Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2003: Update August 2025
7th August, 2025
Companies House has now confirmed that some of the changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2003 (the Act) will come into force with effect from 18 November 2025.
You can find more information and background on these topics in our earlier updates on identity verification and changes to company registers here.
Identity verification
Companies House has confirmed that with effect from 18 November 2025, the new identity verification requirements will be introduced. These will require:
- new directors and PSCs to verify their identity in order to incorporate a company or be appointed to an existing company;
- existing directors to confirm they have verified their identity at the same time as they file their next annual confirmation statement, during a 12-month transition period; and
- existing PSCs to verify their identity in line with an appointed day within 12 months of the commencement of mandatory identity verification on 18 November.
Voluntary identification opened for existing directors on 8 April 2025 so they can proceed to complete this now. Please refer to our earlier updates for additional information or contact us for support and guidance on how you can complete these now.
Companies House has also now provided further guidance on when a PSC will need to have verified their identity. To note, the service for PSCs to provide their personal code will be available when the requirement comes into force on 18 November 2025.
Every PSC has a 14-day period during which they must submit a statement confirming they have verified their identity, along with their Companies House personal code. The dates of this 14-day period are dependent upon whether:
- they are already a PSC when identity verification requirements are introduced on 18 November 2025; and
- they are also a director of the company.
Both a director and a PSC of the same company
Where an individual is both a director and a PSC of the same company, they will need to provide their personal code separately for each role they hold in any one company. As a director, they will be required to provide their personal code as part of the company’s next confirmation statement filing. As a PSC, they will need to provide their personal code using a separate service within 14 days of the company’s confirmation statement date. Please note that the service in relation to existing PSCs will only be available when the requirement comes into force on 18 November 2025.
Existing PSCs (who are not a director of the same company)
If you are a PSC of a company, but not a director of the same company, the PSC will need to verify their identity in line with an appointed day within 12 months of the commencement of mandatory identity verification on 18 November. This will require them to provide their personal code within the first 14 days of their birth month as it is shown on the Companies House register. For example, if the date of birth is shown on the register as March 1990, the 14-day period will start on 1 March 2026. You should therefore check now that the PSCs date of birth is correct on the register.
New PSCs – after 18 November 2025
If an individual becomes a PSC and is registered after 18 November 2025 then their 14-day period starts from the date they register with Companies House and they must provide their personal code within 14 days of being added to the Companies House register as a PSC of any company.
Companies House has also confirmed that they will introduce identity verification at a later date for:
- people who file at Companies House
- limited partnerships
- corporate directors of companies
- corporate members of LLPs
- officers of corporate PSCs
We will provide further updates on those as and when available.
Changes to company registers
Companies House has confirmed that from 18 November 2025, there will no longer be a requirement for companies to hold registers of:
- directors
- directors’ residential addresses
- secretaries
- people with significant control (PSCs)
However, you will still need to register this information with Companies House and keep it up to date, ensuring that you comply with filing requirements and deadlines under the Companies Act 2006. It will also no longer be possible to elect to hold information about the company’s officers on the central register.
Companies must, however, continue to hold a register of shareholders/members (as applicable) at their registered office address or single alternative inspection location as has previously been required. With effect from 18 November you will also be required, as part of the company’s next confirmation statement filing, to provide Companies House with a one-off full shareholder list which includes the full names of all shareholders. You should therefore review your register of members now and ensure it is correct and up to date with full names of all shareholders.
You will no longer be required to provide the business occupation for company directors (or equivalent) when registering their appointment at Companies House.
If you or your business need further advice and support in relation to the above, please get in touch.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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