Received an email from Companies House about identity verification? Don’t panic

If you (or one of your clients) have recently received an email from Companies House about People with Significant Control (PSCs) needing to verify their identity, you’re not alone.

This is part of a major UK regulatory change and while the wording can feel a bit alarming, the reality is far more straightforward.

Let’s break it down in plain English 👇

What is this email actually about?

This requirement comes from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

The aim is simple:

👉 Make sure the people behind UK companies are real, identifiable individuals

In practice, this means:

• All directors and PSCs must verify their identity
• Once verified, they receive a Companies House personal code
• That code is then linked to their role on the public register

It’s about transparency and fraud prevention, not catching anyone out.

Who needs to take action?

If your company has:

• Shareholders with more than 25% ownership, or
• Individuals with significant influence or control

…then those individuals are classed as PSCs and will need to verify their identity.

📌 In many small owner-managed companies, this will simply be:

“You — the director/shareholder”

 

 

What’s with the 14-day deadline?

The email mentions a 14-day window, which understandably raises eyebrows.

Here’s the important context:

• This isn’t a one-off panic deadline
• It’s part of an ongoing compliance cycle
• The trigger is usually:
  • Your Confirmation Statement date, or
  • The PSC’s birth month

👉 There is also the option to request an extension if needed.

So yes it’s important, but it’s not designed to trip you up.

What happens if you ignore it?

The email references penalties like fines or prosecution.

That’s technically correct but in reality:

• These rules are aimed at persistent non-compliance or bad actors
• Not genuine business owners trying to do the right thing

👉 The key takeaway:
As long as you engage with the process, you’ll be absolutely fine.

How do you actually complete the process?

There are two steps:

1. Verify identity

This can be done either:

• Directly with Companies House, or
• Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) (like us 👋)

2. Provide your personal code

Once verified, you:

• Submit your Companies House personal code
• Confirm your identity is verified

How we help (so you don’t have to worry about it)

As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, we can:

✔️ Handle the identity verification process for you
✔️ Obtain your Companies House personal code
✔️ Ensure everything is correctly linked and filed
✔️ Keep you compliant without you needing to navigate the system

In other words:

You focus on running your business — we’ll handle the compliance.

 

 

Final thought

This email might feel a bit heavy-handed, but it’s really just part of the UK moving towards a more secure and transparent company register.

For genuine business owners, it’s:

👉 A small admin task
👉 With big-picture benefits for trust and credibility

Need help?

If you’ve received this email and aren’t sure what to do next:

• We can take this off your plate entirely
• Or simply guide you through it in a few minutes

Book a meeting and we'll get it sorted.