PSC identity verification lag
Companies House identity verification is progressing reasonably well, although the latest figures show that compliance by people with significant control (PSCs) is well behind compliance by directors.
What a director, who is also a PSC, may not realise is that, although they will have a single 11-character personal code from Companies House, this code has to be provided separately for each role they hold.
Directors
Directors have been required to link their personal code with each directorship held when filing a company’s first confirmation statement on or after 18 November 2025.
- This aspect of Companies House’s identity verification exercise is moving towards completion, with 68% of directors informing Companies House of their verified identity by 23 September.
- Some 18% of directors, however, are overdue with their compliance.
Although identity verification may have been successfully completed, a director will still be classed as unverified until their personal code is linked to their directorship. Newly appointed directors have to provide their code as part of the appointment process.
Persons with significant control
Only 56% of PSCs had submitted their personal code by 23 September, with 26% overdue. A company’s confirmation statement cannot be submitted until all directors have verified their identity, but there is not the same requirement with PSCs:
- Director and PSC of the same company: For the PSC role, the personal code is submitted using a separate service within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date.
- PSC but not a director of the same company: The code has to be provided within the first 14 days of the PSC’s birth month. For example, if born 28 October, the 14-day submission period will run from 1 to 14 October 2026.
Individuals who become a PSC should provide their personal code within 14 days of being added to the Companies House register. Companies House guidance on identity verification can be found here.
