New Companies House ID Verification Rules: What Law and Accountancy Firms Need to Know — and How Marker AI Can Help

From autumn 2025, the UK’s corporate landscape will undergo one of its most significant regulatory shifts in decades. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA), Companies House (CH) will begin enforcing mandatory identity verification for all company directors, Persons with Significant Control (PSCs), and others involved in corporate filings. The goal? To clean up the UK company register, reduce fraud, and restore trust in corporate governance.

But for law and accountancy firms, this reform brings not just opportunity — but operational complexity. Here’s what’s changing, why it matters, and how Marker AI’s intuitive platform can help you stay compliant with confidence.

🔍 What Are the New Companies House Requirements?

From autumn 2025, identity verification will be mandatory for:

• All new company directors and PSCs at the point of incorporation or appointment.
• Existing directors and PSCs, who will have a 12-month transitional window to verify their identity.
• Anyone filing documents with Companies House, including accountants, company secretaries, and administrative staff.

Verification must be completed either:

• Directly via Companies House, using the GOV.UK One Login system and biometric ID (e.g. passport, driving licence), or
• Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — such as a law or accountancy firm — registered with CH.

🧾 What Information Must Be Collected?

To meet the new standards, firms must collect and verify the following from each director or PSC:

• ✅ Full legal name, including any previous names used in the last 20 years.
• 🏠 Current residential address, plus all addresses used in the past 12 months.
• 🪪 Photographic ID, such as a passport or driving licence.
• 📸 A live facial image (i.e. a selfie or video) to confirm that the person presenting the ID is the same individual — a process known as a liveness check.

These checks are not optional. Failure to verify identity will result in:

• Inability to appoint or remain as a director or PSC.
• Rejection of company filings.
• Potential legal penalties for the company and its agents. 

⚖️ Why This Matters for Law and Accountancy Firms

While the reforms are a welcome step toward transparency, they also introduce new compliance burdens for professional service firms:

• 📚 Increased documentation: Gathering historical address data and previous names adds complexity to onboarding.
• 🧠 Manual verification risks: Human error in matching ID photos to live images can lead to non-compliance.
• ⏱️ Time pressure: Firms must verify clients quickly to avoid delays in incorporations or filings.
• 🔐 Data security concerns: Handling sensitive personal data requires robust systems and audit trails.

For firms already juggling AML, KYC, and GDPR obligations, these new CH rules can feel like the final straw.

💡 How Marker AI Simplifies Compliance

That’s where Marker AI comes in. Our platform is purpose-built to help law and accountancy firms meet the new Companies House requirements — without the stress.

Here’s how we make it easy:

Our intuitive interface guides users step-by-step, reducing errors and ensuring nothing is missed. Whether you’re onboarding a new director or verifying an existing client, Marker AI gives you peace of mind that you’re fully compliant — and fully protected.

🧘‍♂️ Less Stress, More Confidence

The new Companies House rules are a turning point for UK corporate governance. But for law and accountancy firms, they don’t have to be a burden.

With Marker AI, you can:

• ✅ Streamline director onboarding
• ✅ Reduce compliance risk
• ✅ Impress clients with a seamless experience
• ✅ Sleep better knowing you’re audit-ready

📞 Ready to See It in Action?

If you’d like to see how Marker AI can help your firm stay ahead of the curve, we’d love to show you. Contact us today for more information, a demo and a free trial.