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What Happens If a Director Misses Companies House ID Verification in 2026?

What the identity verification rule says

Since 18 November 2025, identity verification has been a legal requirement for company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Companies House gave everyone already on the register a 12-month transition period, which ends on 18 November 2026.

That date is a backstop, not everyone's deadline. Existing directors must give their Companies House personal code in their company's next confirmation statement. If your company's confirmation date is 20 October 2026, every director needs to be verified in time to file that confirmation statement, which is due within 14 days of that date, not by mid-November. New companies registered since 18 November 2025 have to give a personal code for every director as part of the registration.

When does each person need to verify?

• Existing directors: the personal code goes into the company's next confirmation statement. If you are a director of several companies, you verify once, but the code has to be given for each company.
• Directors who are also a PSC of the same company: the code goes into the confirmation statement for the director role, and separately through Companies House's PSC service within 14 days, starting the day after the confirmation statement date.
• PSCs who are not directors: within the first 14 days of their birth month. A PSC born on 22 January has a window starting on 1 January.
• PSCs added since 18 November 2025: when they are first added to the register, or within 14 days of being added.

What happens if a director misses it?

• The confirmation statement is blocked. Companies House will not accept a confirmation statement until every director's personal code is included. A confirmation statement must be filed within 14 days of the end of the review period, and failing to file it is an offence by the company and every officer.
• The director commits an offence. Companies House is clear that anyone who does not comply with identity verification on time is committing an offence, with a range of consequences that include a financial penalty.
• The director is locked out. An unverified director cannot make filings for the company or start a new company.
• Strike-off risk. A company that keeps failing to file its confirmation statement can be struck off the register. Once a company is dissolved, its bank accounts are frozen and its assets pass to the Crown.

Already missed it? What to do this week

• Verify now. Use GOV.UK One Login with photo ID such as a biometric passport or a UK photo driving licence. If you do not have suitable photo ID, UK residents may be able to verify with bank details or in person at a Post Office. You can also verify through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor registered as a Companies House authorised agent.
• Keep your personal code safe. You get one 11-character Companies House personal code. It belongs to you, not to a company, and covers every role you hold.
• File the confirmation statement straight away. If it is already late, file it as soon as every director's code is in. The longer it stays outstanding, the higher the risk of enforcement and strike-off action.
• PSCs who need more time can request a 14-day extension through Companies House's PSC verification service. Ask before your window closes.
• Check every company you are connected to. Each one has its own confirmation date, so the earliest one sets your real deadline.

How long does verification take?

For most people with a passport or UK photo driving licence and a smartphone, GOV.UK One Login verification can be done online in a single sitting. The Post Office and bank-details routes take a little longer to arrange, so do not leave them until the week your confirmation statement is due.

If you are an accounting firm, now is a good time to list every client company with its confirmation date and the verification status of each director. Since late filing can now be caused by a single unverified director, the confirmation statement has become the step most likely to slip. Our guide to year-end accounts for UK limited companies covers the other Companies House filings to plan around.

Frequently asked questions

Is 18 November 2026 the deadline for every director?

No. It is the end of the 12-month transition period. Existing directors must be verified by their company's next confirmation statement, which for many companies falls before 18 November 2026.

Do I need to verify separately for each company?

No. You verify once and receive one Companies House personal code. You then give that code for each company where you are a director or a PSC.

Can my accountant verify my identity for me?

Yes, if they are registered with Companies House as an authorised agent (an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, or ACSP). Their checks must meet the same standard as verifying directly through GOV.UK One Login.

What if one director will not verify?

The company still cannot file its confirmation statement while an unverified director is on the register. In practice, the director needs to verify, or the board needs to be updated before the confirmation statement is filed.