DIY through the UK Government’s website, at the Post Office, or ask us to guide you while you do the verification
- Complete verification well before your confirmation statement deadline – Give yourself time to sort out any issues
- Save your personal code – You’ll need it for your confirmation statement and future filings
If you’re one of our clients, don’t worry about keeping track of all this on your own.
We’ll be reaching out to you ahead of your confirmation statement due date to make sure everything is in place.
We’re already prioritising our client outreach based on when confirmation statements fall due, so you’ll get plenty of notice.
The bottom line
Yes, this is a new requirement. Yes, it means one more thing to organise. But once it’s done, it’s done. And unlike Sophie’s initial panic when she opened that email, you now know there’s no need to rush.
You have time. You have options. And you have support if you need it.
This change ultimately makes running a company in the UK safer and more secure for all of us doing things properly. The fraudsters get shut out, and legitimate business owners like you get better protection.
If you’ve got questions or want help with your verification, just get in touch. We’re here to make this as straightforward as possible.
Need help working out when your verification is due or want guidance through the process? Get in touch with Fearless Financials. We’re here to make this as straightforward as possible.
Join our waiting room and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.