Major changes to UK company law are being introduced that will affect all new and existing company directors and people with significant control (PSCs).
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, has fundamentally changed how Companies House operates. The act gave Companies House the power to play a far more significant role in tackling economic crime, whilst supporting economic growth and making sure the UK is one of the best places in the world to start and grow a business.
For small and medium-sized enterprises, these new measures mean new compliance requirements, but also greater trust and transparency, and more accurate information on our registers.
Read on to find out more about what’s changing for you and your company, so you can take action at the right time.
What’s already changed for your business
Since 4 March 2024, companies have been required to provide an appropriate registered office address. This must be a genuine business address where Companies House can reliably reach you. PO boxes and virtual offices that can’t receive official correspondence are no longer acceptable.
You must also provide a registered email address for your company. This ensures Companies House can contact you about your company and let you know when you need to complete an action to avoid financial penalties.
When incorporating a company and completing your annual confirmation statement, you’ll also need to confirm that your intended business activities are lawful. This requirement helps to maintain the integrity of the UK business register.
Identity verification: Act now to avoid the rush
The biggest upcoming change affecting company directors is identity verification, which will become a legal requirement from 18 November 2025. This verification will provide extra assurance about who is really running and owning companies in the UK and will help protect legitimate businesses from being associated with fraudulent activity. However, you don’t need to wait to verify.
We are phasing in identity verification over a 12-month transition period to ensure the right amount of support is available to business and individuals aZected by this new requirement, but the verification service is available now.
Identity verification is a 2-step process:
- Verify your identity via GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP. Once you have done this you will receive your Companies House personal code. This code is unique to you and should be kept secure.
- From 18 November, you will need to link your verified identity to each company role you hold by providing your personal code and a verification statement for each role.
Who needs to verify and when
From 18 November 2025, new directors will need to verify their identity in order to incorporate a new company or be appointed to an existing company. Existing directors will need to confirm they have verified their identity at the same time as they file their next annual confirmation statement within the 12-month transition period.
Every PSC has a 14-day period during which they must submit a statement confirming they have verified their identity, along with their Companies House personal code. You can find out more about who and when you need to verify in our guidance.
From 18 November, directors and PSCs will also be able to check the Companies House register to see identity verification due dates for all their roles.
How to verify your identity
There are two routes to complete identity verification:
- UK One Login. This free service allows you to complete verification quickly online. Once successful, you’ll receive a personal code from Companies House that you’ll need for any future filings from 18 November 2025.
-
Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). You can also verify through a third-party provider, such as an account, who has registered with Companies House as an ACSP.
Why verify now?
From 18 November 2025, we will not accept your company’s confirmation statement unless all directors have verified their identity
Leaving completing your identity verification until the last minute could result in:
- delays to important filings
- potential financial penalties
- unnecessary stress during busy periods
We encourage directors and PSCs to verify as early as possible. The process usually takes a few minutes online and once done, you’re all set for future filings.
Changes for Limited Partnerships
If you operate a limited partnership (LP), more significant changes are coming later. All LP filings will need to go through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), ensuring the data is trustworthy and fit for purpose.
Key requirements will include:
- providing partners’ names, date of birth and usual residential address
- providing a registered oZice address in the UK – this must be an appropriate address which is in the same country as the LP is registered in, for example an LP registered in Scotland must have a registered oZice address in Scotland
- providing a registered email address
- the nature of business will be collected as a standard industrial classification (SIC) code
- introduces a requirement to provide an annual confirmation statement
Companies House will also have new powers to:
- close and restore LPs
- apply sanctions
- protect partners’ personal information
- operate a statutory compliance process
These measures still require secondary legislation before they’re implemented, but we will be providing more information and plenty of notice when we can.
What this means for your business
These changes are creating a more trustworthy business environment that benefits legitimate companies. Customers, suppliers and investors will have greater confidence in the companies they are dealing with, potentially making it easier to secure contracts and funding.
The enhanced transparency also helps level the playing field, ensuring all businesses operate under the same robust standards.
Take action today
These new measures represent the biggest changes to UK company law since 1844, but taking action early will ensure your business stays compliant while benefitting from a more trusted and transparent business environment.
Don’t delay, start your identity verification process now and stay up to date on other changes under the ECCTA by signing up to email updates from Companies House.