Companies House PSC verification: your personal code explained

If you’re a person of significant control (PSC), you’re now legally required to verify your identity with Companies House and submit a unique personal code. This requirement was introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act to improve transparency and combat fraud.

In this guide, we explain how to complete your Companies House PSC verification, obtain your personal code, and submit it within the correct 14-day window for your circumstances. It’s important to act, as failing to verify your identity and provide your personal code is a criminal offence and could result in a fine.

Why do PSCs need to verify their identity?

The UK Government now requires persons with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identity under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

The Act is part of the government’s plans to combat fraud and money laundering through private limited companies. It aims to improve trust in private companies by making their information more transparent.

All company directors and PSCs must verify their identity. If they fail to do so, they may be committing a criminal offence and face a fine. Companies House will also publish a note against their name on the public register of companies.

Once a PSC has verified their identity, they’ll be issued a personal code. They must submit this personal code to Companies House within the specific 14-day period allocated to them.

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How to verify a PSC’s identity

As a PSC, verify your identity any time before your 14-day submission window using one of these methods:

Verify your ID online

Verify your ID online with GOV.UK One Login. Access it on a smartphone or tablet for a seamless process. We recommend this option if you’re an existing PSC.

You’ll need to create a GOV.UK One Login using the ‘verify your identity for Companies House’ service, if you don’t already have one. Click the ‘verify your identity’ button near the bottom of the page to create your login.

Once logged in, you should follow the steps to verify your identity. You’ll be asked whether your identity has been verified for Companies House. Select ‘No’.

You’ll then go to a page that asks you a few questions to confirm you’re using the right service to verify your ID.

The services that are available to verify your ID online are as follows:

• Using a mobile phone app
  • The government website offers guidance on whether your device is compatible with the GOV.UK One Login mobile phone app. It should be an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 16.7 or later. Or it should be an Android phone (such as a Samsung or Google phone) running Android 10 or higher.
  • You’ll download the app when it’s needed in the verification process and sign in using your GOV.UK One Login.
  • You’ll need to confirm the photo ID you want to use. Once you’ve done so, you can’t use a different ID without restarting the process, so make sure you have it to hand. If you’re using your passport, it must have a biometric chip.
  • You’ll need to: photograph your photo ID, use your phone to scan the biometric chip, and use your phone to scan your face in selfie mode.
• Online without using a mobile app
  • If your device isn’t compatible with the GOV.UK One Login mobile phone app, you can still verify your identity online. You’ll be asked some questions to confirm your identity instead.

Verify your ID in person at a Post Office

If you can’t use the online service to verify your ID, you can submit your photo ID online and then go to a Post Office to complete the process.

The process for verifying your identity at a Post Office is as follows:

1. Use the ‘verify your identity for Companies House’ service to provide details from your photo ID.
2. Choose which Post Office branch you’ll verify your ID at.
3. Companies House will email you a link to your customer letter, which includes a QR code. You can request a hard copy by post, but it may take up to 6 days to arrive.
4. Take your customer letter and your original photo ID to any Post Office branch that offers ID verification services by the date given on your customer letter. This doesn’t have to be the Post Office branch you chose online.
5. You must present your original photo ID, not a photocopy or a digital copy.
6. You can either print your customer letter or store it digitally on a device, such as a smartphone.
7. If you requested a printed copy of the customer letter, you’ll have less time to visit a Post Office branch before the deadline given on your customer letter.
8. A Post Office staff member will scan the QR code on your customer letter to confirm you’re verifying your ID. They’ll also take your photo and scan your photo ID.
9. GOV.UK One Login will email you the results of your ID check and a link to sign into GOV.UK One Login. They usually email you within a day of your visit to the Post Office.
10. Use the link in the email to sign in to GOV.UK One Login and see the results of your ID check.
11. The email will explain what to do if your ID check is unsuccessful.
12. Following a successful ID check, you should:
    • Be able to view a message saying ‘you have already proved your identity’.
    • Click ‘continue’ to view your Companies House personal code.
    • Be able to see your personal code in your Companies House account by navigating to the ‘Manage account’ section.

Verify your ID using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)

An ACSP – Authorised Corporate Service Provider – can assist you in verifying your identity. This could be an accountant, a solicitor, a company secretarial services provider, or a company formation agent. Rapid Formations is an ACSP-registered company.

ACSPs are registered with Companies House and with a UK anti-money laundering (AML) supervisory body. The ACSP will ask you to provide certain documents from an approved list to verify your ID. They may charge you for this service.

What’s a personal code, and how do I get one?

After verifying your ID, you receive an 11-character Companies House personal code. The code relates to you as a PSC rather than to your company.

You must then send this code to Companies House. Companies House uses this code to connect your verified identity to its records.

How to submit a PSC’s personal code: what information is required?

Submit your PSC code to Companies House using the ‘provide identity verification details for a PSC’ online service. A third party can also use this service to provide your personal code on your behalf.

If you were appointed as a PSC after 18 November 2025, when the identity verification requirements came into force, you can either provide your personal code when your details are added to the Companies House register or within 14 days following your appointment. You’ll need to provide your company number and either your personal code or the PSC’s personal code you’re submitting on behalf of. Companies House advises it can take up to 10 minutes to provide a PSC’s personal code using the online service.

PSCs whose personal information is protected at Companies House can’t use this service.

When to provide a PSC’s personal code: understanding the 14-day submission window

If you’re a PSC, you must provide your personal code to Companies House within a specific 14-day period. The exact dates of those 14 days depend on the circumstances of your position.

These deadlines apply to both existing and newly appointed PSCs during the transition period, which started on 18 November 2025 and lasts one year.

PSC and director transition period submission window

If you’re a PSC and a director of your company, you must verify your identity, obtain a personal code, and send it to Companies House.

To provide your personal code for your PSC role, you must use the “provide identity verification details for a PSC” service from Companies House. Don’t forget to submit your personal code separately for your director position.

Make sure to provide your PSC personal code within 14 days.

As a PSC and director, during the transition period, your 14-day submission period for your PSC personal code starts on the day after your company’s confirmation statement date. The confirmation statement date is the day before the incorporation date, or the day before the last confirmation statement date, whichever is more recent.

PSC but not a director transition period submission window

If you’re only a PSC of your company and not a director as well, you must provide your personal code in the first 14 days of your birth month. For example, if your birthday is 19 April, your 14-day personal code submission window is between 1 April and 14 April.

New PSC after 18 November submission window

If you were appointed as a PSC after 18 November 2025, when the identity verification requirements came into force, you can either provide your personal code when your details are added to the Companies House register or within 14 days of them being added.

Filing tips: what PSCs should know to avoid late submissions

• PSC, who’s also a director: Submit personal code within 14 days of the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.
• A PSC but not a director: Submit personal code within the first 14 days of your birth month.
• PSC appointed after 18 November 2025: Submit personal code when added to the register, or within 14 days of being added.

Stay compliant with PSC ID rules

Understanding the ID verification process is crucial for PSCs to remain compliant and avoid penalties. They can choose to verify their identity online or in person at a Post Office. Alternatively, they can use a registered ACSP, such as Rapid Formations, to verify their identity on their behalf.

Once a PSC has verified their identity, they must submit their personal code to Companies House. Remember, each PSC must submit their personal code within a specific 14-day submission window, which will depend on their individual circumstances.