For UK accountants, statutory compliance is second nature — confirmation statements, director appointments, PSC registers, annual returns all roll through predictable workflows. But one reform that has quietly reshaped those workflows is Companies House identity verification. Far from being a paperwork tick-box, it has become a practical gating mechanism for filings, and firms that ignore it risk blocked submissions, hurried client calls and unnecessary panic.
Unlike traditional compliance steps that sit within a firm’s control, identity verification now sits between the accountant and the regulator: if a director hasn’t verified their identity in line with Companies House requirements, their filings cannot be accepted at all until that verification is complete. This reality has shifted Companies House identity verification from something to be checked to something that must be managed.
Why Identity Verification Matters More Than You Think
Until relatively recently, directors and PSCs could be added to UK company records with minimal identity assurance. The register was, in regulatory terms, “open enough” to allow fraud and impersonation to slip through. To address this, the government introduced reforms that make identity checks mandatory for certain filings. Now, Companies House identity verification is not optional — it is required before key statutory actions can be completed.
The practical effect is immediate and tangible for accountants: a confirmation statement that is otherwise ready to file can be blocked simply because one director hasn’t verified their identity. Likewise, onboarding a new director becomes more complicated if that individual hasn’t already completed identity verification. What used to be a quick admin task can now disrupt filing deadlines and create unnecessary tension with clients.
Where Most Firms Trips Up
Many firms assume that identity verification will “sort itself out” when a client needs to file something. In practice, that assumption leads to panicked emails and last-minute scrambling. Some common problems accountants encounter include:
- Directors or PSCs who have not verified their identity but assume someone else will do it for them.
- Individuals whose identity documents don’t match Companies House records exactly, leading to failed verification attempts.
- Overseas directors who cannot complete the GOV.UK One Login process due to incompatible ID formats.
- Practices that wait until the filing deadline looms before checking verification status.
Once these issues surface, the accountant’s focus shifts from compliance to crisis management — and often at the worst time.
Practical Steps to Manage Identity Verification
To reduce disruption, firms need to treat Companies House identity verification as part of their compliance infrastructure, not an afterthought. Here’s how proactive accountants are managing it in practice:
Integrate verification into onboarding: As soon as a new director or PSC is added to a client’s record, check their verification status. If they haven’t verified, initiate the process immediately rather than waiting until a confirmation statement is due.
Pre-check identity details: Before starting the verification, confirm that the individual’s identity documents match their Companies House entry character-for-character. Even small differences — a missing middle name or an accented character — can cause verification to fail and waste time.
Use authorised providers when needed: Some clients struggle with the GOV.UK One Login route — especially overseas directors or those without UK–recognised photo ID. In those cases, using an authorised corporate service provider (ACSP) to verify on behalf of the client can be faster and more reliable.
Track verification status centrally: Firms that maintain an internal tracker of each director’s verification status rarely encounter last-minute blocks. This simple step — noting whether a director has verified and when — dramatically reduces filing risk.
Dealing with Filings When Verification Is Delayed
Even with best intentions, some clients delay verification. In those situations, accountants need a contingency plan:
- Communicate early and clearly: Explain the impact of unverified identity on statutory filings and deadlines well before a filing is due.
- Set internal deadlines: Treat identity verification as a prerequisite for filing work — and set firm-wide deadlines ahead of Companies House deadlines.
- Escalate through ACSPs: When necessary, initiate verification via an authorised corporate service provider to accelerate the process.
These steps keep compliance moving even when individual client circumstances slow things down.
Reducing Risk and Improving Workflow
The key lesson from the introduction of Companies House identity verification is simple: it’s not enough to prepare filings accurately — you must also ensure that the individuals attached to those filings are verified before you try to submit them. In a busy practice, it’s easy to overlook verification until the last minute, but experience shows that this is when the most costly delays occur.
By incorporating identity verification into client onboarding and compliance workflows, practices can protect themselves from blocked filings, client frustration, and unnecessary re-work. What was once an obscure regulatory detail has become a central part of modern statutory compliance — and the firms that treat it as such gain both efficiency and peace of mind. Learn how to complete Companies House identity verification. Find out who needs to verify, when to verify & how to manage your personal code: Companies House Identity Verification: Who, When, How & Personal Code | FigsFlow
Conclusion
Companies House identity verification has transformed the way statutory filings are processed in the UK. For accountants, it is now a core part of compliance, not an optional extra. By understanding how the verification process works, managing it proactively within firm workflows, and supporting clients through verification hurdles, accountants can avoid last-minute rushes, missed deadlines, and blocked filings.
Treating identity verification as a planned step — rather than a last-minute hurdle — allows practices to deliver compliance services confidently and professionally in an increasingly regulated environment
