At Legal Eye, we are warning law firms to prepare for important changes coming into effect from Companies House which will impact how company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) are verified.

From mid-November 2025, all existing directors and PSCs will be required to complete an ID verification process before their company’s next confirmation statement can be filed. This is part of the reforms introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.

The verification can be completed in two ways:

• Directly through the .gov.uk service, or
• Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as a solicitor or accountant who has successfully applied to Companies House for ACSP status.

From spring 2026, any organisation filing documents on behalf of a company must itself be authorised as an ACSP.

Key points for firms to note

These obligations form part of Companies House’s wider reforms to strengthen corporate transparency and tackle economic crime. With deadlines approaching, firms should be reviewing their position now and considering whether to apply for ACSP status or establish alternative arrangements for their clients.

The verification process comes with a number of specific requirements that firms should be aware of, including:

• Verification must meet Companies House standards
• The verifier must notify Companies House each time an ID check is carried out
• The public register will display brief details of who verified the ID
• Evidence and documents used to verify ID must be retained for seven years and provided on request.

Commenting on the changes, our MD, Paul Saunders, said: “These changes represent a significant shift in how companies are administered. Law firms will need to make a strategic decision on whether to apply for ACSP status and offer verification services directly, or whether to signpost clients to other providers. Either way, the deadlines are clear and firms should ensure they are fully aware of what is required.”

How Legal Eye can help

We provide updates and practical guidance on regulatory developments affecting law firms through our Policy Store and consultancy services. To discuss how Legal Eye can support your firm, please contact [email protected] or call 020 3051 2049.