Compliance & ECCTA
The practical steps to verify as a director: choose GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP, gather documents, complete the check, and what happens if you miss the.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
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Xero Gold PartnerCertified advisor
QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityGo 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.
The step-by-step process
Deadlines and what happens if you miss one
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.
Decide which route suits you. If you hold a UK passport or photocard driving licence and a smartphone, the GOV.UK One Login route is free and usually takes only minutes, using a live photo match against your document. If your documents are not supported, you are based overseas, or you would rather a professional handled it, use an ACSP such as your accountant instead.
Have your document ready, complete the identity check, and Companies House issues a personal code once verification succeeds. Keep that code safe: you supply it whenever you are appointed as a director of a company, and it is reused across every appointment rather than generated afresh each time.
New directors verify at or before appointment, and existing directors verify within the transition window Companies House sets, generally tied to your company's confirmation statement date. The exact dates have shifted more than once as the reform has rolled out, so check current guidance rather than assume a date you were given previously still applies.
Missing the deadline means acting as an unverified director, which is a criminal offence and can lead to the register being annotated, filings rejected, and financial penalties. If you have missed it, verify as soon as possible and bring any rejected filings up to date immediately afterwards.
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.
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
No. You verify once as an individual and the resulting personal code is used for every appointment.
Switch to the ACSP route. A supervised firm can carry out the check manually where the automated document check does not work.
Yes, we handle identity verification for clients as part of forming or taking on a company.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.
We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.
No. This page explains general UK rules and common accounting treatment. Your facts, contracts and wider tax position must be reviewed before you rely on a conclusion.
Included approach
Check the current rules
Deadlines, thresholds and filing rules change. GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current statutory position; advice should then be applied to your company’s circumstances.
Talk to an accountant
Share your next deadline, accounting problem or growth question. We will reply with a clear next step and quote any technical work before it begins.
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Pick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run monday to friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
