Companies House compliance and ECCTA: questions answered

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act changed what Companies House requires of directors, from identity verification to appropriate addresses. This hub covers the filings and the new verification duties.

What is a confirmation statement and when is it due? A confirmation statement confirms that the information Companies House holds about your company is correct. It is due at least once every twelve months, within fourteen days of the end of the review period, with an annual fee of £34 online.

What is the difference between a confirmation statement and accounts? The confirmation statement confirms company information such as officers, shareholders and PSCs, and is due annually within fourteen days of the review period ending. Accounts report financial performance and are due nine months after the accounting reference date.

Who counts as a person with significant control? A person with significant control holds more than 25% of shares, or more than 25% of voting rights, or can appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise exercises significant influence or control over the company or a trust or firm that does.

Do I need to verify my identity as a director? Yes. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, all directors and people with significant control must verify their identity, either directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

What happens if I do not complete Companies House ID verification? Acting as a director without completing identity verification is a criminal offence for the individual and can be for the company. Companies House can annotate the register, reject filings and impose financial penalties, and the company remains liable for all other filings.

Do I need an ACSP to verify my identity? No. You can verify directly with Companies House for free using GOV.UK One Login. An Authorised Corporate Service Provider is an alternative route, useful for overseas directors, unsupported documents, or where you want a professional firm to handle it.

What is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider? An Authorised Corporate Service Provider is a firm supervised for anti-money laundering purposes and registered with Companies House to carry out identity verification and file documents on behalf of companies, such as accountants, solicitors and formation agents.

Do shareholders need to verify their identity too? Shareholders who are people with significant control, generally those holding more than 25% of shares or votes, must verify their identity. Smaller shareholders who are not PSCs and hold no other role generally do not.

What statutory registers must my company keep? A company must keep a register of members, a register of directors with a separate register of residential addresses, a register of secretaries where appointed, a PSC register, and a register of charges. They are kept at the registered office or a SAIL address.

How long do I need to keep company records? Keep company records for at least six years from the end of the accounting period they relate to. Records for assets held longer, or for periods under enquiry, must be kept longer, and the register of members is kept permanently.

How do I complete Companies House identity verification step by step? Go to GOV.UK, sign in or create a One Login, and verify with a passport or UK photocard driving licence, or ask an Authorised Corporate Service Provider to verify you instead. You then receive a personal code linked permanently to your Companies House record.

What is the PSC identity verification statement and who files it? A person with significant control must verify their own identity, and the company must state on its confirmation statement that each registered PSC has done so. The company, through its directors, is responsible for making that statement accurate.

I have my Companies House personal code — what do I do next? Keep the personal code safely. Provide it whenever you are appointed as a director or registered as a PSC, and quote it if asked when your accountant or ACSP files documents naming you, since Companies House matches the code to your verified identity.

What is the confirmation statement deadline and what happens if I miss it? You must file a confirmation statement within fourteen days of the end of each twelve-month review period. There is no automatic financial penalty for lateness, but it is a criminal offence for directors and Companies House can begin striking the company off the register.

My company authentication code is not working — how do I fix it? Request a replacement authentication code from Companies House online, which posts a new one to the company's registered office within a few days. There is no way to retrieve a lost code by phone or email for security reasons, so a reissue by post is the only route.

Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.