Companies House now requires directors and people with significant control to verify their identity. The requirement became law in November 2025, and the transition period ends on 18 November 2026. Your own deadline depends on your company’s next confirmation statement date, not on the November cut-off itself, so many businesses will need to act sooner than they think. As of June 2026, only just over half of directors had completed verification, according to Companies House’s own figures, so a significant number are still to act.
Business groups have broadly welcomed the change. The Federation of Small Businesses called it a sensible step, pointing to its own research showing a high proportion of small firms have experienced fraud in recent years. The British Chambers of Commerce has framed it as protection for genuine businesses against those who try to pose as legitimate companies.
Verification is free through GOV.UK One Login and, once complete, produces a personal code that applies across every company you are involved with.
If you have not verified yet, check your next confirmation statement date and build the verification step into your admin calendar now, rather than leaving it for November.