Companies House ID verification Nov 2025, fees 2026

If you’re setting up a UK company or you already run one, two dates now matter. From 18 November 2025, identity checks for directors and people with significant control become compulsory. From 1 February 2026, several Companies House fees rise. These changes are confirmed by Companies House on GOV.UK.

Here’s the short version on fees. From 1 February 2026, the digital incorporation fee will be £100. The digital confirmation statement will be £50. Applying for a voluntary strike off online will be £13. If you’re budgeting for 2026 filings, build these figures in.

Why the price change? Companies House says fees fund the cost of running the register, publishing open company data and supporting investigations carried out by the Insolvency Service. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, Companies House can also challenge and remove false information.

What does identity verification involve? It’s a legal check that proves who is setting up, running or controlling a company. New directors will need to verify before they incorporate or are appointed. Existing directors will confirm they’ve verified when they next file a confirmation statement during a 12‑month transition. People with significant control (PSCs) have specific 14‑day windows tied to their circumstances.

How you’ll verify is straightforward. Most people will use GOV.UK One Login and complete the check online at no cost. Others can verify through a Companies House authorised agent (an Authorised Corporate Service Provider). Once verified, you’ll receive a personal code to use when you file for each role you hold.

If you do not verify on time, you will not be able to incorporate a new company or make filings. Continuing to act as a director without verification once it is legally required could be an offence and may lead to penalties or disqualification. Companies and agents also face restrictions until verification is complete.

Timing helps. If you plan to incorporate after 18 November 2025, factor in verification before you press submit. If you’re already a director, check your next confirmation statement date and aim to verify well before then. If you’re a PSC who is not a director, your 14‑day window starts on the first day of your birth month shown on the register.

Let’s put the new fees into a simple scenario. You and a friend plan to form a private company in March 2026. You’ll verify first, then budget £100 to incorporate. In 2027 and each year after, plan at least £50 for the digital confirmation statement. If you ever close the company via voluntary strike off, the online application will be £13.

A note for international students and overseas directors: verification can be done online and, where directed, with support at the Post Office. Companies House is phasing the rollout over 12 months and expects millions to verify by mid‑November 2026, so doing it early reduces stress.

Quick definitions for your course notes. A confirmation statement is an annual check‑in to confirm your company’s key details are up to date. A PSC is someone who owns or controls more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or otherwise exerts significant influence. A voluntary strike off is a request to close a company that has settled its affairs.

For teachers and first‑time founders, this is a good moment to connect law with practice. Limited liability protects your personal finances when a company fails, but that protection relies on accurate public records. Verification, tougher checks and better data aim to deter fraud and give customers, lenders and students‑turned‑entrepreneurs a register they can trust. Companies House says fee income helps fund this work and investigations by the Insolvency Service.

Before you file anything this year, make a short checklist: create or sign in to GOV.UK One Login and verify; note your confirmation statement date; agree who in your team is a PSC and make sure they know their verification window; and set your 2026 filing budget using the new fees. When in doubt, rely on the GOV.UK guidance for the latest instructions.