For years, Companies House sat quietly in the background of business life. Filing confirmation statements and annual returns felt like a routine chore, hardly the kind of thing to keep anyone up at night. That’s now changed. With the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (2023) in place, Companies House has new powers, and it is using them. For businesses, directors, and professional advisers, this has transformed compliance from a tick-box exercise into a critical responsibility. The introduction of identity verification and Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs)means that if you’re involved in running a company, compliance is about to become much more personal.

Who Needs to Verify Their Identity

The scope of these changes is broad. It’s not just directors of large companies who are affected. Directors, members, general partners, managing officers, persons with significant control, company secretaries, and anyone who files on behalf of a company will all be required to have their identity verified. This applies to virtually anyone who touches a Companies House filing. The message is clear: if you’re part of corporate governance, you will need to prove who you are before you can continue to act.

How Identity Verification Works

Identity verification is simple in principle but strict in practice. Companies House will only accept certain forms of identification, such as biometric passports, UK driving licences, biometric residence permits or cards, and Frontier Worker permits. These checks can be completed directly through Companies House using GOV.UK One Login, or via an ACSP who acts on your behalf. Once verified, you will be issued a personal code by Companies House, which becomes your permanent identifier for future filings. The only time you will need to re-verify is if your personal details, such as your name or address, change.

When Verification Becomes Mandatory

The timing of this transition is important. From April 2025, individuals will be able to verify their identity voluntarily. By November 2025, verification becomes mandatory, and over the following 12 months, directors and persons with significant control will be phased into the new system. Without verification, you will not be able to file, and that leaves companies exposed to penalties and reputational risk.

The Role of Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs)

An ACSP is effectively a regulated gatekeeper. Only ACSPs will be able to file on behalf of companies or verify identities for others. For accountants, legal professionals, and company secretaries, becoming an ACSP isn’t just a nice-to-have; it is the only way to continue providing core compliance services to clients. Without it, your ability to act on their behalf disappears.

How to Become an ACSP

The process of becoming an ACSP is structured but manageable. First, you must be supervised by a UK anti-money laundering body such as HMRC or the FCA. A senior officer of the firm must then apply through Companies House using the GOV.UK One Login system, providing details of the firm’s AML registration, business information, and completing their own identity verification. A one-off fee of £55 applies, and once approved, the firm receives a digital agent account along with a unique identity number. From there, additional staff can be added to the account, though they will not need to go through verification themselves.

ACSP status isn’t just a one-time hurdle. To maintain it, firms must keep their AML supervision up to date, notify Companies House within 14 days of any changes, and keep detailed records of all identity checks for at least seven years. If an ACSP fails to comply, Companies House has the power to suspend or revoke its status, and any such action will be publicly recorded.

How ACSPs Verify Clients

Once approved, ACSPs take on the responsibility of verifying client identities to the same standard as Companies House. This involves requesting information from the client, collecting and authenticating identification documents, confirming that the documents belong to the individual, and creating an auditable record of the process. The results are submitted to Companies House, linking the individual to their new personal code. These records must be securely stored for at least seven years, even in cases where verification cannot be completed.

Why This Matters for Firms and Clients

For firms, ACSP status is the only way to retain the ability to act for clients. For clients, it provides reassurance that their filings are being handled by trusted professionals who are meeting strict regulatory standards. And for Companies House, it is a step toward restoring confidence in the UK’s corporate register by making it harder for bad actors to operate in the shadows.

The practical takeaway is clear: do not wait. Verification may feel like a distant deadline, but bottlenecks are inevitable as November 2025 approaches. Firms that register early as ACSPs will be better placed to manage obligations and avoid disruption. Many will also look to technology platforms, such as Inform Direct, to make the process more efficient, providing streamlined verification tools, deadline reminders, secure document storage, and expert support.

Final Thoughts

Companies House has shifted from being a passive registrar to an active regulator. This is no longer about submitting forms and forgetting about them—it’s about ongoing compliance, transparency, and accountability. For directors and professionals alike, identity verification and ACSP registration are not optional. They are the gateway to continuing business as usual in the UK. Firms that act now will not only stay compliant but also strengthen their reputation as trusted advisers in a market that is rapidly raising its standards.