From 18 November 2025, a key change under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) will come into effect. All UK company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) will need to verify their identity and hold a Unique Identifier (UID) – sometimes referred to as a personal verification code – which must be filed with Companies House.

Here’s what you need to know and how to prepare.

What’s changing?

• Identity verification and UID requirement:
  From 18 November, anyone appointed as a director of a UK company must verify their identity and obtain a UID before the appointment takes effect. The same applies to new company incorporations.
• Existing directors:
  Those already in post will need to link their UID to their company record when the business next files its confirmation statement after 18 November 2025.
• Persons with Significant Control (PSCs):
  PSCs who are not directors will also need to verify their identity. New PSCs appointed after 18 November must do so within 14 days, while existing PSCs will be given a deadline linked to either the company’s next confirmation statement date or the individual’s birth month.

Why this matters

These measures form part of the government’s wider initiative to modernise Companies House, improve corporate transparency and reduce the risk of misuse of the UK register for economic crime.

Failure to comply could lead to serious consequences. Companies may be prevented from filing statutory documents, and unverified directors or PSCs could face financial penalties or even disqualification.

What you should do now

1. Identify who is affected – This includes all company directors, PSCs and, in time, possibly anyone authorised to submit filings on the company’s behalf.
2. Review your internal processes – Make sure there’s a clear procedure in place to capture and record UIDs for new appointments or role changes.
3. Plan for your next confirmation statement – If your filing date falls after 18 November 2025, ensure all relevant individuals have completed verification before submission.

Final thoughts

With 18 November just a week away, businesses should treat this as an immediate compliance priority. Verifying identities and obtaining UIDs is a simple, one-off task, but delaying could result in filing disruptions, administrative delays, or penalties.

If you’d like help assessing your company’s readiness, guidance on obtaining or managing UIDs, or support updating your governance processes, our team would be happy to assist.