Major Shake-Up: Companies House Rolls Out ID Checks for Company Directors
Picture this: nearly every company director and influential shareholder in the UK will soon face a new legal hurdle—mandatory identity verification. It’s all thanks to the Companies House reforms introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. These changes are not just tweaks. They're the most significant overhaul in decades, aiming to stamp out dodgy dealings and make business registers far more trustworthy for everyone involved.
The clock is already ticking. By autumn 2025, if you’re appointing a company director or adding a Person with Significant Control (PSC), you’ll need to verify their identity first. Anyone already in these roles gets a year-long window—until autumn 2026—to complete the process. Third-party agents, such as accountants and company secretaries who sort paperwork for clients, aren’t left out either. They’ll need to either register as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) or use the government’s One Login system, both options carrying strict anti-money laundering (AML) supervision.
It all kicks off on 18 March 2025, when corporate service providers can begin their ACSP registration. Soon after, on 8 April, directors, PSCs, and agents can begin voluntary ID checks. Make no mistake—this isn’t a box-ticking exercise. The Companies House chief, Louise Smyth, has been clear: these steps are designed to clamp down on fraudsters, verify who’s really running UK companies, and make data errors much less likely. It’s a direct response to repeated calls for more robust controls after high-profile business register abuses and economic crime scandals.
ID Checks: What Changes for Accountants and Clients?
This overhaul means big changes, especially for accountants. Around 7.4 million company officers and PSCs have to get verified. Accountants and other agents who file on behalf of clients can't just keep business as usual—they must officially register with Companies House as ACSPs from March 2025, or ensure their filings go through verified channels.
For many accountants, this adds a whole new layer to their job. They'll have to actively help clients prep for ID checks, plan their communications, and rethink how they collect client information. Every new incorporation or appointment from autumn 2025 will trigger an instant need for verification, making speed and accuracy more important than ever.
Verification itself is pretty straightforward: individuals can use the Gov.uk One Login—an online service linking government systems for identity proof—or ask an agent (now an ACSP) to complete the process on their behalf. But for smaller companies or less tech-savvy directors, accountants will be on the front line, guiding clients through unfamiliar steps and making sure nothing trips up compliance deadlines.
This is not just about ticking a regulatory box. If a company fails to meet the new requirements, it could face serious trouble—think penalties or disqualification from the register. Regulators are making it clear: the days of anonymous or untraceable company control are officially numbered.
The bottom line for anyone handling company filings, especially professionals and corporate agents, is simple: get ready now. Spring and summer 2025 may look a lot busier as the transition looms, and the pressure will build as the autumn deadlines draw close. Accountants have a central role, bridging between regulators and clients, and now more than ever, they can’t afford to leave compliance to chance.
