Director status
An individual who continues to act as a director after their verification deadline may be committing an offence, and the company and other directors may also be exposed to consequences under the Companies House rules.
Companies House filings
Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) identity verification
The new regime
What this means for you as a director
UK company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) now have to complete Companies House identity verification, with deadlines depending on their role and circumstances. Existing directors generally provide their personal code with the company's next confirmation statement during the transition period.
The change comes from the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA). Companies House has moved from being a register that accepted whatever was filed to one that checks who is filing, and can reject filings and pursue penalties where the verification is not in place.
The main change is mandatory identity verification. New directors need to verify as part of incorporation or appointment, while existing directors and PSCs follow the Companies House timing rules for their role.
As a regulated Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), Blue Jay Accountants is regulated by CIMA and authorised by Companies House to verify client identities and report completed verifications to Companies House.
What happens without it
If a director's identity is not verified
The verification rule is enforced, not encouraged. Where it is missing, three things follow in practice, and they apply whether the omission was deliberate or simply overlooked during the transition.
Rejected filings
Companies House identity verification is now built into new incorporations, new director appointments and confirmation-statement filings. If the required personal codes are not provided, the filing may not be accepted.
Statutory penalties
Acting as a director without verification, or submitting false statements to the registrar, can be an offence and may carry penalties.
Companies House Identity Verification
Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, UK company directors and People with Significant Control must complete identity verification, with timing set by their role and Companies House guidance. As a regulated Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), we conduct the identity checks securely and submit the verification directly to Companies House on your behalf, so the company is ready for the new rules from the outset.
Why it makes sense to handle identity verification with your accounts
You can verify through the government's portal directly, but it runs as a separate process from your accounts.
Because we already manage your year-end statutory accounts and tax affairs, appointing us as your ACSP means identity checks, confirmation statements and the wider compliance calendar are handled together. Your Companies House record stays in step with your financial record without you managing two separate processes.
What we need from you
We confirm the directors and PSCs on the Companies House register, then tell you which details and identity evidence we need. This normally includes your full name, home address, email address and acceptable identity evidence.
Once we have completed the check, we report the successful verification to Companies House. Companies House then sends your personal code to the email address supplied for the verification, ready to use where it is required for your company record.
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Director and PSC verification Secure, encrypted identity checks for all current and newly appointed company officers.
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Verification reporting We report completed identity checks to Companies House and use the personal code where it is needed for the company record.
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Registered office checks Your public addresses checked against the new 'Appropriate Address' rule and updated where they no longer qualify.
Covers the whole of the UK
Our ACSP status lets us verify directors and PSCs for limited companies across the UK, from clients local to Sheffield and Mansfield to companies operating anywhere in the United Kingdom. Your identity verification under the new Companies House regime is handled through the same compliance calendar as your company filings.
See the onboarding steps
Common questions
What does ACSP stand for?
Can my current accountant act as my ACSP?
What happens if a director's identity is not verified?
Can I verify my identity directly with Companies House myself?
Is ACSP verification a one-off process or ongoing?
Frequently asked questions
What does ACSP stand for?
ACSP stands for Authorised Corporate Service Provider. It is the Companies House status for regulated firms that can verify director and PSC identities for Companies House and tell Companies House when the verification has been completed. Blue Jay Accountants holds ACSP status and is regulated by CIMA, whose anti-money-laundering supervision applies the Money Laundering Regulations stringently.
Can my current accountant act as my ACSP?
Only if they hold ACSP status with Companies House and are supervised for anti-money laundering, either by their professional body (such as CIMA, ICAEW, or ACCA) or directly by HMRC. Identity verification under the new rules can only be carried out by registered ACSPs or directly through the Companies House portal.
What happens if a director's identity is not verified?
Failure to complete identity verification under the ECCTA can put the director, PSC and company in breach of the rules. Companies House guidance should be followed for the exact deadline and filing consequences, including how personal codes are provided for each role.
Can I verify my identity directly with Companies House myself?
Yes. Companies House offers a direct verification route via GOV.UK. The practical advantage of using an ACSP is that we handle the verification alongside your existing compliance obligations, so your identity checks, annual filings, and statutory accounts are all coordinated under one firm. This reduces the risk of something falling through the cracks during the transition to the new rules.
Is ACSP verification a one-off process or ongoing?
Identity verification itself is a one-off check per individual. Your company's ongoing obligations under ECCTA, however, are continuous: annual confirmation statements, registered office compliance, and PSC registers all need keeping up to date. As your ACSP, we monitor these requirements throughout the year alongside your statutory accounts and Corporation Tax filings.
Official Companies House guidance
Companies House guidance explains who needs to verify their identity, when personal codes are required and how an Authorised Corporate Service Provider can complete identity verification on a client's behalf.
Want your ACSP verification handled with the rest of your compliance?
A short call with a Chartered Management Accountant is enough to check the directors and PSCs on the register, plan the verification order, and bring it alongside your statutory accounts and Corporation Tax filings.
Book an ACSP review
Locations
Sheffield and Mansfield
Authorised Corporate Service Provider for UK limited companies in South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and across the UK, with the work run through secure cloud records and scheduled calls.