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Companies House ID Verification 2025: A Director's Guide to the New UK Rules

Companies House ID Verification 2025: A Director’s Guide to the New UK Rules

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Companies House ID Verification 2025: A Director's Guide to the New UK Rules

A major change is coming for all UK company directors in 2025. Companies House is introducing mandatory identity verification and we’ve created this essential guide to explain what the new director ID verification rules mean for you, ensuring you stay compliant and avoid significant penalties.

These new measures are part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA), a significant piece of legislation designed to improve the quality of data on the UK Companies Register and prevent corporate structures from being used for fraudulent activities.

This guide will walk you through the key changes, deadlines, and the exact steps you need to take.

What Are the New Director ID Verification Rules?

The core of the new legislation is the requirement for all new and existing company directors and other key individuals to verify their identity with Companies House. The goal is to ensure that every registered company has a real, verified person behind it, making it much harder to appoint fictitious directors or hide beneficial ownership.

This is a one-time verification process per individual, regardless of how many directorships you hold.

Who Needs to Complete the Companies House Identity Verification?

The new identity verification requirements apply to a wide range of individuals. You will need to verify your identity if you are:

  • An existing or newly appointed company director.
  • A Person with Significant Control (PSC).
  • A member of a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).
  • Any individual who files information or documentation with Companies House.

Key Deadlines:

When Do I Need to Be Verified By?

The rollout of these new ID check rules is happening in phases. It’s crucial to be aware of these dates:

  • From April 8, 2025 (Voluntary Verification) — You can (and should) get ahead of the deadline by verifying your identity now.
  • From Autumn 2025 (Mandatory for New Appointments) — ID verification will be compulsory for all new company incorporations and for any newly appointed directors or PSCs.
  • Autumn 2025 – Autumn 2026 (Transitional Period for Existing Directors) — If you are an existing director, you will have a 12-month window to verify your identity. This period will be linked to your company’s confirmation statement filing date.
  • From Spring 2026 (Mandatory for Filers) — Anyone who files documents with Companies House, such as accountants or administrative staff, must have a verified identity.

Step-by-Step:

How to Complete Your ID Verification

There are two official methods for completing your director identity verification:

1. Directly with Companies House (digital route): This is a free digital process using the GOV.UK One Login system. You will need a form of photo ID, such as a passport or UK driving licence. The system will ask you to take a photo of your document and then a “selfie” to biometrically match your identity.

2. An in-person option at a Post Office will be available for those unable to use the digital service.

Penalties for Non-Compliance:

What Happens If You Don’t Verify?

Companies House is taking these new rules very seriously. Failing to verify your identity within the deadline is not an option. The consequences of non-compliance are significant and include:

  • A Criminal Offence — It will be a criminal offence for the unverified individual.
  • Financial Penalties — You could face substantial fines.
  • Inability to Act — You will be unable to legally act as a director.
  • Filings Blocked — You will be barred from filing any documents for your company.
  • Director Disqualification — You could be disqualified from being a director.
  • Reputational Damage — The public register will flag your status as “unverified,” which could damage your company’s credibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is Companies House identity verification free?
A: Yes, verifying your identity directly with Companies House using the GOV.UK One Login system is free.

Q: What documents do I need for the ID check?
A: You will typically need a form of photographic ID. A valid passport or a UK photocard driving licence are the most common documents used.

Q: What happens if I am a director of multiple companies?
A: You only need to verify your identity once. The verified status will then be linked to your name and apply across all your directorships.

CIS sub-contractor refunds - a service from Taxfile, Tulse Hill, South London

CIS Sub-contractors – Claim Your Tax Refund Now!

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CIS sub-contractor refunds - a service from Taxfile, Tulse Hill, South London

[Updated April 2025]: It’s now time to start the process of claiming your tax refund if you are a sub-contractor working within the Construction Industry Scheme (‘CIS’). Refunds are usually fast through Taxfile. What’s more, we’ve reduced our prices this year for CIS customers earning less than £40k (click here for details).

What you need to do

Don’t delay – book an appointment with Taxfile today or call 0208 761 8000 and we’ll sort it all out for you. We have staff who speak English, Polish, Pashto, Dari, Russian, Malayalam, and Dutch, should you need them on the day. Our Tulse Hill office is at 25 Thurlow Park Road, London SE21 8JP. Call 0208 761 8000 or book an appointment — the first 20 minutes is free! Alternatively, you can have a ‘virtual’ appointment with us on Zoom, Teams, Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp or whatever you prefer.

We’re open from Monday to Saturday in April & May including early evenings on Mon/Tues

Our Tulse Hill office is open 6 days a week during April & May and offers Saturday morning appointments plus early evening appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays if standard office hours do not suit you (please see the footer of this website for details or simply call us).

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Don't Miss Out! Your Future Pension Needs YOU! - Check Your NI Contributions by April 5th, 2025

Don’t Miss Out! Your Future Pension Needs YOU! – Check Your NI Contributions by April 5th, 2025

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Don't Miss Out! Your Future Pension Needs YOU! - Check Your NI Contributions by April 5th, 2025

By Mohamed at Taxfile.

Have you ever thought about your pension? It might seem far away, but it’s super important to start thinking about it now! One of the key things that helps build your future pension is your National Insurance (NI) contributions.

What are NI Contributions?

Think of NI contributions like little building blocks for your future. When you work and earn money, some of that money goes towards your NI. These contributions help you qualify for things like the State Pension when you’re older.

Why is it Important to Check?

Sometimes, there might be gaps in your NI record. Maybe you didn’t earn enough in a year, were travelling, or something else happened. If you have gaps, it could mean you get less State Pension later on.

The Good News: You Can Fill the Gaps!

You can often fill these gaps by making voluntary NI contributions to fill the gaps between 2006 to 2018 This means you pay a bit extra now to make sure you have a stronger pension later.

Big Deadline Alert! April 5th, 2025

There’s a really important deadline coming up: April the 5th, 2025. This is the last day you can pay voluntary NI contributions to fill certain gaps in your record. After the 5th of April 2025, everyone will only be able to pay for voluntary contributions for the past 6 years.

Why the Rush?

  • Boost your pension because filling gaps means a bigger pension in the future.
  • Don’t miss out — after the 5th of April 2025, everyone will only be able to pay for voluntary contributions for the past 6 years.

What Should You Do?

  1. Check your NI record — it’s free and easy! You can check your NI record online through the government’s website.
  2. See if you have gaps — look for any years where you didn’t contribute enough.
  3. Think about voluntary contributions. If you have gaps, consider paying voluntary contributions.

Demystifying the SA302: Your Tax Summary Explained

Demystifying the SA302: Your Tax Summary Explained

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Demystifying the SA302: Your Tax Summary Explained

by Faiz at Taxfile

An SA302 is a document issued by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that summarizes your income tax calculation for a specific tax year. It shows how your tax bill was arrived at, including your income from various sources, any deductions and allowances, and the final amount of tax owed or refunded.

An SA302 can be essential documentation in various situations. For instance, you might need it when applying for a mortgage, a visa, or a business loan, as it serves as proof of your income and tax obligations.

How & Where to Get an SA302

If you need a copy of an SA302 there are various ways of obtaining them:

• If you have done your tax return yourself via HMRC’s portal, you can log into your Government Gateway and download copies of them;
• If you have used an accountant that uses external software, then your accountant can provide you with the calculations. It’s worth noting that HMRC has a list of lenders that will accept the tax calculations from the accountant’s software. If your lender’s name is not on this link, then you or your accountant would need to contact HMRC and ask them to send you one. This can take up to 14 days to arrive via post.

Avoiding Errors & Information Mismatches

At Taxfile we receive a lot of SA302s for our clients that have been sent to us by HMRC. This happens when there has been some error or omission on a client’s tax return that was submitted and didn’t match what HMRC had logged on their system. To explain:

HMRC holds the following information about each taxpayer:

• Student loans;
• Private pension contributions;
• PAYE income;
• Jobseeker allowance;
• Child Benefit along with salary information (so, if one of the parents was on a salary of £60,000* or more, then HMRC will recover some or all of the benefit);
* (£50,000+ for the tax years 2023/24 and prior)
• Registration for Class 2 National Insurance.

Because HMRC holds such information, our clients must check their tax returns carefully to ensure all the points mentioned above have been correctly covered and included in the tax return where appropriate. This is a crucial step when we provide the calculation and clients should also carefully read the declaration notes that are provided.

Tax or Accounting Problems?

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Taxfile are accountants & tax advisors in Tulse Hill, and Dulwich, South London.