At Sewing Chest Limited, we’ve recently been through the new Companies House identity verification process, and we thought it might be helpful to share our experience.

From 2025, all company directors, people with significant control, and those filing on behalf of companies will be legally required to verify their identity with Companies House. This change is part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which is designed to make UK companies more transparent and prevent fraud.

My Personal Experience

I’ll be honest – I braced myself for stress, but the process was surprisingly straightforward (for me, at least!).

• I started the verification on my Mac and followed the prompts to switch over to my iPhone 14 Pro.

• The app asked me to scan my passport’s biometric chip, which worked instantly – no fuss at all.

However, it wasn’t quite so smooth for my partner, who was using an iPhone 11. His phone simply wouldn’t scan the biometric tab. In the end, he had to borrow my phone – which was slightly awkward as the app kept trying to log me in instead of him. Eventually, we worked around it, but it’s worth knowing that newer phones seem to cope better with the scanning process.

Key Things to Remember

Here are a few useful tips that will save you time and worry:

1. Each director needs their own email address
   – and it must match the one registered on their Companies House account. Sharing an email won’t work.

2. You’ll be given a personal code
   – this is unique to you, not your company. Keep it safe. Companies House didn’t email mine to me, so make sure you write it down.

3. One code covers all your companies
   – if you’re a director of multiple businesses, you don’t need to verify separately for each one.

4. Don’t panic if the scan fails
   – try a different device if you can. From what we’ve seen, newer phones handle the biometric scanning more reliably.

When Does This Come Into Force?

The rollout is happening in stages, but it’s not optional – identity verification will become mandatory in 2025. If you don’t verify in time, you may not be able to continue as a director. Companies House will be enforcing this as part of their new powers under the updated legislation.

Final Thoughts

Yes, it’s another bit of admin, but honestly – it doesn’t have to be stressful. The process only takes a few minutes (when the tech cooperates!), and once you’ve got your code, you’re sorted for all your future directorships.

At Sewing Chest Limited, we’re always looking for ways to make things simpler – whether it’s sourcing sustainable materials, or navigating government red tape. So if you’re a fellow director facing identity verification, take a deep breath, grab your passport, and don’t forget to keep that personal code safe!