From 18 November 2025, all company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) will be legally required to verify their identity with Companies House. This change comes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and represents one of the most significant shifts in corporate compliance in recent years.

For law firms, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

What’s Changing?

• Mandatory identity verification: Every director and PSC must have their identity verified before they can be registered or continue acting.
  
  
• Verified ID code: Once verified, Companies House will issue each individual with a unique code.
  
  
• How verification happens: Identity checks can be carried out directly with Companies House, or via an authorised agent known as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) such as a law firm.

When will it change?

From 18 November 2025: New directors and PSCs will be required to verify their identity to incorporate a company or be appointed to an existing company. 

Existing directors and PSCs can already voluntarily verify their identity. However:

During a 12 month period from 18th November 2025, all existing directors and PSCs will need to verify their identity in order to continue acting in that position. Different deadlines will apply to each individual during the 12 month transition period depending on:

• For directors, when the company’s next confirmation statement is due
• For PSCs, within the first 14 days of their birth month, or as above, if the person is both a PSC and director of the same company

What This Means for Law Firms

Companies House estimates that 6-7million individuals will need to verify their identity by November 2026 which represents both a big step forward for corporate compliance and a significant opportunity for law firms, which are uniquely placed to act as trusted ACSPs. By becoming an ACSP, your firm can:

• Provide identity verification services to directors and PSCs.
  
  
• Submit confirmations directly to Companies House when you have verified someone’s identity.
  
  
• Help clients stay compliant with their new legal obligations, strengthening your advisory role.

But there are also compliance responsibilities. As an ACSP, your firm must:

• Be supervised for anti-money laundering (AML) purposes by a recognised body (such as the Law Society).
  
  
• Apply to Companies House to become an ACSP.
  
  
• Follow strict government-prescribed identity verification standards. ACSPs must follow a consistent process for each individual. As opposed to a ‘risk-based approach’, verification requires specific steps and evidence for all individuals.
  
  
• Maintain robust records to demonstrate compliance.

Another change coming in the future will mean that all businesses or individuals that file documents with Companies House on behalf of clients will need to register as ACSPs. As this will include many law firms, registering now will also help prepare for that change.

How Legl Can Help

Becoming an ACSP doesn’t need to mean complex manual processes or additional risk. Legl’s platform is designed to support firms acting as an ACSP with a proven and robust method of verifying the identity of individuals:

• Digital ID verification that supports and records your firm’s processes to help you meet the standards required by Companies House.
  
  
• Customisable workflow templates to optimise your process and ensure it is consistent and repeatable.
  
  
• Integration into your existing AML and compliance workflows, so identity checks can be managed in one place.
  
  
• Automation and scalability, enabling your firm to serve clients efficiently at volume.

Legl enables your firm to offer a seamless, identity verification service — strengthening client relationships while reducing administrative burden on directors and PSCs you work with.

Next Steps for Your Firm

1. If your firm is not currently registered as an ACSP but you are interested in the opportunity to do so, you can apply to become an ACSP via Companies House.
   
   
2. Set up digital verification workflows with Legl to streamline compliance.
   
   
3. Communicate with your clients about their new obligations, and position your firm as their trusted verification provider.

📌 Get Ready Now

18 November 2025 is approaching fast. Law firms that prepare early will be best placed to support their clients and capture this opportunity.

👉 Contact Legl to find out how we can help your firm to provide verification services to your clients.

Other useful references:

👉 Official guidance: Being an Authorised Corporate Service Provider
👉 Legl guide: How Legl can help support your firm as an ACSP