{"id":64,"date":"2025-11-24T13:15:52","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T13:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smartformationsblog.co.uk\/smart-blog\/?p=64"},"modified":"2026-04-28T06:23:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T06:23:19","slug":"companies-house-identity-verification-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smartformationsblog.co.uk\/smart-blog\/companies-house-identity-verification-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Companies House Identity Verification: A Complete Guide for Directors &#038; PSCs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"blog-content\">\n<h2>Quick Summary<\/h2>\n<p>From 18 November 2025, every director and Person With Significant Control (PSC) must verify their identity before they can act, be appointed, or file a confirmation statement. More than six million individuals will need to complete verification in the first year.<\/p>\n<p><b>Verification can be completed using:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>GOV.UK One Login (online or through participating Post Office branches), or<\/li>\n<li>an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as Smart Formations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Immediate Consequences of Not Verifying<\/h2>\n<p><b>A failure to verify has wide\u2011ranging and serious effects. The most important are:<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"theading\">\n<th>Area Affected<\/th>\n<th>What Happens<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Companies House Filings<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Incorporations, appointments, PSC updates, CS01s and accounts may be rejected.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Legal Penalties<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Late filing penalties, non\u2011compliance fines, and potential criminal offences for acting unverified.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Public Record<\/b><\/td>\n<td>A permanent public annotation appears on the Companies House register indicating unreliable or<br \/>\n                    incomplete data.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Banking &#038; Payments<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Banks and payment providers may apply enhanced risk assessment, freeze accounts, delay payments, or<br \/>\n                    refuse on boarding.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Credit Rating<\/b><\/td>\n<td>Companies and individuals may experience downgraded credit scores due to flagged risk status.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>These consequences create real\u2011world operational and financial risks for companies.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Companies House Identity Verification Rules Are Changing<\/h2>\n<p>For decades, Companies House accepted company documents without verifying who anyone actually was. This created opportunities for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>impersonation and identity theft,<\/li>\n<li>fraudulent company appointments,<\/li>\n<li>opaque ownership structures,<\/li>\n<li>money\u2011laundering risks,<\/li>\n<li>misuse of UK companies overseas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) reforms this. From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes mandatory for anyone who manages, controls, or owns a UK company.<\/p>\n<p><b>The goals of the reform:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>strengthen trust in the UK corporate register,<\/li>\n<li>prevent identity misuse and false filings,<\/li>\n<li>provide accurate beneficial\u2011ownership information,<\/li>\n<li>support banks and regulators with reliable data,<\/li>\n<li>reduce fraud and improve AML (Anti Money Laundering) compliance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"blogcta\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smart-formations.co.uk\/packages\/director-plus-package\/\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smart-formation.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dir-owner-banner.png\" alt=\"Directors + pack\"><br \/>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<p>The reform affects 6\u20137 million people in its first year.<\/p>\n<h2>Who Must Verify<\/h2>\n<p>Identity verification applies to any individual involved in the legal management or control of a UK company.<\/p>\n<p><b>Directors<\/b><\/p>\n<p>All directors \u2014 new or existing \u2014 must verify. A person cannot legally act as a director without verification.<\/p>\n<p><b>Persons With Significant Control (PSCs)<\/b><\/p>\n<p>An individual is a PSC if they:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>own over 25% of shares,<\/li>\n<li>hold over 25% of voting rights,<\/li>\n<li>can appoint\/remove a majority of directors,<\/li>\n<li>exercise significant influence or control,<\/li>\n<li>control a trust or partnership meeting these criteria.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Corporate PSCs (RLEs)<\/b><\/p>\n<p>A Relevant Legal Entity (RLE) is a corporate entity that qualifies as a registrable Person with Significant Control (PSC) of a UK company and therefore must be recorded on the PSC register.<\/p>\n<p>If a company is listed as a PSC, its managing officers must verify.<\/p>\n<p><b>Directors Who Are Also PSCs<\/b><\/p>\n<p>If someone is both a director and a PSC:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>they verify once,<\/li>\n<li>receive a single Personal Verification Code (PVC) \u2014 An 11-digit alpha numeric code e.g ABC12345678<\/li>\n<li>issued after successful verification; used to confirm verified status.<\/li>\n<li>but must declare the same PVC in two different locations: the CS01 and the PSC statement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>LLP Members and Future Groups<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Companies House has indicated that many LLP members will also fall within the initial 18 November 2025 rollout. More roles \u2014 including corporate director managing officers and individuals who file documents on behalf of companies \u2014 will be added in later phases.<\/p>\n<h2>When Verification Must Be Completed<\/h2>\n<p><b>New Directors &#038; PSCs<\/b><\/p>\n<p>From 18 November 2025, a company cannot be incorporated unless all proposed officers verify first. Applications will not enter the queue until verification is complete.<\/p>\n<p><b>Existing Directors<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Must verify when filing their next confirmation statement (CS01) within the 12\u2011month transition year.<\/p>\n<p><b>Existing PSCs<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Have up to 12 months to complete digital identity verification (deadline: 18 November 2026).However , if any filing involving them is made earlier, they must be verified before that filing can be accepted.<\/p>\n<p>Directors and PSCs will be able to log into the Companies House register to see their personal verification deadlines.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stchoice-formations.co.uk\/blog\/psc-rules-for-companies-limited-by-guarantee-lbg-guide\/\">PSC verification due dates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>How Companies House Identity Verification Works<\/h2>\n<p>There are two main verification routes: GOV.UK One Login and ACSP verification<\/p>\n<p><b>Before you start any route, ensure:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>your ID is valid and undamaged,<\/li>\n<li>the name at Companies House matches your legal ID exactly,<\/li>\n<li>you have good lighting for the face scan,<\/li>\n<li>you have stable access to email and MFA (Multi\u2011Factor Authentication) for One Login,<\/li>\n<li>your device can receive SMS or run an authenticator app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Route 1 \u2014 GOV.UK One Login (Online or Via Post Office)<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Most users can verify through One Login using:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>verified email,<\/li>\n<li>MFA setup (SMS or authenticator),<\/li>\n<li>biometric passport or ID scan,<\/li>\n<li>facial match.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Post Office in\u2011Branch Verification<\/b><\/p>\n<p>For those unable to verify online \u2014 due to unsupported ID, technical issues, accessibility needs, or comfort level \u2014 GOV.UK One Login offers a Post Office in\u2011branch verification option.<\/p>\n<p><b>This involves:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>starting verification online,<\/li>\n<li>receiving a secure reference or barcode,<\/li>\n<li>presenting ID at a participating Post Office branch,<\/li>\n<li>completing identity checks in person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Companies House has not finalised national rollout details, but this route is expected to support those whose documents or devices are not well suited to online verification.<\/p>\n<p><b>Route 2 \u2014 ACSP Verification<\/b><\/p>\n<p>ACSPs (including Smart Formations) are authorised to conduct identity checks using regulated AML\u2011grade systems.<\/p>\n<p><b>Benefits:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>supports non\u2011biometric and older passports,<\/li>\n<li>ideal for overseas directors and PSCs,<\/li>\n<li>avoids email\/MFA and One Login setup risks,<\/li>\n<li>uses SmartSearch and SmartDoc for reliable document capture,<\/li>\n<li>includes human review when automated checks struggle,<\/li>\n<li>provides the same PVC as GOV.UK One Login.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>PVCs do not expire unless Companies House requires re\u2011verification.<\/p>\n<p><b>ACSP Record Retention (Five\u2011Year Rule)<\/b><\/p>\n<p>As an ACSP, we must retain identity\u2011verification records for five years under the UK Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017). Documents are stored digitally, encrypted both at rest and in transit (AES\u2011256), and held in secure UK data centres compliant with ISO\u201127001. After five years, records must be securely deleted unless ongoing monitoring or legal obligations require retention. This differs from the GOV.UK One Login system, which does not store your passport or ID image.<\/p>\n<p><b>Need reliable identity verification??<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Use our regulated ACSP Identity Verification Service to avoid One Login failures, email\/MFA issues, and document\u2011capture problems. Start your verification securely with Smart Formations.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Verification Fails \u2014 Common Pitfalls<\/h2>\n<p>Even with clear instructions, many applicants encounter avoidable obstacles during verification. Early testing by government and ACSPs revealed that a significant proportion of GOV.UK One Login verification attempts fail due to practical issues rather than document problems. During early government and ACSP testing, 30\u201338% of GOV.UK One Login attempts failed due to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>unsupported ID types,<\/li>\n<li>low camera resolution or poor lighting,<\/li>\n<li>mismatched Companies House records,<\/li>\n<li>overseas SMS\/MFA failures,<\/li>\n<li>facial recognition mismatches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Most failures can be prevented by preparing properly or using the Post Office or ACSP routes.<\/p>\n<h2>Email &#038; MFA Risks \u2014 A Major Source of Avoidable Failure<\/h2>\n<p>Email and multi\u2011factor authentication may seem like minor administrative details, but they are among the most common reasons for failed verification. The GOV.UK One Login system links your digital identity to your email, meaning even small errors can cause long delays. One Login permanently links verification attempts to the email used.<\/p>\n<p><b>Email Contamination<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>If a GOV.UK One Login attempt fails:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>that email is permanently associated with a failed identity record,<\/li>\n<li>switching emails does not reset the identity profile,<\/li>\n<li>identity recovery becomes mandatory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Losing Access to Your Email<\/b><\/p>\n<p>This can lock you out, triggering re\u2011authentication loops and delaying filings.<\/p>\n<p><b>Account Corruption<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Creating multiple accounts or switching emails mid\u2011process can corrupt identity records, leading to rejected filings or forced re\u2011verification.<\/p>\n<p><b>ACSP Verification Avoids All Email Issues<\/b><\/p>\n<p>ACSP verification does not depend on emails, login codes, or MFA.If a user cannot access their email, cannot receive verification codes, or has One Login issues, ACSP identity checks still work without interruption.<\/p>\n<h2>Banking, AML &#038; Financial Consequences \u2014 The Real\u2011World Impact of failing to verify.<\/h2>\n<p>Beyond Companies House, the biggest risks of failing to verify are often financial. Banks, payment providers and FX platforms rely heavily on Companies House data, and unverified officers can trigger automated risk alerts within hours. Banks and financial institutions monitor Companies House in real time. When officers remain unverified, automated systems flag the company as higher risk.<\/p>\n<p><b>Consequences include:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>delayed or frozen payments,<\/li>\n<li>onboarding rejection for new accounts,<\/li>\n<li>restricted merchant services (Stripe, PayPal, FX),<\/li>\n<li>enhanced due diligence (EDD),<\/li>\n<li>permanent account closure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Banks also use the following third\u2011party AML databases that quickly republish Companies House annotations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Refinitiv World\u2011Check,<\/li>\n<li>ComplyAdvantage,<\/li>\n<li>Experian Business KYC,<\/li>\n<li>Dun &#038; Bradstreet,<\/li>\n<li>LexisNexis Risk Solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An unverified officer can therefore affect a company\u2019s banking relationships within hours.<\/p>\n<h2>Legal Penalties &#038; Regulatory Consequences of Not Verifying<\/h2>\n<p>In addition to banking and AML impacts, there are direct legal consequences for failing to verify. Many filings will be rejected, and continued non\u2011compliance becomes a criminal and civil matter.<\/p>\n<p><b>Rejected Filings<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Companies House will reject:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>incorporations,<\/li>\n<li>appointments,<\/li>\n<li>PSC updates,<\/li>\n<li>confirmation statements (CS01).<\/li>\n<li>Applications to dissolve a company (DS01)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Late Accounts<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Late Filing Penalties Can Escalate Quickly. If verification delays cause missed deadlines, Companies House will treat accounts as late. Penalties start at \u00a3150 and can rise to \u00a31,500, and are doubled if the company also filed late the previous year. Combined with rejected filings and public annotations, this can severely damage the company\u2019s compliance record and reputation.<\/p>\n<p>If the CS01 is rejected because required directors or PSCs have not verified, accounts may also be rejected or treated as late, triggering statutory penalties.<\/p>\n<p><b>Statutory Late Filing Penalties for Private Companies<\/b><\/p>\n<p>If verification delays cause accounts to be filed late, Companies House will apply penalties:<\/p>\n<p>If the Annual Confirmation statement (CS01) is rejected because required directors or PSCs have not verified, accounts may also be rejected or treated as late, triggering statutory penalties.<\/p>\n<p><b>Statutory Late Filing Penalties for Private Companies<\/b><\/p>\n<p>If verification delays cause accounts to miss their deadline, Companies House will apply the following penalties:<\/p>\n<table class=\"cus-table\">\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"theading\">\n<th>Delay<\/th>\n<th>Penalty<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Up to 1 month<\/td>\n<td><b>\u00a3150<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1\u20133 months<\/td>\n<td><b>\u00a3375<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3\u20136 months<\/td>\n<td><b>\u00a3750<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Over 6 months<\/td>\n<td><b>\u00a31,500<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If a company files late in two consecutive years, the penalty for the second year is automatically doubled.<\/p>\n<p>If the CS01 is rejected, accounts may also be rejected or treated as late, triggering statutory penalties.<\/p>\n<p><b>Criminal Offences<\/b><\/p>\n<p>It is a criminal offence for an individual to act as a director while unverified. It is also an offence for a company to permit an unverified individual to act as a director. Failure to file the CS01 is also a criminal offence.<\/p>\n<p><b>Civil Enforcement<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Companies House may issue compliance notices and add public annotations. Companies House may also use existing enforcement powers, including restriction notices in appropriate circumstances, limiting the rights associated with shares or ownership until compliance is restored.<\/p>\n<p><b>Strike\u2011Off<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Persistent non\u2011compliance can result in compulsory strike\u2011off.<\/p>\n<h2>Extensions \u2014 When Companies House will allow extra time for verification<\/h2>\n<p><b>Extensions are rare and granted only where verification is genuinely impossible due to:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>lost or stolen ID,<\/li>\n<li>expired or damaged documents being replaced.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Companies House will require:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>evidence of replacement ID (renewal receipt, police reference),<\/li>\n<li>proof of an approaching statutory deadline,<\/li>\n<li>the expected date new ID will be available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Identity Recovery \u2014 Why It Happens &#038; How to Avoid It<\/h2>\n<p>If email or MFA issues prevent access to GOV.UK One Login, identity recovery becomes necessary. This process is slow because it involves:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>proving control of the original email,<\/li>\n<li>supplying extra evidence,<\/li>\n<li>manual review by the GOV.UK One Login security team,<\/li>\n<li>re-establishing MFA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It can take days or weeks. ACSP verification avoids identity recovery entirely.<\/p>\n<h2>Responsibilities \u2014 You vs the Company<\/h2>\n<p>A smooth verification process depends on both sides fulfilling distinct roles.<\/p>\n<p><b>Your Responsibilities (Directors &#038; PSCs)<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Completing identity verification on time.<\/li>\n<li>Ensuring Companies House data matches legal ID.<\/li>\n<li>Maintaining email and MFA access.<\/li>\n<li>Providing valid, undamaged documents.<\/li>\n<li>Responding promptly to Companies House requests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The Company\u2019s Responsibilities<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensuring all officers verify before filings are submitted.<\/li>\n<li>Checking PVCs are issued and valid.<\/li>\n<li>Ensuring PSCs meet their birth\u2011month deadline.<\/li>\n<li>Requesting extensions only where legitimate.<\/li>\n<li>Not submitting filings that will inevitably fail.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Preparing to Verify (Practical Guidance)<\/h2>\n<p>Most failed attempts could be prevented by preparing properly.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure your ID is valid and biometric where possible. Check that every character of your name matches your Companies House record. Test your camera and lighting. Ensure you have stable access to email and MFA \u2014 and if you have doubts, consider using the Post Office or an ACSP.<\/p>\n<p><b>Quick Checklist<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Valid, undamaged ID (preferably biometric)<\/li>\n<li>Exact name match with Companies House<\/li>\n<li>Stable access to email and MFA<\/li>\n<li>Good lighting and working camera<\/li>\n<li>Reliable internet connection<\/li>\n<li>Consider Post Office or ACSP if unsure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Filings Submitted by Accountants, Solicitors or Agents<\/h2>\n<p>Many companies rely on accountants or solicitors to submit filings. Under the new regime:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>your agent can only submit if all directors and PSCs have verified;<\/li>\n<li>the agent does not verify on your behalf (unless they are an ACSP);<\/li>\n<li>the company remains legally responsible for ensuring all officers are verified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Agents may also need to verify their own identity in later phases of the rollout. Companies House has indicated that individuals who file on behalf of companies will become a verification category in future updates.<\/p>\n<h2>Note on Public Visibility of Digital ID Verification Status<\/h2>\n<p>From 18 November 2025, Companies House will begin displaying verification-related information on the public register. However, it is important to understand exactly what is and is not visible.<\/p>\n<p><b>What the public can see<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n            When a director or PSC has been verified, Companies House will show:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>their name;<\/li>\n<li>confirmation that they are a verified individual;<\/li>\n<li>if verified by an ACSP: the name of the ACSP and the AML-supervisory bodies involved;<\/li>\n<li>the date the identity check was completed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>What the public cannot see<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There is no public flag, marker, or label showing that a director or PSC is unverified.\n<li>There is no public list of individuals who have not completed digital ID verification.\n<li>An absence of verification data cannot reliably be interpreted as non-verification\u2014e.g., transitional deadlines may not have passed yet.\n    <\/ul>\n<p><b>Important implications<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Although non-verification is not publicly highlighted, it will still prevent the company from:\n<ul>\n<li>filing its Confirmation Statement;<\/li>\n<li>filing its annual accounts;<\/li>\n<li>filing any other statutory documents;<\/li>\n<li>appointing, removing, or updating officers\/PSCs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n            This can quickly escalate to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>warning notices,<\/li>\n<li>late-filing penalties,<\/li>\n<li>a potential compulsory strike-off,<\/li>\n<li>and in some circumstances a public annotation if Companies House uses its s1092A or s1002A powers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Why directors should take this seriously<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Even though the register won\u2019t publicly \u201cname and shame\u201d unverified individuals, the practical consequences are severe and the company\u2019s compliance history becomes visible to lenders, suppliers, due-diligence teams, and credit-rating agencies.<\/p>\n<p><b>Form your company with confidence<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Start your company formation today \u2014 and if you\u2019re not yet verified, you can add our optional ID verification service during checkout. Begin your company formation with Smart Formations.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion: Navigating the New Verification Era<\/h2>\n<p>The shift to mandatory identity verification marks one of the most significant changes to UK company administration in decades. While the process is designed to strengthen the integrity of the Companies House register, it also introduces new responsibilities\u2014and real\u2011world consequences\u2014for directors and PSCs.<\/p>\n<p>The most immediate risks lie not only in rejected filings but in the wider financial ecosystem. Banks, payment processors and credit platforms actively monitor verification status, meaning that unresolved verification can quickly translate into frozen banking facilities, onboarding refusals, and damage to a company\u2019s financial reputation.<\/p>\n<p>For those uneasy about technology, the availability of the Post Office route within the GOV.UK One Login system offers a familiar, face\u2011to\u2011face alternative. And for overseas individuals or anyone dealing with older or non\u2011biometric ID, a trusted ACSP provides a secure and reliable route that avoids the email and MFA pitfalls of One Login.<\/p>\n<p>The message is clear: verify early, prepare properly, and choose the verification route that gives you the highest chance of success. By taking proactive steps now, companies and individuals can avoid penalties, prevent filing delays, and protect their banking and compliance standing in the year ahead.<\/p>\n<h2>Glossary of Key Terms<\/h2>\n<p><b>ACSP (Authorised Corporate Service Provider)<\/b> \u2014 A regulated firm authorised to verify identities and conduct AML checks.<\/p>\n<p><b>Annotation<\/b> \u2014 A public note on the Companies House register indicating unverified or unreliable information.<\/p>\n<p><b>Confirmation Statement (CS01)<\/b> \u2014 The annual filing confirming company details and used to declare director and PSC verification.<\/p>\n<p><b>Director<\/b> \u2014 An individual legally responsible for managing a company; must verify identity before acting.<\/p>\n<p><b>GOV.UK One Login<\/b> \u2014 The government\u2019s digital identity platform for self\u2011service verification.<\/p>\n<p><b>Identity Recovery<\/b> \u2014 The process required when access to One Login is lost or a verification attempt becomes contaminated.<\/p>\n<p><b>MFA (Multi\u2011Factor Authentication)<\/b> \u2014 A second verification step (SMS or authenticator app).<\/p>\n<p><b>Personal Verification Code (PVC)<\/b> \u2014 An 11\u2011digit code issued after successful verification; used to confirm verified status.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSC (Person With Significant Control)<\/b> \u2014 An individual with significant ownership or control of a company.<\/p>\n<p><b>RLE (Relevant Legal Entity)<\/b> \u2014 A corporate PSC; its managing officers must verify.<\/p>\n<p><b>Strike\u2011Off<\/b> \u2014 Removal of a company from the Companies House register.<\/p>\n<p><b>End\u2011to\u2011End Encryption (E2EE)<\/b> \u2014 A method of securing data so it is encrypted on your device and decrypted only by the intended recipient.<\/p>\n<p><b>AML Retention (Five\u2011Year Rule)<\/b> \u2014 ACSPs must retain identity\u2011verification records for five years under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Records are stored in encrypted digital form and securely deleted after the retention period unless ongoing monitoring applies.<\/p>\n<p>Before stepping into the final section, it is worth noting that all these reforms work together to reshape how individuals interact with Companies House, and how the wider financial system interprets company data.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blogcta\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smart-formations.co.uk\/packages\/starter-package\/\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smart-formation.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ltd-company-formation.jpg\" alt=\"Starter Package\"><br \/>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-body\">\n<h2 class=\"big-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<p>Directors, PSCs and overseas applicants often raise the following practical and technical questions. These address the issues most likely to affect filing deadlines, banking access and the verification process itself.<\/p>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>Do I need to verify twice if I am both a director and a PSC?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>No. You verify once and receive a single Personal Verification Code (PVC). You must, however, declare this same PVC in two different filings\u2014your CS01 and your PSC birth\u2011month confirmation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>What does the Personal Verification Code look like?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>It is an 11-character alpha numeric code ABC45678901<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>What happens if One Login verification fails?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>Your email becomes permanently tied to a failed verification attempt. You cannot simply try again with the same email. Identity recovery will be necessary.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>Can I change my One Login email address?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>Yes, but doing so triggers re\u2011authentication and may block you until identity recovery has been completed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>Do overseas directors need to verify?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>Yes. All directors and PSCs must verify, regardless of nationality or residence.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>Do company secretaries need to verify?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>No. But they cannot file documents if required officers remain unverified.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>What if my ID is lost or expired near the deadline?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>Apply for replacement ID immediately and request a short extension from Companies House, providing evidence.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>Will my bank know if someone is unverified?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>Yes. Banks monitor Companies House data directly and through third\u2011party AML databases.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>Can accounts be rejected due to verification issues?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>Yes. If the CS01 is overdue or rejected, accounts may also be rejected or treated as late.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>Does ACSP verification issue a PVC?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>Yes. ACSP verification produces the same PVC as One Login.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>What are the penalties if accounts become late because verification failed?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>If verification delays cause your CS01 or other filings to be rejected and accounts become overdue, Companies House will treat them as late and apply statutory penalties:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a3150 for up to 1 month late,<\/li>\n<li>\u00a3375 for 1\u20133 months,<\/li>\n<li>\u00a3750 for 3\u20136 months,<\/li>\n<li>\u00a31,500 for over 6 months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your company files late two years in a row, the penalty is doubled. Late accounts also harm a company&#8217;s credit rating and may prompt banks to trigger enhanced due diligence.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>How is my ID protected when using an ACSP?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>ACSPs use end-to-end encrypted document transfer (E2EE). Your passport or ID is encrypted on your device, re-encrypted during transmission, and decrypted only inside the secure regulated verification environment. No third party \u2014 including SmartSearch \u2014 can access unencrypted ID data during transit.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>How long does SmartSearch store my documents?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>AML platforms such as SmartSearch must retain identity\u2011verification data for five years, stored digitally in encrypted form.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>How does an ACSP store my ID, and for how long?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>As an ACSP, we must retain identity\u2011verification data for five years under the UK Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Documents are stored digitally, encrypted at rest and during transfer, and held in secure UK\u2011based data centres. After five years, records must be permanently deleted unless ongoing monitoring or legal requirements apply.<\/p>\n<p>AML platforms such as SmartSearch must retain identity\u2011verification data for five years.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-query\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">\n<h3>Does submitting a DS01 to dissolve a company count as a filing under the new ID-verification rules?<\/h3>\n<p>                <span class=\"ddlist\"><i class=\"fas fa-chevron-down fa-show\"><\/i><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer hide\">\n<p>Yes. A DS01 (application to voluntarily strike off a company) is a statutory filing at Companies House.<\/p>\n<p>Under the new rules effective 18 November 2025, any Companies House filing made by an existing company triggers the requirement for all existing directors and PSCs to be digitally verified.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Quick Summary From 18 November 2025, every director and Person With Significant Control (PSC) must verify their identity before they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":66,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-company-informations"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Companies House Identity Verification: A Complete Guide for Directors &amp; 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