The Litmus library
Companies House Identity Verification: Prepare Well
Identity verification links a real person to their Companies House roles. The process and timing depend on the role and circumstances. Prepare accurate identity evidence and keep the resulting personal code secure so it can be connected to the correct appointments.
Identify the person and every relevant role
A person may be both a director and a person with significant control. Check the instructions for each role rather than assuming one filing completes every requirement. Use the current Companies House service to identify what must happen for an existing appointment or a new incorporation. Before deciding, write a short fact sheet covering the owners, the activity, the places involved and the intended outcome. Separate confirmed facts from assumptions that still need checking. Give the reviewer the actual documents rather than a summary assembled from memory. This makes the advice easier to apply and reduces the chance that a crucial detail is overlooked.
Choose an available verification route
Companies House provides direct verification routes, and an Authorised Corporate Service Provider may verify on a person’s behalf. Overseas founders should check the identity evidence accepted by the chosen route. Confirm the agent’s authorisation before sharing documents or paying for verification assistance. Create a working folder with the source records, the questions raised and the answer received. Check that names, addresses and periods agree across documents before anything is submitted. If the instructions are unclear, resolve that point with the relevant authority or a suitable adviser. A documented decision is easier to revisit when the business changes than an informal assumption.
Protect the personal code and evidence
The Companies House personal code belongs to the individual. Share it only with trusted people who need it for authorised filings. Keep a record of which roles have been linked and resolve discrepancies in names or dates promptly. Verification for this purpose does not replace every other identity check. Assign a named person to the next action and record how completion will be evidenced. Keep accepted filings, correspondence and supporting calculations together. Revisit the arrangement when ownership, location or activity changes. Where more than one country or authority is involved, ask who will coordinate the work so each adviser understands the wider picture before relying on another person’s conclusions.
Check the official guidance
Rules and provider requirements can change. Check the current official guidance and seek advice on your circumstances before acting.
Can an overseas founder use an authorised agent?
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider can offer a verification route from overseas. Check its authorisation and accepted evidence.
Is the Companies House personal code a company code?
No. It belongs to the individual and should be shared only with trusted people who need it for authorised filings.
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