Further Updates on Companies House ID Verification & Statutory Register Changes
This year has been and is continuing to be an active year in relation to the implementation of the changes introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) including the verifications to be undertaken by Companies House on directors and shareholders of limited companies, in addition to removal of the obligation to keep specific registers with the company.
Following our last update on the changes we shared through the article Companies House – Update on Identity Verification, further provisions in the ECCTA have now been given a date of when they will come into force. This article explains these provisions and what it means for you.
Commencement of Mandatory Identity Verification:
Following the start of voluntary identity verification earlier this year, Companies House has announced that from 18 November 2025, identity verification will be mandatory for (i) directors; (ii) people with significant control (PSCs); and (iii) members of a limited liability partnership (LLP).
Such identity verification will have to be completed at the time of:
the incorporation of a new company or LLP;
the appointment of directors;
any notification of a PSC;
filing a confirmation statement; and
submitting any filings at Companies House.
This ensures all individuals who need to complete the identity verification does so in the following 12 months of transition.
For any of the above individuals who need to verify their identity, this can be done online or in person at the post office or bank or building society. Details of how it can be done and what documents you will need can be found in our previous article here.
It is to be noted that it will be required at a later stage to undertake identity verification for (i) people who file at Companies House on behalf of a company; (ii) corporate directors of companies; (iii) corporate members of LLPs; and (iv) officers of corporate PSCs.
Changes to Requirements of Statutory Registers:
The ECCTA has also introduced changes to the obligations of companies in relation to maintaining certain statutory registers.
From 18 November 2025, a company will no longer be required to hold and maintain, the following registers:
Directors register;
Directors’ residential addresses register;
Register of secretaries; and
Register of people with significant control.
However, such information included in those registers will still be required to be filed with the Companies House within the statutory timeframe using the relevant forms and kept up to date.
Despite the changes, it is expected that companies will continue to hold and maintain the above registers, for more efficiency in housekeeping and good corporate governance.
Companies are required to maintain the register of members under the Companies Act 2006 and will continue to be obliged to following the changes under the ECCTA. Currently, a company can choose to have the to keep such register at the Companies House or to hold it at the company’s office address or at a single alternative inspection location (SAIL) address. The former option of keeping the member’s register at Companies House will be no longer be allowed with effect from 18 November 2025. Accordingly, any company who currently keeps its register of members at Companies House will have to make arrangements so that it will hold locally at its registered office or at a SAIL address and shall reflect in such register that prior to the date of creating such register, all the information of company’s members were kept at the central register of the Companies House.
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or need guidance on preparing for the new Companies House identity verification requirements and registers’ keeping, our corporate legal team is here to help.
Speak to one of our Corporate solicitors today ↓
Written by:
Head of Corporate & Commercial Solicitor
Corporate & Commercial Solicitor
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