New Companies House ID Verification Rules: What Writers Need to Know
As of 2025, Companies House is rolling out a new identity verification process—and if you run a limited company, you’ll be expected to comply.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s changing, who it affects, and what you need to do.
Why is ID verification being introduced?
In short: to fight fraud and boost confidence in UK business transparency.
The new rules are part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. They’re designed to make it harder for dodgy companies to operate anonymously and to make company information more trustworthy.
Who needs to verify their identity?
The list includes:
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Directors of limited companies (including writer-directors!)
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People with significant control (PSCs)—usually shareholders with over 25%
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Anyone filing documents at Companies House (us, for example)
Even if you’ve been a company director for years, you’ll still need to verify your identity once the system goes live.
How will ID verification work?
There are two main routes:
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Online via Companies House – a secure digital process using photo ID and facial recognition.
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Through an Authorised Agent – like Writers Tax. We’ll be able to verify your ID on your behalf, saving you the faff of doing it yourself.
You’ll only need to do this once, not every year. Once verified, you’re good to go.
What happens if I don’t verify?
Companies House will start enforcing ID verification by linking it to key actions like:
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Forming a new company
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Appointing a new director
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Filing annual accounts or confirmation statements
Eventually, if your ID isn’t verified, you may be removed as a director—or your company could be struck off.
What should I do now?
For now: nothing! The system isn’t live yet—but it’s coming. We’ll keep you updated as soon as verification becomes a requirement and guide you through it step-by-step. Companies House have begun a campaign to inform people of the changes so you might get an email from them.
If you’re a Writers Tax client, we’ll handle as much of it as we legally can on your behalf.
