People with significant control, usually known as PSCs, must now comply with Companies House identity verification requirements.

A PSC is an individual who owns or controls a UK company. This can include someone who holds more than 25% of its shares or voting rights, can appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise exercises significant influence or control.
The process has two distinct stages:

1. verify your identity and receive your Companies House personal code; and
2. connect that verified identity to your PSC role during the 14-day period that applies to you.

That second step is easy to miss.

If you are both a director and PSC of the same company, providing your personal code for your director role does not automatically complete your PSC requirement.

You use the same personal code, but you must provide it separately for each role. Companies House explicitly confirms this requirement.

Quick Answer: What Does a PSC Need to Do?

A PSC normally needs to:

• verify their identity;
• receive an 11-character Companies House personal code;
• find the 14-day compliance period for the PSC role;
• provide the personal code during that period;
• confirm the identity verification statement; and
• repeat the personal-code linking process for every separate PSC role held.

Every individual PSC has a 14-day period in which they must provide their personal code and verification statement.
The exact dates depend on whether the PSC:

• is also a director of the same company;
• was already registered as a PSC before 18 November 2025; or
• became a new PSC after that date.

Important: You Can Verify Your Identity Before the 14-Day Window

The identity check itself and the PSC personal-code submission are different steps.

You can verify your identity and obtain your Companies House personal code before your 14-day PSC period begins.

However, Companies House’s PSC service only allows you to provide the code for the PSC role once the relevant 14-day period has started.
This means it makes sense to complete identity verification early.

Do not wait for the 14-day period to begin before trying to obtain your passport, resolve a name discrepancy, correct your date of birth or complete an overseas identity check.

What Is a Person With Significant Control?

A PSC is sometimes described as a company’s beneficial owner or controlling individual.

An individual will usually qualify as a PSC if they meet one or more of the following conditions:

• they hold more than 25% of the company’s shares;
• they hold more than 25% of the voting rights;
• they have the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board;
• they have the right to exercise, or actually exercise, significant influence or control over the company; or
• they exercise significant influence or control over a trust or firm that itself meets one of the relevant control conditions.

A PSC does not need to run the company every day.

For example, a PSC may be:

• a founder;
• a major shareholder;
• an investor with significant control;
• a family member who retains voting power;
• a trustee controlling a substantial holding; or
• someone who can influence major financial or strategic decisions.

Why Do PSCs Need to Verify Their Identity?

Companies House introduced identity verification to reduce the use of false or stolen identities and improve the reliability of the company register.

The reform forms part of the UK’s wider corporate-transparency and economic-crime measures.

Companies House says the identity verification regime aims to:

• reduce fraud;
• improve transparency;
• increase trust in the register;
• improve the accuracy of company information; and
• make it harder for criminals to conceal themselves behind fictitious identities.

When Did PSC Identity Verification Become Mandatory?

Mandatory identity verification started on 18 November 2025.

However, 18 November 2025 was not a single deadline for every existing PSC.

Instead, Companies House introduced a transition system. Each PSC receives a specific compliance period based on their circumstances.

The PSC 14-Day Rule Explained

Every PSC has a 14-day period during which they must provide:

• their Companies House personal code; and
• a verification statement confirming that their identity has been verified.

There are three main situations.

1. You Are Both a Director and PSC of the Same Company

This is common in owner-managed companies.

For example, you may own 75% of a company and also act as one of its directors.

You only need to complete the underlying identity check once.

However, you must provide your personal code separately:

• once for the director role; and
• again for the PSC role.

As a director, your code normally goes into the company’s confirmation statement.

As a PSC, you use the separate Provide identity verification details for a PSC service.

When Does the PSC 14-Day Period Start?

If you are both director and PSC of the same company, the 14-day PSC period starts on the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.

For example:

Confirmation statement date: 31 March 2026
PSC verification period: 1 April to 14 April 2026

Companies House gives exactly this type of example in its PSC guidance.

What If the Company Files Its Confirmation Statement Early?

Filing the confirmation statement early does not move your PSC period forward.

The 14-day period remains linked to the company’s formal confirmation statement date.

For example:

Confirmation statement date: 30 September
Company files early: 10 September

Your PSC 14-day period still starts on 1 October, not 11 September.

This distinction is important because the PSC service may not accept your code before the relevant window starts.

2. You Are a PSC but Not a Director of the Same Company

An existing PSC who is not also a director normally provides the personal code during the first 14 days of their birth month.

For example:

Birthday: 24 February
PSC verification period: 1 February to 14 February

The day of the birthday itself does not determine the start date.

Whether your birthday falls on 2 February or 27 February, the window normally starts on 1 February.

Companies House uses this system to give non-director PSCs a predictable annual compliance period.

3. You Became a New PSC After 18 November 2025

A new PSC can provide their personal code when Companies House first records them as a PSC.

Alternatively, they can provide it within 14 days after being added to the register.

This differs from the transition arrangements for people who were already PSCs before mandatory identity verification began.

Do Not Confuse PSC Registration With Identity Verification

A company may notify Companies House that someone has become a PSC.

That does not automatically mean the individual’s identity verification requirement has been completed.

The new PSC still needs to:

1. complete identity verification;
2. obtain the personal code; and
3. connect the code to the PSC role within the required period.

How Do I Check My Exact PSC Verification Deadline?

Do not calculate the deadline from memory if you can avoid it.

Companies House states that you can check the specific 14-day period on the Companies House register or by signing into the PSC verification service.
This is particularly important if you:

• hold PSC roles in several companies;
• are a director of some companies but not others;
• became PSC of those companies at different times; or
• have companies with different confirmation statement dates.

Each PSC role can have a different compliance period.

Do I Need to Verify Again for Every PSC Role?

No.

You normally complete identity verification once.

You then receive one Companies House personal code.

That same code can be used for:

• several PSC roles;
• several director roles; and
• a combination of director and PSC appointments.

However, you must connect the code separately to each role.

For example, suppose Maria is:

• director and PSC of Company A;
• PSC only of Company B; and
• director of Company C.

Maria verifies her identity once.

She then uses the same code:

• for her Company A director role;
• separately for her Company A PSC role;
• for her Company B PSC role during its own applicable window; and
• for her Company C director role.

Director Verification Does Not Automatically Complete PSC Verification

This is one of the most common sources of confusion.

If you have already provided your personal code in the confirmation statement as a director, you may assume Companies House now treats your PSC role as complete.

It does not.

Companies House states that a person who is both director and PSC must provide the same personal code again for the PSC role.

The roles remain separate.

Think of the personal code as confirming your identity.

Companies House then needs you to connect that identity individually to each relevant role.

How Do I Provide My Personal Code as a PSC?

Use the Companies House Provide identity verification details for a PSC service.

The service allows a PSC, a company or someone acting for the PSC to provide the required verification details.

The process normally involves:

1. signing in or creating sign-in details;
2. entering the company number;
3. selecting the relevant PSC;
4. entering the Companies House personal code;
5. confirming the identity verification statement; and
6. submitting the information.

Companies House says the online process can take up to around 10 minutes.

Can Someone Else Submit the PSC Personal Code for Me?

Yes.

Companies House allows the PSC’s details to be provided by:

• the PSC personally;
• the company;
• an ACSP; or
• another person acting on behalf of the PSC.

The PSC can share the personal code with a trusted person who needs to make the filing.

Treat the code carefully.

Only give it to someone you trust to complete Companies House filings.

What Do I Need Before Providing My PSC Verification Details?

Prepare:

• the company number;
• your Companies House personal code;
• access to the relevant Companies House sign-in;
• the correct PSC compliance period; and
• personal details that match the Companies House register.

The most important matching information is often your date of birth.

What If My Personal Code Does Not Work?

The PSC service compares the details linked to your verified identity with the information Companies House already holds.

If the information does not match, Companies House may prevent you from connecting the code to the PSC role.

Common reasons include:

• the personal code was entered incorrectly;
• Companies House holds the wrong date of birth;
• the ACSP supplied an incorrect date of birth;
• the verified identity contains a different name;
• Companies House records an old name;
• overseas documents use a different transliteration;
• a former or married surname creates a mismatch; or
• another personal detail differs.

Check Your Date of Birth Before the PSC Window

Companies House specifically recommends checking that the personal details on the register match the information on your identity documents before you try to connect the verified identity.

Do this early.

If the date of birth is wrong, you may need to correct the Companies House record before the personal code can connect successfully.

A correction can create significant deadline pressure if you only discover the problem near the end of the 14-day period.

What If an ACSP Verified Me With the Wrong Details?

Contact the ACSP that completed your identity verification.

For example, an ACSP may have accidentally submitted:

• an incorrect date of birth;
• an incorrect name;
• a misspelling;
• the wrong email address; or
• incomplete personal information.

Companies House guidance states that an ACSP may need to correct the details it provided.

How Do I Get a Companies House Personal Code?

First complete Companies House identity verification.

You can do this:

• through the Companies House verification service using GOV.UK One Login; or
• through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

After successful verification, you receive an 11-character Companies House personal code.

You normally use the same code throughout your relevant Companies House roles.

Can an Overseas PSC Verify Their Identity?

Yes.

An overseas PSC does not need to travel to the UK solely because they own or control a UK company.

Depending on their documents, they may be able to verify through:

• GOV.UK One Login using a biometric passport; or
• an ACSP that offers remote verification.

Companies House staff have specifically confirmed that a foreign PSC with a biometric passport from any country can try the direct government service, while an ACSP can use a wider range of documents where the direct route does not work.

For many overseas PSCs, the ACSP route can be useful where:

• the passport is not biometric;
• GOV.UK One Login fails;
• the applicant cannot scan the passport chip;
• the national identity card is not accepted directly;
• documents are not in English;
• names appear differently across records; or
• the PSC needs support with a deadline.

Can an ACSP Verify a PSC Remotely?

Yes, where the ACSP’s process meets the Companies House identity verification standard.

A suitable remote process may include:

1. document review;
2. collection of personal details;
3. a live video call;
4. inspection of original identity documents;
5. a live facial comparison;
6. document validation;
7. completion of required checks; and
8. ACSP submission to Companies House.

Once the ACSP successfully verifies the person, Companies House sends the personal code to the individual email address supplied by the ACSP.

What If I Cannot Meet My PSC Deadline?

Companies House allows a PSC to request an extension.

If you cannot provide your verification details on time, you can request a 14-day extension through the PSC verification service.

You must make the request before the existing deadline passes.

The Companies House PSC guidance also explains that the extension mechanism is available when a PSC cannot provide the information during the original period.

Can I Request the Extension After the Deadline?

No.

Companies House expressly states that you cannot apply for an extension after the verification deadline has passed.

Do not wait until the final evening of the 14-day period if you already know that a document, technical or personal-information problem will prevent compliance.

Can a PSC Get More Than One Extension?

Potentially.

Companies House has a separate process for someone who has already received two extensions through the normal PSC verification service.

For a further request:

• you must apply before the current deadline passes;
• you need to provide supporting evidence;
• an examiner reviews the request; and
• if accepted, Companies House may extend the deadline by up to 14 days.

If the request is rejected, the existing deadline remains in place.

An extension is therefore not an indefinite postponement.

What Happens If a PSC Does Not Comply?

Failure to comply with mandatory PSC identity verification can have legal consequences.

Companies House states that a PSC who continues in the role after the deadline without meeting the identity verification requirements may be committing an offence.

Possible consequences include:

• a financial penalty;
• a court fine;
• enforcement action; and
• a note against the person’s name on the public register.

The source Companies House guidance likewise warns that failure to comply can result in an offence and financial penalty or fine.

Can I Check Whether My PSC Verification Is Complete?

Yes.

Companies House’s register can show the verification status associated with individual roles.

Companies House staff have explained that users can check the People section of a company record to see whether the verification requirements for a director or PSC role are complete.

This is useful if:

• you believe you have already submitted the code;
• you control several companies;
• another person made the filing;
• you received another Companies House reminder; or
• you are unsure whether only the director role or both roles have been completed.

Do not assume that receiving a personal code means every role is automatically linked.

Do I Need to Repeat PSC Identity Verification Every Year?

Normally, no.

The underlying identity verification is usually a one-time process.

You should not repeat the full identity check unless Companies House tells you to do so.

Companies House staff have confirmed that, in most cases, a person only needs to verify once.

The personal code can then connect that verified identity to the roles you hold.

Do I Need a Different Email Address for Each Director or PSC?

Where different people complete GOV.UK One Login identity verification, each individual needs their own email address for their own identity.

Companies House staff have stated that each director using the direct verification service needs a separate email address that has not already been used for another GOV.UK One Login identity. It can be a personal email rather than a company email.

An ACSP should also collect an individual email address for the person it verifies because Companies House sends the personal code there.

What If the PSC Is a Company Rather Than an Individual?

The identity verification regime described here mainly concerns individual PSCs.

Companies House says that identity verification requirements for officers of corporate PSCs will be introduced at a later date.

If your company’s PSC is:

• a relevant legal entity;
• another limited company;
• a corporate member; or
• another legal entity,

do not automatically apply the individual PSC process.

Check the nature of the registered PSC and the current Companies House rules first.

What If a PSC Has Died?

Companies House updated its guidance on 30 July 2026 to deal expressly with this situation.

You do not need to complete identity verification for a PSC who has died.

Companies House says the deceased PSC should remain on the register until the relevant grant of probate or letters of administration have been received.

What If the PSC Has Protected Personal Information?

The normal online PSC verification service cannot be used where the PSC has their personal information protected at Companies House or is waiting for a decision on an application for protection.

That situation requires separate handling.

Do not repeatedly attempt the ordinary service if the PSC falls into the protected-information regime.

What If the Company Has No PSC?

Not every company necessarily has an individual PSC.

If a company has no registrable PSC, Companies House still requires the company to make the appropriate PSC statement. The PSC information cannot simply be left blank.

Identity verification does not create a PSC where none exists.

The company first needs to determine who, if anyone, meets the statutory control tests.

PSC Identity Verification vs AML Checks

Companies House identity verification does not automatically replace a solicitor’s, accountant’s, bank’s or regulated firm’s separate anti-money laundering checks.

A Companies House verification status confirms compliance with the Companies House identity regime.

A regulated business may still need to perform its own:

• customer due diligence;
• beneficial ownership checks;
• sanctions screening;
• source-of-funds enquiries;
• source-of-wealth checks; or
• risk assessment.

Companies House itself has declined to state that a published PSC verification status automatically satisfies another firm’s AML obligations.

Common PSC Identity Verification Mistakes

Mistake 1: Assuming Director Verification Covers the PSC Role

It does not.

Use the same personal code again for the PSC role.

Mistake 2: Waiting Until the 14-Day Period to Start Identity Verification

You can complete the actual identity check earlier.

Doing so gives you time to solve document or personal-data problems.

Mistake 3: Trying to Submit the PSC Code Too Early

The PSC service may only allow the personal code to be provided after the relevant 14-day period has started.

Mistake 4: Using the Company Authentication Code

The company authentication code is not your Companies House personal code.

Your identity verification code is an individual 11-character personal code.

Mistake 5: Assuming One PSC Submission Covers Several Companies

The personal code is reusable.

The role connection is not.

Provide the code separately for each PSC position.

Mistake 6: Ignoring a Date-of-Birth Difference

A DOB mismatch can stop the code from connecting to the record.

Resolve the discrepancy before the deadline.

Mistake 7: Waiting Until After the Deadline to Request an Extension

Companies House does not allow an extension application after the deadline has passed.

Same-Day Remote PSC Identity Verification by Video Call

Our Legal Consultant is registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

Through our partner solicitor, remote Companies House identity verification by video call can be arranged for suitable PSCs.

Same-day identity checks and ACSP submission may be available where:

• we approve the documents in advance;
• the applicant provides all required information;
• the document combination meets the Companies House standard;
• the applicant has the original documents available;
• the live video verification succeeds;
• names and dates of birth are consistent;
• the required checks can be completed; and
• no unresolved identity or compliance concern remains.

Same-day service refers to the identity check and ACSP submission.

Companies House controls the subsequent processing and delivery of the personal code.

How Our Remote PSC Verification Process Works

Step 1: Send the Documents for Preliminary Review

Provide clear copies of the proposed identity documents.

Depending on the route, these may include:

• passport;
• accepted photographic identity document;
• bank statement;
• utility bill;
• mortgage statement;
• insurance policy;
• birth certificate;
• marriage certificate; or
• another document permitted under the Companies House standard.

Step 2: Provide the Required Personal Information

We normally need:

• full legal name;
• former names;
• date of birth;
• current residential address;
• address history for the previous 12 months;
• personal email address;
• company number; and
• information about the applicant’s director or PSC role.

Step 3: Check the Companies House Record

Before the appointment, it can be useful to compare:

• registered name;
• date of birth;
• company number;
• PSC status;
• nature of control; and
• applicable PSC compliance period.

This can identify problems before the 14-day deadline.

Step 4: Attend the Video Call

During the call, the applicant may need to:

• appear clearly on camera;
• show the original documents;
• move or tilt documents;
• display security features;
• confirm personal information;
• complete a live facial comparison; and
• answer relevant identity questions.

Step 5: ACSP Submission

After successful verification, the ACSP submits the required identity verification information to Companies House.

Companies House then issues the individual’s personal code.

Step 6: Provide the Code for the PSC Role

Receiving the code does not automatically complete the PSC role.

When the relevant PSC period starts, the personal code must still be submitted through the PSC service.

How Our Legal Consultant Can Help

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor can help with:

• Companies House PSC identity verification;
• remote video identity checks;
• overseas PSC verification;
• document review;
• identifying the correct verification route;
• obtaining the Companies House personal code;
• checking director and PSC roles separately;
• calculating or checking the PSC 14-day period;
• identifying Companies House data mismatches;
• reviewing incorrect dates of birth;
• checking name differences;
• former-name and married-name issues;
• international document review;
• ACSP submission;
• PSC personal-code guidance;
• extension queries; and
• practical Companies House compliance support.

Ginkgo Advisory’s Role

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor provide the identity verification service.

Ginkgo Advisory supports the process through:

• preliminary document review;
• client communication;
• document coordination;
• appointment arrangements;
• PSC deadline guidance; and
• practical case handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is PSC Identity Verification?

It is the Companies House requirement for an individual person with significant control to prove their identity and connect that verified identity to their PSC role.

What Is a PSC?

A PSC is an individual who owns or controls a company.

Common conditions include holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, having the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise exercising significant influence or control.

Does Every PSC Need to Verify Their Identity?

Individual PSCs are subject to the identity verification regime.

Companies House will introduce some corporate-role verification requirements separately at a later date.

How Long Is the PSC Verification Period?

Fourteen days.

Every PSC has a specific 14-day period during which they must provide their personal code and verification statement.

Can I Verify My Identity Before the 14-Day Period?

Yes.

You can complete the underlying identity verification and obtain the personal code before the PSC submission window.

Can I Provide My PSC Code Before the 14-Day Period?

Normally, no.

Companies House’s PSC guidance states that the code can only be provided once the relevant 14-day period has started.

When Is My Deadline If I Am Both Director and PSC?

Your PSC 14-day period starts the day after the company’s confirmation statement date.

This is separate from using the code as a director through the confirmation statement.

Does Filing the Confirmation Statement Early Move the PSC Deadline?

No.

The 14-day period remains linked to the original confirmation statement date.

When Is My Deadline If I Am a PSC but Not a Director?

For an existing PSC, the period normally runs during the first 14 days of the PSC’s birth month.

When Does a New PSC Provide the Personal Code?

A PSC who became a PSC after 18 November 2025 can provide the code when first added to the register or within 14 days after being added.

Do I Need Separate Personal Codes as Director and PSC?

No.

Use the same personal code.

However, provide it separately for each role.

Do I Need a Different Code for Every Company?

No.

You use the same code but connect it separately to each relevant company role.

I Already Put My Code in the Confirmation Statement. Is My PSC Role Complete?

Not necessarily.

If you are also a PSC, you normally need to provide the personal code again through the PSC verification service.

How Do I Check My PSC Deadline?

Check the Companies House register or sign into the PSC verification service.

Can My Accountant Provide My PSC Code?

Yes.

You can share the code with the company, an ACSP or another trusted person who files on your behalf.

Can an ACSP Provide My PSC Code?

Yes.

The ACSP can act on behalf of a PSC where authorised.

What If My Personal Code Does Not Work?

Check:

• the code;
• your date of birth;
• the Companies House record; and
• the details submitted during identity verification.

A mismatch can prevent the verified identity from connecting to the PSC role.

What If My Date of Birth Is Wrong at Companies House?

Correct the underlying Companies House information before trying repeatedly to submit the personal code.

What If the ACSP Entered My Date of Birth Incorrectly?

Contact the ACSP.

It may need to update the verification details it provided.

Can I Request More Time?

Yes.

The PSC service allows you to request a 14-day extension before the existing deadline passes.

Can I Request an Extension After the Deadline?

No.

Companies House states that an extension cannot be requested after the deadline has passed.

Can I Get a Third Extension?

You can apply for a further extension if you have already received two extensions.

You must apply before the current deadline, provide supporting evidence and wait for an examiner’s decision. Any additional extension can be for up to 14 days.

What Happens If I Miss the PSC Verification Deadline?

You may be committing an offence.

Companies House can impose or pursue financial penalties or fines and can display a non-compliance note on the public register.

Can I Verify as a PSC From Overseas?

Yes.

Depending on your documents, you may use GOV.UK One Login or an ACSP.

Can an Overseas PSC Use an ACSP?

Yes.

An ACSP may provide a practical route where the overseas PSC cannot complete the direct GOV.UK process.

Can PSC Verification Be Done by Video Call?

Potentially, yes.

An ACSP can offer remote verification where its procedure satisfies the Companies House identity verification standard.

Must I Send My Original Passport to the UK?

Usually not for a suitable remote process.

Copies can be reviewed before the appointment, while the original document is shown during the live video call.

Does PSC Verification Replace AML Verification?

No.

Banks, solicitors, accountants and other regulated businesses may still need to complete their own AML and sanctions checks.

What If My PSC Is a Limited Company?

Do not automatically use the individual PSC process.

Companies House says verification requirements for officers of corporate PSCs will be introduced at a later date.

What If the PSC Has Died?

Identity verification is not required for a deceased PSC.

Companies House says the PSC should remain on the register until the grant of probate or letters of administration have been received.

What If My PSC Details Are Protected?

The standard online PSC verification service cannot be used where the PSC’s personal information is protected or an application for protection is pending.

How Can I Check Whether Verification Is Complete?

Check the company record on the Companies House register and review the status shown against the relevant director or PSC role. Companies House’s own PSC guidance also tells PSCs to use the register to check their specific due dates.

Need Help With Companies House PSC Identity Verification?

The most important thing to understand is that verifying your identity and connecting that identity to your PSC role are not the same step.

A PSC should normally:

1. verify their identity;
2. obtain the 11-character personal code;
3. check the correct 14-day PSC period;
4. provide the code during that period; and
5. confirm that the PSC role shows the correct verification status.

If you are both director and PSC, remember that the personal code must be provided separately for both roles.

For overseas PSCs, unusual documents, name mismatches or failed GOV.UK One Login checks, an ACSP may provide an alternative verification route.

Our Legal Consultant and partner solicitor can review the identity documents, confirm the appropriate process and arrange remote Companies House identity verification by video call where suitable.