By now, most businesses will be aware that Companies House identity verification is no longer just a future reform; it is actively being rolled out as part of the wider changes introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.

We are seeing practical issues such as incorrect personal details in Companies House records, particularly dates of birth, which could delay compliance with mandatory identity verification requirements.

Companies House has recently issued guidance on correcting errors for ID verification requirements. If your Companies House ID verification fails because your personal details do not match the information held on the register, the issue usually needs to be corrected before you can successfully complete the process. This may involve updating an incorrect date of birth, correcting errors in an original appointment filing, or asking your Authorised Corporate Service Provider to amend information submitted on your behalf. If you are unsure, it is worth checking your Companies House records now rather than waiting until your confirmation statement deadline approaches.

Why this matters now

Companies House has recently updated its guidance to make clear that if your personal details do not match their records, your identity verification process may fail.

This is particularly relevant where:

• Your date of birth is incorrect on the Companies House register.
• An Authorised Corporate Service Provider entered incorrect details during the verification process.
• Your Companies House personal code cannot be matched to your existing record.
• Details held in your Companies House account do not align with official records.

For many businesses, this may only become apparent when trying to complete identity verification close to a deadline, which is exactly the scenario to avoid. The key message is simple: check now, not later.

The date of birth issue

One of the clearest recent updates from Companies House concerns incorrect date-of-birth information.

When an individual completes identity verification, Companies House attempts to match their verified identity against existing Companies House records. If the date of birth on file is incorrect, the match may fail.

This can create unnecessary delays for:

• Company directors.
• A Person with Significant Control (PSC).
• Individuals using an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.
• Anyone needing to connect their personal code to an existing appointment.

In practice, even a simple historical filing error could create a problem. This is particularly relevant for older appointments where information may have been submitted years ago via paper forms or earlier filing systems.

How to correct an incorrect date of birth

Incorrect dates in the public record should be corrected before attempting to complete the ID verification requirements. Depending on how the original appointment was filed, Companies House may require a replacement filing online or another formal correction route.

Businesses should review:

• The original appointment filing documents.
• The director’s appointment date.
• Whether a replacement filing is available.
• Whether the correction can be made through protected online filing.
• Whether additional documents or a replacement document are required.

If a third party, such as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, completed the verification process using incorrect personal details, that provider may also need to correct the submission.

Reminder: Key identity verification dates

The timing rules still cause confusion, so here is a summary of the key dates for identity verification.

Existing directors

For existing directors, mandatory identity verification links to the company’s next confirmation statement. This means the obligation does not fall under a single universal deadline for every company.

Instead:

• Directors must complete identity verification.
• They must then provide their Companies House personal code.
• This happens when filing the company’s confirmation statement.

If an individual serves as a director of multiple companies, this must be addressed for each relevant filing.

Existing PSCs

For a person with significant control, the rules are slightly different. If the individual is both:

• a director
• a Person with Significant Control

they must:

• Provide their personal code as a director through the confirmation statement.
• Separately provide PSC verification details within their designated 14-day period.

If the individual is a PSC but not a director, their deadline depends on their birth month. The 14-day filing window begins from the first day of the month shown in the register for their date of birth.

This is exactly why checking Companies House records now matters so much. An incorrect date of birth could mean misunderstanding the applicable deadline.

New directors and PSCs

New directors appointed after the mandatory start date must complete ID verification as part of the appointment or incorporation. Similarly, a new PSC must provide verification details when added to the register or within the relevant 14-day window.

For a new company, these requirements now form part of the normal incorporation and appointment process.

Why businesses should act now

Although Companies House introduced a phased approach to reduce pressure, waiting until the due date creates avoidable risk. Potential issues include:

• Mismatch between identity documents and Companies House records.
• Incorrect date of birth.
• Missing personal code.
• Delays caused by high demand.
• Filing complications around the confirmation statement due date.
• Uncertainty over PSC deadlines.

For businesses with multiple directors, group structures or overseas stakeholders, resolving issues can take longer than expected.

Summary

The wider purpose of mandatory ID verification is to improve trust in the Companies House register and reduce fraud. But from a compliance perspective, the most immediate risk is often administrative rather than legal, such as minor data mismatches that cause filing delays.

If your business has not yet checked director and PSC details against official records, now would be a sensible time to do so.

Barnes Roffe can help businesses navigate the identity verification requirements, resolve filing issues and ensure compliance with upcoming deadlines.

Related articles

Cycling to work tax savings continue

Major FRS 102 changes in 2026: The business impact of the reforms and how to prepare

A light shone on the limits of the IHT gift rule