When Does a PSC Need to Verify Their Identity?

Every person with significant control (PSC) of a UK company must complete Companies House identity verification — but when exactly must you do it? The answer depends on when you became a PSC and the specifics of your company’s filing cycle. This guide breaks down the deadlines.

The November 2026 backstop deadline

The overarching deadline for existing PSCs to have completed identity verification is November 2026. By this date, every individual PSC on the Companies House register should have verified their identity and provided their personal code. After this date, Companies House will take enforcement action against unverified PSCs.

Individual 14-day verification windows

Within the transition period, each PSC has a specific 14-day window during which they must provide their personal code. The timing of this window depends on your situation:

• PSC who is also a director of the same company: your 14-day window starts the day after the company’s confirmation statement date
• PSC who is not a director: your window is generally the first 14 days of your birth month
• New PSC appointed after 18 November 2025: you can provide your code when registered, or within the first applicable 14-day window

These windows are designed to spread the verification workload across the transition period rather than creating a single rush before the backstop.

How to find your specific deadline

Your individual deadline depends on your company’s confirmation statement date and your personal details. You can check this by:

1. Looking up your company on the Companies House register
2. Noting the confirmation statement date
3. Calculating your 14-day window based on the rules above

The official Companies House deadline guidance provides detailed examples and a timeline.

Why you should verify early

Waiting until the last day of your 14-day window is risky. Identity verification can involve document checks that take time, and any mismatch between your identity document and the Companies House register needs resolving before your code can be linked. Starting well before your window opens means your personal code is ready when the time comes.

You can complete identity verification at any time — you do not have to wait for your 14-day window to begin. Verify now, and you will have your personal code ready to provide when your window arrives.

What happens if you miss your window

If you miss your individual 14-day window, you may still be able to provide your code later, but you risk committing an offence. After the November 2026 backstop, Companies House will annotate the register and may take further enforcement action. The penalties for non-compliance can include fines and, in serious cases, criminal proceedings.

Start your verification now

Companies House ID Verification provides PSC identity verification at a fixed £19 fee. The process can be completed online from anywhere in the world. Start early and avoid deadline pressure.