England: Mandatory ID verification for directors and PSCs and the role of ACSPs from 2025
In 2025, mandatory identity verification (IDV) will be introduced in the UK for directors and persons with significant control (PSCs). At the same time, a new format of official intermediaries will appear — Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSP).
What you need to know
- From 8 April 2025 — voluntary ID verification will be available.
- From 18 November 2025, IDV will become a legal requirement.
- This marks the start of a 12-month transition period, not a one-off deadline.
- Companies House only allows two methods of IDV:
- directly through GOV.UK One Login;
- through an ACSP — an authorised corporate provider.
Practical effect
There is no annual renewal in the UK, but there are ongoing obligations (confirmation statement, accounts, notifications of changes).
From 2025, a new mandatory layer of compliance will be added — IDV for directors and PSCs, which directly affects the company's ability to:
- submit changes correctly;
- maintain compliant status;
- avoid regulatory restrictions.
What is recommended
- Determine the IDV model (directly or through ACSP).
- Ensure that the intermediary used has ACSP status.
- Plan in advance the verification of all directors and PSCs during the transition period.
