Companies House Identity Verification 2026: First Convictions, Deadlines and Director Checklist
Updated: 12 minutes ago
Companies House identity verification is now an enforceable legal requirement, not simply an administrative reminder. On 16 September 2026, three UK company directors were convicted after identity-verification failures; the cases also involved late confirmation statements. Directors and people with significant control (PSCs) should check their individual deadlines, complete verification and connect their personal code to every relevant company role.
Quick answer: what should UK directors do now?
Directors and PSCs who are required to verify should confirm their individual deadline, complete identity verification and connect their personal code to every relevant company role. Receiving a code does not necessarily complete every step, and the company should also check its next confirmation statement and filing arrangements.
This guide explains the first convictions, who must verify, how the personal code works and the checks UK companies should complete now. Information is correct as at 23 September 2026.
What happened in the first Companies House identity-verification prosecutions?
The Insolvency Service and Companies House announced the first convictions for these offences on 17 September 2026. The cases were heard at the City of London Magistrates' Court the previous day.
Director | Official finding | Court outcome |
Jill White, White (Reading Properties) Limited | Continued acting as a director while unverified, including participating in decisions and signing company accounts | £166 fine, £85 costs and £66 victim surcharge |
Marc Dillon, White (Reading Properties) Limited | Had verified himself but did not take reasonable steps to prevent an unverified fellow director from continuing to act | £307 fine, £85 costs and £123 victim surcharge |
Modinat Banjo, J Isogony Apparel Limited | Continued acting as a director while unverified and signed and delivered company accounts | £80 fine, £85 costs and £32 victim surcharge |
The official announcement also states that the relevant companies failed to file confirmation statements within the statutory period. It would therefore be misleading to describe the cases as simple penalties for forgetting a single verification step. They involved continued director activity while verification requirements were unmet, together with confirmation-statement defaults.
The amounts were modest, but the significance is wider: prosecution is now a demonstrated enforcement option. Companies House can also use measures including directions, register annotations, financial penalties, civil action, referrals to other agencies and, where appropriate, director disqualification.
Who must complete Companies House identity verification?
The compulsory rollout began on 18 November 2025. The principal groups currently affected include:
new directors, who must verify before incorporating a company or being appointed;
existing directors, who must provide their personal code with the company's next confirmation statement during the transition period; and
PSCs, who must provide their code within the applicable 14-day period.
The exact PSC window depends on when the person became a PSC and whether they are also a director. Companies House displays role-specific due dates on the register, so companies should check the current record rather than relying on a general date copied from another business.
Requirements for some other roles and entity types are being introduced in phases. Always check the current Companies House guidance for the relevant person and legal entity.
Verifying once is not the same as completing every company role
After identity verification, the individual receives a Companies House personal code. The code belongs to the person, but it must be used to connect the verified identity to each relevant director or PSC role.
This distinction matters for people who:
are directors of several UK companies;
are both a director and a PSC;
completed verification but have not supplied the code for every role; or
use an accountant or company-service provider for routine filings.
For an existing director, the personal code is normally provided when the company files its next confirmation statement. Companies House states that a company will be unable to file its confirmation statement unless all its directors are verified. A person should therefore not assume that receiving a personal code automatically updates every company they are connected with.
A verified director may still have responsibilities when another director is unverified
The conviction of Marc Dillon is especially relevant to companies with more than one director. He had completed his own verification, but the court found that he failed to take reasonable steps to stop an unverified fellow director from continuing to act.
The practical lesson is that identity verification should be managed as a company-level compliance task. The board should know each director's status, deadline and role-linking position. If somebody is not compliant, the company should obtain advice promptly on the steps required and what activities that person should not continue performing.
What should a UK company check now?
Use this six-point review:
Check every director. Confirm whether each director is verified and note the due date shown against the relevant role.
Check every PSC. Identify the applicable 14-day window and whether the PSC is also a director.
Check role connections. Make sure each personal code has been used for every company and role that requires it.
Review upcoming filings. Confirm the next confirmation-statement date, annual-accounts deadline and any outstanding filing.
Keep evidence. Retain confirmation of verification, codes and submission records securely. Personal codes should not be published or shared unnecessarily.
Escalate gaps early. Overseas directors, multiple-company structures and document mismatches can take additional time to resolve.
How can an identity be verified?
An individual can verify directly through GOV.UK One Login, which Companies House provides free of charge, or ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) to verify their identity.
An ACSP is an agent—such as an accountant, solicitor or company-formation provider—that is registered with Companies House and supervised under UK anti-money-laundering rules. The agent must complete the required identity checks and confirm the result to Companies House.
TB Accountants' Companies House verification support
TB Accountants offers a Companies House identity-verification support service for UK and overseas directors and PSCs. We can help you:
review which directors and PSCs need action and by when;
identify missing role connections across multiple companies;
explain the documents and information required;
guide the use of personal codes and confirmation-statement filing; and
coordinate the appropriate ACSP verification process where required.
We do not treat verification as an isolated checkbox. The review can also identify related risks involving confirmation statements, annual accounts and the accuracy of the Companies House record.
Need us to check your position? Send us the company name or number, the roles involved and whether each person already has a personal code. Do not send identity documents or personal codes through an unsecured message.
Contact TB Accountants about identity verification, email info@tbagroup.uk, or call +44 208 349 3939.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Companies House identity verification deadlines in 2026?
New directors must verify before incorporation or appointment. Existing directors normally provide their personal code with the company's next confirmation statement during the transition period, while PSCs have their applicable 14-day window.
Is getting a personal code enough?
Not always. The verified individual must connect the code to each relevant director or PSC role. People associated with several companies should check every role separately.
Can a company file its confirmation statement if a director is not verified?
Companies House guidance says the company will be unable to file its confirmation statement unless all directors are verified. Leaving verification until the filing deadline can therefore cause a separate compliance problem.
Can another director be liable if they are already verified?
The first prosecutions show that a verified director may face consequences if they knowingly fail to take reasonable steps to prevent an unverified person from continuing to act as a director. Obtain legal advice for any live board-level issue.
Can an overseas director use an ACSP?
Yes. Companies House guidance allows an ACSP to verify an individual's identity. The available process and acceptable evidence depend on the circumstances and the documents presented.
Does TB Accountants provide verification support?
Yes. TB Accountants can review verification requirements, help prepare the necessary information, guide personal-code and role-linking steps, and coordinate the appropriate ACSP process where required. Contact us for an assessment of the company and people involved.
Official sources
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal, accounting or other professional advice. Requirements and deadlines depend on the person, role and entity. Obtain advice based on your circumstances before acting.
