From 8 April 2025, company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) in the United Kingdom (UK) can opt to verify their identity with Companies House. Verification will become mandatory in the second half of the year, marking a significant shift in UK corporate governance.
In preparation for these new requirements, Companies House is registering Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) whose role will be to support companies with the verification process, helping to ensure compliance with new regulatory standards. This article will explain the role of ACSPs, outlining upcoming changes, and how Hawksford can assist.
What is an ACSP?
ACSPs, also known as Companies House authorised agents, are individuals or organisations that Companies House has approved to provide identity verification services. To qualify, they must meet stringent standards including being based in the UK and supervised by one of the UK’s 25 Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisory bodies. All third-party agents who file information on behalf of companies will need to be an ACSP by spring 2026.
As of April 2025, Hawksford is officially registered as an ACSP with Companies House and can assist when the below changes take place for company directors and PSCs.
Upcoming changes on identity verification for company directors and PSCs
Anyone establishing, managing, owning or controlling a company in the UK will soon be required to verify their identity. This will be implemented in a phased approach to help companies with the transition. The following are key dates to take note of:
8 April 2025: You can voluntarily verify your identity
Starting 8 April 2025, company directors and PSCs can voluntarily verify their identity with Companies House. PSCs are identified by criteria such as holding over 25% share of voting rights or having the power to appoint or remove majority of the board of directors.
Verification involves presenting government-issued documents, such as a biometric passport or UK driving licence, and matching it to the applicant. This can be done through:
- An ACSP
- GOV.UK One Login online service
- In person at a Post Office
This voluntary period is an opportunity for directors and PSCs to get verified early and resolve any issues before verification becomes compulsory. Those who verify will receive a unique Companies House personal code for future filings.
Autumn 2025: Mandatory identity verification for new appointments
In the second half of 2025, the verification of identity will become mandatory for new company directors and PSCs in the UK. This means that when a new company is incorporated or a company director or PSC of an existing company is appointed, the identity of the company director or PSC will need to be verified as part of the appointment process.
Companies House will not complete the incorporation or accept the appointment filing unless the person’s identity has been verified.
2025 – 2026: Transition period for existing company directors and PSCs
Existing company directors and PSCs will have a 12-month transition period from Autumn 2025 to Autumn 2026 to verify their identities if they have not already done so. The verification can be completed alongside the company’s annual confirmation statement filing.
Failing to comply will constitute an offence and can result in financial penalties, inability to make statutory filings, rejection of new company registrations or even company strike-off.
How ACSPs support corporate governance in UK
The changes that were introduced in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 are part of the UK’s efforts to prevent corporate fraud and increase the accuracy of information on the Companies House register. This represents a major step forward for corporate governance in the UK.
Once fully implemented, identity verification will be a permanent, ongoing requirement for UK companies. This ensures that those in positions of company authority are properly identified, making it more difficult for bad actors to use fake or stolen identities to establish fraudulent companies.
ACSPs themselves are held to high standards of conduct. As trusted intermediaries between businesses and regulatory bodies, they are responsible for conducting rigorous identity checks that meet the same standard of assurance as the government’s own verification processes.
Companies House has made it clear that an ACSP’s authorisation can be suspended if they fail to meet its obligations such as losing its AML supervision status or not conducting checks properly. Public notices will also be published if an ACSP is disqualified.
These measures aim to increase trust in UK companies domestically and internationally as every director must prove their identity and every agent is held accountable. Foreign investors can then have greater confidence when it comes to starting a business in the UK, knowing that the corporate landscape is more transparent and secure.
Next steps: How Hawksford can help you as an ACSP
As an authorised agent, Hawksford can help with the identity verification of company directors and PSCs. We can also manage filings with Companies House now and in the future when using an ACSP becomes mandatory for third-party filings. Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions about how these changes affect you and how to proceed with verification.
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