When you register a company, one of the first things you tell Companies House is what your business does. You do this by selecting a standard industrial classification (SIC) code – a 5-digit code that describes your company’s economic activity. 

SIC codes might seem like a minor administrative detail, but they matter more than you might think. Under new legislation, keeping them accurate is now more important than ever.  

Even if your company is dormant (99999) or non-trading (74990), you still need to supply a SIC code. But if you’re actively trading, it’s essential that your code reflects this. Using a dormant or non-trading code for an active company is one of the most common discrepancies we see, and one that’s likely to attract scrutiny under our new powers. 

Why accurate SIC codes matter

Your SIC code is a part of how your company presents itself to the world. When a potential investor searches for your company, or a lender reviews your application, your SIC code helps them understand what you do and if you’re the right fit for what they’re offering. 

If your code does not match your actual activity, for example you’re actively trading but still showing as dormant (99999) or non-trading (74990), it can create confusion, raise questions, and in some cases actively work against you. Lenders and funding bodies use SIC codes to assess eligibility, and a mismatch can be enough to cause delays or complications in an application. 

Getting it right means your company is accurately represented, and that the right opportunities can find you. 

Beyond your individual business, SIC codes feed into data used by government bodies including Companies House, HMRC and the Office for National Statistics. This data helps track industry trends, informs policy, and provides an indication of the strength of the UK economy. When SIC codes are accurate across the register, that picture becomes more reliable, and sectors are better supported as a result. 

New powers under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act has introduced stronger requirements for all information on the Companies House register to be accurate. This applies to SIC codes just as it does to any other information you file with us. 

Under these new powers, Companies House can challenge, reject or remove information that appears incorrect, inconsistent or misleading. If your SIC code does not reflect your company’s actual activity, you may experience filing rejections or delays while discrepancies are investigated. 

This means it’s no longer enough to set a SIC code when you incorporate and leave it unchanged. You must make sure it continues to reflect what your company actually does. 

Choosing the right SIC code

There are more than 600 SIC codes to choose from, divided into 21 main industry categories. You can find the right code for your company using our condensed list of SIC codes. 

You must provide at least one code, and you can select up to 4 if your company carries out a range of different activities. 

If you’re not sure which code applies to you, it can help to search the Find and update company information service for companies offering similar services. For example, a coffee shop that also sells records might find it useful to look up how similar businesses have described their activities. 

Three questions to ask yourself now 

It’s worth taking a moment to consider: 

• Are you trading? If so, does your SIC code reflect this, rather than showing a dormant (99999) or non-trading (74990) status? 

• Has your business activity changed? If you’ve moved into a new sector or changed what your company does, your SIC code should reflect your current activity. 

• Does your SIC code accurately describe what your company does? If there’s a mismatch, it could affect your relationships with lenders or your eligibility for certain funding. 

You can check your current SIC code on the Find and update company information service.  

How to update your SIC code 

If you need to update your SIC code, file a confirmation statement. You only pay the annual fee for a confirmation statement once within any 12-month payment period.  

Keeping your SIC code up to date is part of your wider responsibility as a company director to maintain accurate information on the register. Our directors’ toolkit has useful links and tools to help you understand your legal responsibilities. 

I’m delighted to be able to share our new business plan, which sets out our strategic objectives for the current financial year. While the 6 objectives are equally important and interlinked, in this blog post I want to focus on the work we’re doing to improve our customer experience.

We know there’s been a significant amount of change for our millions of customers, and we’ve been working hard to listen to feedback and improve our services based on this.

This is about more than just scoring well for customer satisfaction, meeting our public targets for service availability, or minimising call waiting times. It’s about making seamless, customer-focused services part of our organisational DNA, making sure we have a deep understanding of what it’s like to use our services.

Improving the customer experience

Companies House is dedicated to providing outstanding and efficient services to all our customers and users. Over the next 12 months, we will invest in digital enhancements and look for practical ways to minimise burdens on legitimate businesses.

That means making specific improvements to services to simplify the customer experience. For instance:

• improving our filing service through increased automation to make it easier to submit information
• expanding the use of digital channels to keep in touch with customers
• enabling users to search the register in more depth

We’ll also improve how we measure customer experience to get a deeper understanding of what people need from our services and our data. Insights from this enhanced user research will shape future improvements that also help increase the value of our data to users.

Better support and guidance

We know that companies come in all shapes and sizes, with different needs and expectations. To help directors and other customers meet their responsibilities, we will improve our support and guidance, working in collaboration with HMRC and The Insolvency Service.

We’ll also continue to expand our digital services and reduce the need to file documents on paper. Our online services have built-in checks to help you avoid errors and rejections. Expanding our digital offering will:

• lower costs for our customers
• speed up our filing processes
• reduce rejections
• help us make sure the register is updated more quickly

Embedding reforms

We are delivering the most significant company law reforms in over a century, making Companies House a more active gatekeeper of corporate information. We want to make it as simple as possible for people to run legitimate businesses, while stopping bad actors misusing company structures.

We’re committed to understanding the impact of change as we implement the reforms set out in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. We will use best practice to evaluate the effect on customers, learning from the experience of our identity verification rollout.

We are carrying out large-scale and in-depth research to put evidence and the customer experience front and centre of our service design and implementation.

Modernising our technology

We also know our technical infrastructure needs to be modernised, so that our systems match our ambition for an excellent customer experience.

Over the coming years, we will take a phased approach to improving our underlying technology to boost performance, reduce risk, and make sure we can work effectively with government partners for the benefit of our customers.

The work we do over the next year and through to 2030 will mean Companies House continues to play a vital role in strengthening trust in the UK business environment and supporting economic growth.

Since joining Companies House in September, I’ve been impressed by colleagues’ commitment to our mission to become the trusted guardian of corporate transparency.

2025 saw major progress in delivering on that mission and setting out our strategy for the next 5 years.

Launching identity verification

We took a huge step forward in November 2025 with the start of the 12-month transition period for all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identities. This can be done through GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).  

The introduction of identity verification will make it harder to use the register to create anonymous corporate structures that enable fraud, corruption or other criminal activity.

Businesses use our data to carry out due diligence, access finance and add value to their products and services. So, making that data more accurate, up-to-date and reliable will support the government’s broader mission for economic growth.

Doing more for customers

We know the changes we’re going through as an organisation mean changes for all our customers. We will continue to put the people who use our services at the heart of what we do. And we will continue to invest significant resources in optimising processes and services for users and in supporting companies to meet their responsibilities.  

I’m proud of our commitment to customers which has included:

• trialling longer opening hours at our contact centres
• creating new teams to support customers who need individual support to complete identity verification
• simpler ways to report issues such as misuse of personal details

Helping to disrupt economic crime

2025 also saw significant progress in our efforts to tackle misuse of the register. We embedded the use of new powers introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act the previous year.

This enabled us to act against more than 100,000 companies and reject thousands of suspicious filings. Since we got the power to do so in March 2024, Companies House has changed more than 140,000 company addresses to a default address to prevent misuse and protect the public from the harms these companies pose.

We added more tools to our kit last year, including the ability to strike off companies more quickly if they’ve been registered on a false basis. We also deepened our cooperation and data-sharing with other agencies, such as the Insolvency Service and National Crime Agency. This included playing a significant role in the coordinated crackdown on high-street crime through our involvement in Operation Machinize 2.

What’s in store for 2026

A key focus this year is to complete identity verification for everyone required to do so, and we’re on track to achieve that. More than 2.5 million people have already been issued personal codes following a successful verification.

We will also start compliance activity against those who have failed to verify their identity, taking a fair and proportionate approach to enforcing the law.

We’re working on introducing identity verification of people who file documents with us later this year. This will begin no earlier than November 2026. We will give those affected plenty of notice of when this change will happen. Look out for emails from Companies House or visit our Changes to UK Company Law website.

Some of our fees are changing next month. This will enable us to continue the work we’re doing to build a more trustworthy environment for consumers and legitimate businesses.

Using AI responsibly

Like other parts of government, Companies House is keen to lever the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) in a responsible and ethical way.

We’re already using AI to help our integrity and enforcement teams identify anomalies and potential risks and we have plans to use it more widely across the organisation in future.

Delivering on our mission

I’m determined that we continue to deliver on our mission, and as a result, support the economy, give users a high-quality service, and reduce burdens on companies and citizens from those who act with criminal intent.

Read more about the Companies House strategy 2025 to 2030.

View the timeline for introducing the key changes of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.

Having only joined Companies House recently, I’ve been impressed at the commitment of our people to our mission, our service users and our ongoing transformation. I’m delighted to be able to share the next chapter in our journey, our new 5-year strategy.

The backdrop

Companies House has been offering free access to its data for 10 years now. We were pioneers in truly open business registers, and that openness has created enormous value for the UK economy.

But we’re not stopping there. We want to lead global standards for corporate registries. When other countries look at how to balance transparency with business needs, we want them to look to the UK as the gold standard.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 changed everything for us at Companies House. It was the biggest shake-up in our 180-year history, giving us new powers and new responsibilities. Fast forward to today and we’re not just registering information – we’re actively checking it, challenging it, and using it to prevent misuse of our registers and associated harms.

Our vision for 2030

We’re on a mission to ensure that our registers deliver greater value for legitimate businesses whilst stopping the criminals who try to abuse them.

We’re determined to help create an environment where honest businesses can thrive, letting legitimate businesses know that their competitors aren’t getting an unfair advantage by cutting corners or breaking the law. We want them to know that when they’re doing business with another company, the information we hold about them is accurate and trustworthy. That’s what we’re building.

By 2030, we want to be known as the trusted guardian of corporate transparency. That means when someone looks up a UK company anywhere in the world, they can be confident the information they’re seeing is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable.

This isn’t just about Companies House – it’s about supporting the government’s broader mission for economic growth. When businesses can trust the corporate information ecosystem, when criminal misuse of the register is actively investigated and deterred, and when legitimate companies can operate efficiently, everyone wins.

A brighter future ahead

The next 5 years will see Companies House continue to transform from a traditional registry into a dynamic, intelligent guardian of corporate transparency. We’re continuing to evolve into an organisation that will better protect businesses, support economic growth, and help disrupt crime – not just in the UK, but internationally.

Some of our fees are changing in February 2026. This will enable us to continue the work we’re doing to build a more trustworthy environment for consumers and legitimate businesses.

For business owners, this means operating in a fairer, more equitable business landscape, where legitimate companies which play by the rules can thrive. For every citizen, it means better protection from economic crime and a stronger, more trustworthy business environment.

Companies House is now more than a registry – we’re building the foundations for a more transparent, secure, and prosperous business environment for everyone.

Read the Companies House 2025 to 2030 strategy.

One of the aims of an intelligence analyst at Companies House is to produce assessments that inform our understanding of abuse of the register. This work assists both Companies House and our law enforcement partners. 

What intelligence analysis involves

The role of an intelligence analyst is sometimes misunderstood as being solely about data analysis or reporting. While data analysis is an important element, intelligence analysis has a much wider scope.

Analysts use multiple data sources, including Companies House data. They carry out quantitative analysis and combine this with professional judgement to produce assessments and recommendations that support decision making by senior colleagues or partnering agencies.

Collaboration and communication is essential. Analysts work closely with colleagues across Companies House and with external partners to help make sure that any insights are shared wherever possible within legal and governance boundaries.

At its core, the role is about:

• understanding what’s really happening behind the companies register
• identifying patterns that do not look right
• helping others decide where to focus their efforts

Spotting patterns and assessing risk

Intelligence analysts examine Companies House data to understand how companies are formed, how they change over time and how individuals associated with those companies may appear across multiple corporate entities.

Analytical techniques are used to identify abnormal behaviour and potential red flags. These indicators are risk assessed and prioritised, with close engagement from operational colleagues helping to build a more complete picture of each specific risk.

Working with the team

Supporting colleagues is a central part of the analyst role. We hold regular meetings to:

• assign new tasks to team members
• review progress on ongoing intelligence work
• provide guidance and share insight based on individual areas of expertise

Analysts have regular discussions with managers to make sure their ongoing work aligns with wider Intelligence Hub objectives.

An Intelligence Hub is a central function that analyses company data and shares insights with Companies House, law enforcement and government partners to identify and tackle economic crime and misuse of the register.

A mix of planning and reacting

Intelligence work cannot always be planned in advance. Some days become more reactive than others, and this is often triggered by emerging intelligence, unexpected issues or unplanned requests.

In these situations, work with more flexible deadlines may need to be reprioritised so that new risks or information can be addressed quickly. Being flexible and responsive is a crucial part of the role.

What makes a good day

A good day for an intelligence analyst is one where strong engagement is demonstrated across the team, the wider Intelligence Hub and colleagues across multiple Companies House departments.

It’s particularly rewarding when analysis leads to a clearer understanding of potential risks or supports wider operational or policy decisions. The team continually develops new processes based on the outcomes of this work and both successes and failures are analysed.

The impact of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act has made a clear difference to how intelligence can be used at Companies House. It’s enabled intelligence to be referred more effectively to colleagues for further investigation, which can lead to enforcement action and demonstrable improvements to the integrity of the register.

This is especially important for our intelligence analysts. Their work feeds into the Intelligence Hub, which can now share information more easily with partner agencies and law enforcement. This is having a real impact on efforts to tackle economic crime, and helps meet a key goal of the registrar: improving the quality and reliability of data on the register so it can be trusted and used effectively.

The act gives intelligence analysts the tools they need to do their jobs. They develop and refine intelligence and research to support operational activity, and the new powers mean that intelligence can now be acted on more effectively.

As part of the UK government’s efforts to tackle economic crime and improve transparency, Companies House has introduced new identity verification requirements for people with significant control (PSCs). If you’re a PSC of a company, this blog post will help you to understand:

• what you need to know about verifying your identity
• when to do it
• how the process works

What is a PSC?

A PSC is someone who owns or controls a company. A PSC may hold more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, have the power to appoint or remove directors, or otherwise influence key decisions, even without formal ownership. Many PSCs are also directors, but this is not always the case.

A PSC could be:

• a major shareholder
• an investor with board-level authority
• a trustee controlling a large shareholding

In small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and family businesses, a PSC could be:

• a founder retaining control
• a family member with voting power
• a relative who no longer runs the company but still approves major financial or strategic decisions

Why PSCs need to verify their identity

Identity verification has been introduced to help tackle fraud, improve the accuracy of information on the Companies House register, and make it harder for criminals to use fake or stolen identities to set up and control companies. These changes will help create a more trustworthy business environment where honest companies can thrive.

When PSCs need to complete identity verification

When you need to complete identity verification depends on your specific circumstances. Every PSC has a 14-day period during which they must provide their Companies House personal code and a verification statement.

You can get your personal code by verifying your identity either through the Verify your identity for Companies House service, which uses GOV.UK One Login, or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). You only need to do this once – the same personal code can then be used to link your verified identity to each role you hold.

If you’re both a PSC and a director of the same company, your 14-day period starts from the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.

For example, if your company’s confirmation statement date is 31 March 2026, your 14-day verification period as a PSC would run from 1 April to 14 April 2026.

If you’re a PSC but not a director of the company, you must complete identity verification within the first 14 days of your birth month. This makes sure that where a PSC is not directly involved in the running of the company, they have a clearly defined period for complying with identity verification requirements

As an example, if your birthday is 24 February, your 14-day verification period as a PSC would run from 1 February to 14 February 2026.

If you’re a new PSC, you can provide your personal code when you’re first added to the register, or within 14 days of the date on the direction letter sent to you shortly after you’re added.

You can check your specific due dates on the Companies House register.

How to provide your personal code to Companies House

Once you’ve verified your identity and received your personal code, you can use the Provide identity verification details for a PSC service to link your personal code to the PSC roles you hold.

After you’ve signed in, you’ll be asked for the company number. The service will then list the company’s PSCs, where you can find your name and provide your personal code.

You’ll only be able to provide the personal code once your 14-day period has started.

Alternatively, you can share your personal code with the company or an ACSP who can provide it for you during your 14-day period.

Data mismatches

The ‘Provide identity verification details for a PSC’ service will check the details used to verify your identity and match them to the details Companies House holds.

If the details do not match, you will not be able to connect your verified identity to our records. This might be because your date of birth is incorrect on our records or if you verified your identity with an ACSP, they may have provided incorrect details for you.

Find out what you should do if the personal details linked to your code do not match our records.

Important things to remember

Before you verify, make sure the personal details held by Companies House (such as your date of birth) match the details on your identity documents. If they do not match, you’ll need to update your details before you link your verified identity to your PSC role.

If you cannot provide your verification details on time, you can request a 14-day extension before your deadline passes using the online service.

If you do not comply with identity verification requirements as a PSC, you may be committing an offence and have to pay a financial penalty or fine. In the future, we may also display a note against your name on the public register.

Find more information about providing identity verification details as a PSC on GOV.UK and stay up to date by signing up to email newsletter updates from Companies House.

Companies House has introduced a new identity verification process to help prevent the misuse of UK companies. All directors need to verify their identity before filing their company’s next confirmation statement, otherwise the filing will be rejected.

People with significant control (PSCs) also need to provide verification details by their due date. Check the Companies House register to see the due dates for each role you hold.

There are 2 ways to complete identity verification. You can use the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service which uses GOV.UK One Login, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). This blog post focuses on the option of using an ACSP to verify your identity.

Authorised Corporate Service Providers

An ACSP is an individual or organisation that undertakes anti-money laundering (AML) supervised activity, such as:

• company formation agents
• accountants
• solicitors
• chartered secretaries and governance professionals

Using an ACSP

Using an ACSP to verify your identity for Companies House can take the pressure off doing the process yourself.

Some of the reasons why you may wish to use an ACSP include:

• saving time – the ACSP will carry out the identity checks for you, reducing admin – all you have to do is provide your ID document(s)
• a standardised process – ACSPs must verify your identity to the same standard as the Companies House service
• authorised and regulated – ACSPs must meet strict UK legal requirements, including anti-money laundering (AML) regulations
• helping you stay compliant – an ACSP can make sure your identity checks are completed in time for when you need to provide your personal code to Companies House

If you already use a professional to file on your behalf, such as an agent or accountant, they may already hold copies of your ID documents. This can make verifying your identity through an ACSP even quicker and easier.

ACSP compliance

ACSPs are regulated third-party providers. Only authorised agents who have registered with Companies House and have been approved by our teams can perform identity verification checks.

Companies House also has a strict ACSP compliance policy. This means we have the power to randomly carry out checks on the data being provided by ACSPs to make sure they’re meeting their legal requirements. Any potential issues will be investigated thoroughly, and if an ACSP is found to not be meeting the standard required, they will be suspended or ceased. You can find a list of suspended and ceased ACSPs on GOV.UK.

This means you can rest assured that using an ACSP is a safe and secure method of verifying your identity.

Finding an ACSP

Over 10,000 accountants, solicitors and formation agents have already registered as ACSPs. If you already use an agent, you can ask if they’re registered as an ACSP or plan to register so they can verify identities for Companies House. If they’re not, they may be able to recommend an ACSP through their professional network.

You can also find a list of registered ACSPs on GOV.UK to help you find a provider if you do not already use one. This is not a complete list of all ACSPs – it only includes those who have chosen to appear on the public list.

More information

If you’re a third-party provider and have not yet registered as an ACSP, you can do this on our website. Registration will allow you to carry out identity verification on behalf of your clients for Companies House. In the future, you’ll also need to be registered as an ACSP to file documents on their behalf.

Stay up to date by signing up to email updates from Companies House.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 continues to have a real-world impact. The new powers this act gives Companies House are necessary to combat organised crime and misuse of the UK companies register.

The act has also strengthened how Companies House collaborates with other government partners. One of our key collaborators in this field is the Insolvency Service.

We now work more closely with the Insolvency Service to fight back against people who take advantage of corporate structures to hide their crimes. These include money laundering, deliberate exploitation of the companies register and businesses going into liquidation, leaving debts unpaid, and then re-emerging as a new company.

Stronger structures and shared intelligence

Significant structural improvements to our collaborative processes mean that information can now be shared between agencies more quickly and securely.

We now share and analyse information about directors, addresses and filings which helps us to identify patterns of suspicious activity. This helps to uncover the links between companies whose connections have been purposefully blurred to appear unrelated.

This collaborative work also creates a means for Companies House to make rapid referrals to the Insolvency Service when uncovering filings that are believed to be false or fraudulent.

The Insolvency Service is then able to use its powers to petition the courts to wind up companies which are failing to operate within the public interest, disqualify rogue directors, and prosecute fraudsters and other economic criminals. The agency can also secure compensation and separate confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Shared success

Recently, 5 companies that were identified as having filed false and forged accounts were successfully shut down in the public interest, as a result of our shared partnership in action. They were:

• Automarket Europe Limited
• Integra Group Limited
• Maxell Limited
• Montana & Montana Limited
• Supermarket Plus Ltd

They all filed fraudulent accounts claiming to have generated hundreds of millions of pounds in turnover and profits but had not carried out any genuine business activity.

The companies were listed at shared office addresses across South London and Croydon and claimed to trade with local car dealerships and major supermarkets. There was no evidence of any such dealing having ever taken place.

Investigations led by the Insolvency Service in collaboration with Companies House found wildly inaccurate accounts from these businesses.

• Automarket Europe Limited reported assets rising from £629,000 to £84 million in a single year
• Integra Group Limited claimed £302 million in turnover with £186 million profit
• Maxell Limited’s accounts showed £440 million turnover despite having no evidence of genuine trading
• Montana & Montana Limited falsely named reputable auditors
• Supermarket Plus Ltd claimed £642 million in turnover and £330 million in profit

These accounts were not only factually incorrect but also misused the names of legitimate accountancy firms to create a false impression of credibility.

Referrals made by Companies House informed the Insolvency Service’s investigation and the eventual petitioning of the High Court in Manchester to shut down these companies. The court agreed, and the businesses were later shut down in July 2025.

Protecting the integrity of the register

It’s thanks to our rich partnerships with agencies like the Insolvency Service that Companies House is now able to fully use its powers and take decisive action when suspicious activity is detected.

The speed at which we can identify misuse of the register and make referrals to partners and law enforcement has increased exponentially. Protecting the integrity of the companies’ register is crucial, so that this data can be used to make informed decisions in our joint efforts to eliminate rogue companies from the UK corporate landscape.

Building confidence in the UK business environment

The ongoing collaborative efforts of Companies House and the Insolvency Service demonstrate how the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act has empowered government agencies to act swiftly.

Our shared intelligence, data analysis and enhanced enforcement powers will continue to target networks of organised criminals and accelerate the removal of inaccurate information from the register, disrupting the flow of criminal currency.

These actions form part of a broader approach across several UK government departments to combat and prevent economic crime. Together, we’re strengthening the UK’s company register and helping to build a more transparent and trustworthy business environment.

Read more about changes to UK company law.  

18 November 2025 marked an important milestone for UK businesses and the integrity of the Companies House register. From now on, all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) must verify their identity with Companies House.

This change isn’t just about compliance — it’s about realising the vision the Government Digital Service set out in our blueprint for modern digital government this year, joining up public sector services, using the transformative power of digital.

As someone who’s passionate about making government services simpler, safer and more accessible, I’m proud to see GOV.UK One Login at the heart of this transformation. Over 1 million people have already verified their identity for Companies House through GOV.UK One Login since April. This is a huge step forward in building a fairer and safer business environment for everyone.

Those 1 million people also join a total of 13.2 million people who have proved their identity with GOV.UK One Login to access more than 110 different government services.

Historically, company registration relied heavily on trust, with few formal checks on who was behind a business. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act changes that approach, introducing identity verification to strengthen confidence in the register and help honest businesses thrive.

By making it harder to use fictitious names or hide behind false identities, we’re helping to tackle economic crime and ensure the information on the register is accurate and trustworthy.

How GOV.UK One Login works

We’ve worked closely with Companies House to create an online verification route that’s simple and accessible for directors and PSCs across the UK.

GOV.UK One Login is free and quick. There are three ways to prove your identity with GOV.UK One Login. They are:

• with the GOV.UK One Login app
• by answering security questions online
• at a Post Office

The method you use will depend on your device, if you have photo ID, and what type of photo ID it is.

Once you’ve verified your identity with GOV.UK One Login, Companies House will give you a unique personal code to link that verified identity to your Companies House roles. Read more on when to use the code, for example when filing a confirmation statement.

The real benefit of GOV.UK One Login is that your identity verification isn’t limited to Companies House. Once you’ve verified your identity through GOV.UK One Login, you’ll be able to use your GOV.UK One Login to access more than 110 government services – from applying for a DBS check to signing a mortgage deed. This means you will not need to prove your identity again next time a service needs to check who you are.

As an alternative to using GOV.UK One Login, you can choose to verify your identity through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). ACSPs are regulated businesses, such as accountants, solicitors or company formation agents, that can perform the same identity checks and submit the verification to Companies House on your behalf for a fee.

Built with security and accessibility at its core

GOV.UK One Login is being developed as the ‘front door’ for accessing government services. Our aim is to make it as simple and inclusive as possible for individuals to prove their identity and access connected services, while protecting them and the government from the risks of fraud.

To meet these aims, GOV.UK One Login follows high standards for identity verification. Every identity verification service, including GOV.UK One Login, must strike a careful balance between accessibility and strong security. This means using trusted data sources and fraud prevention mechanisms.

These safeguards, however, inevitably mean that GOV.UK One Login will not be able to successfully prove every user’s identity. That is why all government services that use GOV.UK One Login must also provide an alternative method for identity verification – that is the ASCP route for Companies House.

In addition, GOV.UK One Login works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre and operates a multi-layered security approach, including measures to:

• protect data
• deter and detect fraud
• monitor and respond to threats

We protect accounts at sign‑in with device and identity checks, and we require multi‑factor authentication so access needs more than just a password. To keep your information safe while it is stored or moves between your device and our systems, it is encrypted. GOV.UK One Login is fully compliant with UK data protection and privacy laws, including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and engages regularly with the Information Commissioner’s Office on our approach to data protection.

We conduct regular independent testing of our systems as part of assurance activities. We follow the highest security standards for government and private sector services, including dedicated 24/7 eyes-on monitoring and incident response. As the public rightly expects, protecting the security of government services, and the data and privacy of users, to keep pace with the changing cyber threat landscape is paramount.

Making it work for everyone

We’re here to help. Our GOV.UK One Login contact centre is available weekdays 9am to 5pm for live support. You can ask a trusted helper to assist using our step‑by‑step helpers guide.

Companies House are phasing in identity verification over 12 months to make things easier for companies and business owners, and they will be in touch directly with information about what you need to do and when.

The new requirement to prove the identities of directors and PSCs strengthens trust in UK businesses, but it’s also part of something bigger. Our mission at GOV.UK One Login is to transform how people interact with government – making services simpler, faster and more secure. As more services connect, we’re getting closer to that vision: prove your identity once, then focus on what matters to you.

We’re proud to work alongside Companies House on this important step forward for UK business.

Read more about verifying your identity for Companies House.

If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably heard about identity verification and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.

Change is not always easy, especially when it comes to new rules and requirements. That’s why we’ve focussed on keeping our communications about identity verification simple and straightforward. We’re explaining:

• what’s changing
• why it’s important
• what action businesses need to take to stay compliant

From 18 November 2025, identity verification becomes a legal requirement. This date is not a deadline. It marks the start of a 12-month transition period, giving your company time to make sure all directors and people with significant control (PSCs) have verified their identity by their due dates. Any new director will need to verify their identity to incorporate a company or be appointed to an existing company.

To help companies prepare, we’ve been running an awareness campaign across our communication channels to make sure everyone understands what’s changing and how to get ready. Since launching the voluntary verification period on 8 April 2025, we’ve seen a strong response with over one million people already verifying their identity.

You’ll receive a personal code once you’ve successfully verified your identity. From 18 November, directors will need to provide their personal code as part of their company’s annual confirmation statement. Verifying early gives you plenty of time to get everything in order and avoid any last-minute stress. It also means that if an agent or accountant usually files on your company’s behalf, there’s time to share your code with them before it’s needed.

Keeping companies informed

Since 4 March 2024, all companies have been required to provide us with a registered email address. This is how we send important updates directly to your company, so you should check that you’re receiving our emails. If your registered email address is an agent’s or accountant’s email, make sure they’re passing everything on to you.

If you need to update your company’s registered email address, it’s quick and easy. Providing a correct email address means you won’t miss important updates about identity verification or other company law changes.

Supporting identity verification

Our emails, guidance and videos have been designed to break everything down into clear, easy-to-follow steps. We’re helping companies to understand:

• how to get ready for identity verification
• what the process involves and the routes available (through GOV.UK One Login or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider)
• why early action helps avoid delays and complications later
• how and when they’ll need to confirm their verification

This approach is helping companies of all sizes to understand what they need to do, when to do it, and how to comply with the new legal requirements.

Reaching the right people at the right time

To reach as many people as possible, we’re sharing information in lots of different ways.

Our Changes to UK company law campaign site is the central hub for all updates relating to the act. It’s had over 700,000 views, which shows just how many businesses are keen to get it right.

We’re sending direct emails to company registered email addresses and using the email reminder service many businesses already rely on. You’ll also see messages when using our online services, and updates across our website and social media channels. We’re working closely with trusted business organisations and networks to help share information, and using press and trade media to make our messages go further.

We’re keeping a close eye on how our communications are performing to understand awareness and engagement. Insights from this monitoring are helping us to refine our messages, so that they’re as clear and effective as possible as we progress into the transition year.

What to do next

If you’re a director or PSC, you should:

• verify your identity early
• check that your company details are up to date
• keep an eye on when your upcoming filings are due

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Read more about verifying your identity for Companies House.