Registering a UK Company in 2026: The New Companies House Identity Checks

The UK just made the biggest change to company registration in a generation, and a lot of founders have not noticed. You can no longer set up a UK company, or sit on its board, anonymously — every director and beneficial owner must now verify their identity with Companies House. For a jurisdiction that was famous for fast, cheap, no-questions incorporation, this is a real shift.

Here is what changed under the new law, who it affects, how verification works (including for non-residents), and what happens if you ignore it.

What Changed: Identity Verification Under ECCTA

The change comes from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA), the UK’s response to years of criticism that Companies House was a filing cabinet that verified nothing. ECCTA turns it into an active gatekeeper, and identity verification is the centrepiece.

Since 18 November 2025, identity verification is mandatory for every new incorporation and every newly appointed director — you cannot form a UK company or join its board without it. Companies House estimates six to seven million people are in scope. The era of registering a UK company in an afternoon with nothing more than a name and address is over; the name now has to be a verified, real person.

Who Must Verify & Timelines

The rules reach further than just new companies. Every director and every Person with Significant Control (PSC) is caught, plus anyone who files documents at Companies House on a company’s behalf. If you own or control a UK company, you are almost certainly in scope.

The deadlines split by situation. New directors and new incorporations must verify up front, from 18 November 2025. Existing directors and PSCs have a transition window and must be verified by 18 November 2026, with the practical trigger being the company’s next confirmation statement — by the time it is due, each director must have verified and must supply their personal verification code. Leave it to the confirmation statement and you risk not being able to file.

How Verification Works

The good news for international founders: you do not need to fly to London. Verification runs through GOV.UK One Login using a biometric passport or a UK driving licence, or in person at a participating Post Office. That One Login route works from abroad, so a non-resident founder can generally verify remotely with a passport.

The second route is delegation. An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — a regulated agent — can run the identity check and confirm it to Companies House on your behalf. For non-resident founders, or anyone who would rather not navigate the government portal, using an ACSP is often the cleaner path: you verify once through the agent, receive your personal code, and it is reused across your filings. Either way, the identity is now tied to a real, checked document — there is no anonymous route left.

What Happens If You Ignore It. Tax Backdrop

Non-compliance is not a soft deadline. If verification is missed, Companies House can reject the company’s filings, block new director appointments, and take enforcement action — and filing or acting as a director without required verification can be an offence. In practice, an unverified company can find itself unable to make routine filings, which quickly cascades into being non-compliant and, ultimately, at risk of being struck off.

Verification is also worth pairing with a clear-eyed look at UK tax before you commit. Check here to get a closer look at tax system in the state. The UK is not a low-tax jurisdiction: corporation tax is 25% on profits above £250,000, with a 19% small-profits rate up to £50,000 and marginal relief between the two. The UK sells credibility, market access and a world-class legal system — not a low rate — and now it also sells verified, harder-to-abuse company records. Go in for what it actually offers.

FAQ

Do I have to verify my identity to register a UK company now?

Yes. Since 18 November 2025, identity verification is mandatory for every new incorporation and every newly appointed director. You cannot form a UK company or join its board without it.

By when must existing directors and PSCs verify?

By 18 November 2026, with the practical trigger being the company’s next confirmation statement. Each director must have verified and supply their personal verification code by the time that statement is filed.

Can a non-resident verify without visiting the UK?

Yes. Verification via GOV.UK One Login works from abroad with a biometric passport, and an Authorised Corporate Service Provider can run and confirm the check on your behalf, so no UK visit is required.

What happens if I do not verify?

Companies House can reject filings, block director appointments and take enforcement action, and acting or filing without required verification can be an offence. An unverified company risks being unable to file and ultimately struck off.

Is the UK a low-tax place to incorporate?

No. Corporation tax is 25% above £250,000 (19% up to £50,000, marginal relief between). The UK offers credibility, market access and legal certainty rather than a low rate.

Conclusion

Registering a UK company in 2026 is still fast and still worthwhile — but it is no longer anonymous. Under ECCTA, every director and PSC must verify their identity: mandatory for new companies since 18 November 2025, and for existing officers by 18 November 2026 via the confirmation statement. Non-residents can verify remotely through GOV.UK One Login or delegate to an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, and the penalty for ignoring it runs from rejected filings to strike-off. Treat verification as step one, not an afterthought, understand that the UK sells credibility rather than a low rate, and the process is smooth.

Setting up or already running a UK company and need to get identity verification done — especially as a non-resident? Send us your details on Telegram or WhatsApp, and we will handle the incorporation and verification through an authorised provider so your filings never get blocked.