Key Companies House changes effective from 18 November 2025
Significant reforms to the operation of Companies House are scheduled to take effect from 18 November 2025. Zyla Accountants take you through what you need to do for you and your business.
These measures, introduced under the economic crime and corporate transparency act 2023, will impact all limited companies.
The two primary changes involve the introduction of mandatory identity verification for all company directors and persons with significant control (pscs), and a fundamental shift in how company registers are maintained.
As your accountants, we are outlining these new obligations to ensure you are prepared and remain fully compliant.
The new identity verification requirement
This is the most substantial change. The new rules are designed to improve the accuracy and integrity of the company register and to help combat economic crime and fraud.
For new appointments: From 18 November 2025, any individual appointed as a new company director or psc must have their identity verified before they can legally act in that role.
For existing directors and pscs: Existing directors and pscs will have a 12-month transition period, starting from 18 November 2025, to complete their identity verification. This process will be integrated into the company's annual confirmation statement.
how to verify your identity
There are two approved methods for completing this mandatory verification:
Directly with companies house: An individual can verify their identity using the gov.uk one login service. This digital process will require a valid form of photographic id, such as a biometric passport or a uk photo driving licence.
Through an authorised corporate service provider (acsp): As your chartered accountants, zyla accountants is registered as an acsp. We can manage this verification process on your behalf, integrating it seamlessly with our existing compliance services to ensure it is completed correctly and efficiently.
changes to statutory company registers
From 18 November 2025, the requirement for companies to maintain their own internal statutory registers will be removed.
This includes the following registers:
register of directors
register of directors' residential addresses
register of secretaries
register of people with significant control (pscs)
Instead, the information filed and held at companies house will become the single, official register. This change makes it more important than ever to ensure that all information supplied to companies house (for example, via your confirmation statement) is accurate and updated promptly.
A minor related update is that companies will no longer be required to provide a business occupation for newly appointed directors.
key dates for compliance
8 April 2025: Voluntary identity verification opened.
18 November 2025: Identity verification becomes mandatory for all new director and PSC appointments.
18 November 2025: The central companies house register officially replaces the need for internal company registers.
November 2025 – November 2026: This is the 12-month transition period for existing directors and PSCs to complete their identity verification.
consequences of non-compliance
Verifying your identity is a new legal requirement. Failure to comply will constitute a criminal offence and could result in financial penalties or prosecution.
Furthermore, non-verified individuals will be unable to file accounts or other statutory documents for their business and will be barred from incorporating a new company.
It is important to note that these changes apply only to limited companies and their officers. sole traders are not affected as they are not registered with companies house.
other important updates
Alongside these major reforms, please be aware of several other changes:
Registered office address: You can no longer use a po box as your company's registered office. You must use a valid uk postal address where documents can be physically delivered.
Registered email address: All companies must provide and maintain a valid, registered email address with companies house.
Mandatory software filing: Companies house is phasing out paper and web-based filing. By 1 April 2027, all company accounts must be filed using appropriate third-party software.