Long Email explaining Companies House ID Verification Changes

Use this text to create the email template in your Engager account: copy the email below into a new message template under Settings > Communication > Message templates (see How to add email templates). [PrimaryContact] and [PortalAddress] are placeholders, so they fill in automatically for each client. [Deadline date] isn’t a placeholder, so type your own deadline in by hand. Review and tailor the wording before you send it.

Dear [PrimaryContact],

As you may be aware, Companies House has introduced a new identity verification regime under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, with a voluntary window for directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) that opened on 8 April 2025, mandatory checks for directors and PSCs from 18 November 2025 (with a 12‑month transition period for existing directors and PSCs), and rules for third‑party providers who file on behalf of companies, as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs), from no earlier than November 2026. To ensure seamless compliance and avoid any filing delays, we will be requesting ID documentation from any clients for whom we do not already hold verified identification.

What the Change Means

Legislative Background

Companies House’s new regime stems from powers granted by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, designed to improve the quality and reliability of the register and deter misuse of company identities.

Key Requirements

ACSP Registration Service launched on 18 March 2025, enabling third‑party providers to register as authorised agents for identity verification.
A registration fee of £63 applies per business when you sign up as an ACSP
From 8 April 2025, individuals (directors/PSCs) could voluntarily verify their identity directly through GOV.UK One Login or via an ACSP.
From 18 November 2025, identity verification became mandatory on incorporation and new appointments of directors/PSCs, with a 12‑month transition period for existing directors and PSCs. Existing directors confirm their verification when the company files its next confirmation statement.
The rules for third‑party providers filing documents on behalf of a company, first due in spring 2026, have been postponed until no earlier than November 2026. From then, ACSPs will be able to file on behalf of clients as authorised agents.

What We’re Doing

Our ACSP Status

We have completed our ACSP registration and are now authorised to carry out Companies House-compliant identity verifications on behalf of our clients.

Identity Verification Process

To meet the new standards, we will:

Request Certified ID Documents
- Acceptable documents include passports, driver’s licences or national ID cards, as specified in the ACSP rules
Perform Verification
- We will compare the document details (name, date of birth, expiry date, country of issue) against Companies House requirements.
Notify Companies House
- Once verified, we will submit the required metadata via the Companies House Identity Verification Service to record your verification.

Next Steps

Action Required

If we do not already hold verified identification for you, please provide a clear, certified scan or photo of one of the accepted identity documents by [Deadline date]. You can upload these securely via our client portal: [PortalAddress]

Support

Should you have any questions about these new requirements or need assistance with the upload process, please contact your usual advisor or reply to this email. For further reading, you may also find our external guide helpful (thirdfort.com).

Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to ensure full compliance with Companies House’s enhanced identity‑verification framework.

Kind regards,