Companies house personal codes – FAQs

What is a personal code?

A personal code is an 11 character code (a mix of letters and numbers, usually issued in this format: XXX-XXXX-XXXX) that is issued to an individual once their identity has been verified with Companies House. The code is personal to that individual and is used for all roles that individual holds in all different companies.

Why has Companies House done this?

The requirement for identity verification of company officers and ultimate beneficial owners of companies was introduced in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, in order to help tackle fraud, prevent the use of fake identities and the registration of individuals as officers without their consent or knowledge, and to enhance the accuracy of the Companies House company register. The purpose of the ID checks is to ensure that those individuals named as running or owning companies are who they say they are.

Who needs a personal code?

At the moment, personal codes are needed by directors or persons with significant control (PSC) of companies, and members of LLPs. In future, the requirement may also be rolled out to company secretaries, and also to others including corporate directors and members of companies and LLPs, and officers of corporate PSCs.

How do I get my personal code?

In order to get your personal code, you need to have your identity verified in accordance with the Companies House requirements. The two main ways of doing this are:

• Using the GOV.UK One Login. You must create your own Companies House account, complete the questions about yourself and verify your identity using an app (or by subsequently visiting a Post Office). Once complete, your personal code will be available to you in your Companies House account.
• Using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). You provide a regulated agent (such as an accountant or solicitor who has been authorised by Companies House) with your identification documents which they will check, either themselves or by using an electronic identification verification provider, and then confirm your identity to Companies House. Your personal code will then be emailed to you, to the address you provided for the purpose to the ACSP.

How do I use my personal code?

You will need to submit your personal code when you file a confirmation statement, or if you become a director or PSC of a company. In practice, you will need to provide your personal code to whoever makes the necessary filings on behalf of the company in question, be that a company officer or external advisor (solicitor or accountant).

Once Companies House is satisfied that an individual’s identity has been verified, it will update the public register accordingly. If the check was carried out by an ACSP, the ACSP’s details will also be shown.

Remember to only share your personal code with trusted people and keep it safe for future use.

When do I have to get my ID checked?

At the moment, we are in the middle of a 12-month transition period, which started on 18 November 2025. The intention is that, by the end of this period, all directors and PSCs will have completed their ID checks.

• If you are already a director of a company, you will need to provide your personal code in the company’s next confirmation statement.
• For PSCs, there is a separate Provide identity verification details for a PSC service, and you must submit your personal code within 14 days after the relevant company’s confirmation statement date.
• For new appointments as a director at any time after 18 November 2025, you will need to provide your personal code as part of the filing to register your appointment. For new PSCs, you should provide your personal code within 14 days of being registered as such.
• For new companies created after this date, personal codes of all directors must be provided on incorporation.

Where do I find my personal code?

If you verified your identity yourself using GOV.UK One Login, you will have had to create a Companies House account (if you did not have one already). Your personal code is saved in your account and can be found by logging in and clicking “Manage account”.

If your identification verification was carried out by an ACSP, your personal code would have been sent by email to the address provided by you to the ACSP. You can also save your personal code to your Companies House yourself. Note that your ACSP will not have a record of your personal code unless you have subsequently sent it to them.

If you have lost your personal code, you can either have your identification re-verified and have a new personal code issued, or you can contact Companies House to request a new code is sent to you by email and your old code cancelled.

Companies House has said the details linked to my personal code do not match their records

This can happen, and will usually arise if your name used at Companies House is not exactly the same as the name used on your identification verification process (for example, on your passport or driving licence). Check for use of middle names, double-barrelled surnames, or hyphenated names.

How much does this cost?

If you complete the ID checks yourself through the Companies House GOV.UK One Login, there is no charge. If you use an ACSP to verify your identity, they will like charge a fee. Do, however, check with your company as to whether it is willing to meet the costs of completing your ID checks.

What happens if I don’t do this?

If you do not comply with the identification requirements and continue to act as a director after the deadline for compliance, you will be committing an offence, potentially facing prosecution and/ or a fine. The company may also be committing an offence.

In addition, the public register at Companies House will be annotated to show that no ID checks have been completed for you, and you will be unable to appointed as a new director or to register a new company until such time as you are compliant.

Finally, a company will not be able to file its confirmation statement without submitting personal codes for all directors. Failure to file a confirmation statement can be grounds for the compulsory striking off of the company from the public register.