Companies House Changes in 2026: What SMEs Need to Know About Identity Checks & Filing

For many owners, Companies House feels like a background obligation. You file what needs to be filed, pay the fee, and return your attention to running the business. For years, that approach has generally been sufficient, but from 2026, it will no longer be.

Companies House is moving from being a largely passive registry to a more active gatekeeper, with a clear policy aim: improving the reliability of the register and reducing misuse and fraud. The roll-out of identity verification is intended to support growth by providing greater assurance about who is setting up, running and controlling UK companies, and by improving the accuracy and trustworthiness of register data.

For legitimate businesses, this is not something to fear. It is, however, something to plan for.

The most significant risk we are seeing is not deliberate non-compliance. It is non-compliance by accident: one individual has not verified, a filing is rejected, a deadline slips, and a routine task becomes an avoidable distraction for management.

The 2026 diary dates that matter

1 February 2026: Companies House fees change

From 1 February 2026, Companies House is changing a number of its statutory fees. The headline changes most SMEs notice are:

• Digital incorporation fee increasing to £100
• Digital confirmation statement fee increasing to £50
• Digital voluntary strike-off fee increasing to £13

Paper filings become materially more expensive. By way of example, a paper confirmation statement will cost £110, and a paper incorporation will cost £124.

The revised fee schedule also introduces (or confirms) an ACSP registration fee of £63 for digital applications.

This matters for budgeting, but it also signals the broader direction of travel: digital filing is no longer optional convenience; it is the default expectation.

Spring 2026: Identity verification expands to presenters, and agents must be ACSPs

The official transition plan under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 programme states that by around spring 2026, Companies House should be able to:

• make identity verification of the “presenter” a compulsory part of filing any document; and
• require third-party agents filing on behalf of companies to be registered as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs).

This is where many SME businesses will feel the most significant operational impact. The focus is no longer limited to directors and persons with significant control. It now extends to who, in practice, submits filings and whether they are permitted to do so.

By the end of 2026, enforcement hardens

The same transition plan states that by the end of 2026, Companies House expects to:

• complete the transition period for identity verification of individuals on the register; and
• begin compliance activity against individuals who have failed to verify.

Historically, the confirmation statement has been one of the most straightforward annual filings. That changes under the new regime.

Companies House guidance now makes clear that:

• a Companies House personal code must be provided for each director on the confirmation statement; and
• the confirmation statement will not be accepted, unless all directors have verified their identity.

The “Changes to UK company law” campaign guidance makes this position explicit. If every director has not verified and their personal code is not included, the filing may be rejected.

It is also important to be clear about the consequences. Failure to file a confirmation statement is not a harmless administrative oversight. Companies House has stated that non-compliance may result in a financial penalty, and persistent failure to file may ultimately lead to the company being struck off the register.

A practical SME point

One unverified director can block the entire filing. Equally, if the individual who typically handles filings, whether internal staff or an external adviser, is not ready for the spring 2026 “presenter” requirements, you may find yourself unable to submit documents smoothly at all.

Identity verification and personal codes

Identity verification is precisely what it sounds like: confirming that an individual involved in running or controlling a company is who they claim to be.

Once an individual successfully verifies, Companies House issues a unique personal code. That code is then used to confirm the individual’s verified status across their Companies House roles.

If you are a director of multiple companies, you verify once and use the same code for each role.

Companies House guidance also makes clear that while personal codes must be kept secure, they may be shared with trusted individuals who file on your behalf (for example, an accountant or company secretary).

How do directors and PSCs verify? 

The GOV.UK guidance “Verify your identity for Companies House” sets out several routes, including:

• Verification via GOV.UK One Login using certain types of photo ID (including a biometric passport from any country, a UK photocard driving licence, or certain UK biometric residence documents).
• Alternative options where photo ID is not available, such as verification using bank or building society details (with a National Insurance number and security questions), or in-person verification at a Post Office (after entering ID details online).
• Verification through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor, acting on the individual’s behalf.

This range of options is deliberate and intended to accommodate directors and PSCs who are not particularly tech-savvy.

ACSPs: what SMEs need to understand (even if you never register as one)

Most will never register as an ACSP themselves. Many, however, will rely on advisers who must do so.

GOV.UK ACSP guidance explains that:

• ACSPs must be supervised by a UK Anti-Money Laundering supervisory body.
• At present, only agents who intend to verify identities need to register, but in due course, all agents filing on behalf of clients will need to register.
• ACSPs must remain AML-supervised, notify Companies House of any changes within 14 days, and retain identity verification records for 7 years.
• Failure to comply is an offence and may result in fines or criminal prosecution. Companies House may also suspend or revoke authorised agent status, preventing the agent from filing or verifying.
• From spring 2026, authorised agents will be able to file on behalf of clients as ACSPs.

A practical question to ask now

If you rely on an accountant, company secretary or formation agent to file documents for you, ask a simple question: “Will you be ACSP registered, and will you be able to continue filing for us in spring 2026?”

How we are supporting SME clients in early 2026

Across most client types, we are applying a straightforward Companies House readiness plan:

1) Map who needs to verify

• All directors (including recently appointed directors).
• All PSCs.
• Anyone who submits filings, whether internal or external.

2) Verify early and store personal codes securely

Do not wait until the confirmation statement deadline. That filing is the pinch point, because it cannot be accepted unless all directors are verified and codes are included.

3) Clean up Companies House data before you are forced to

A common cause of difficulty is mismatched personal details (for example, date-of-birth discrepancies). These issues are far easier to resolve proactively.

4) Confirm your filing route for spring 2026

Where an external agent is used, confirm that they will be registered as an ACSP when required.

5) Budget for the 1 February 2026 fee changes

This is particularly relevant where groups, restructures, new incorporations or strike-offs are planned.

Treat this as business hygiene, not bureaucracy

These reforms are not designed to make life harder for honest SMEs. Their purpose is to create a more trustworthy register and reduce misuse that ultimately harms legitimate businesses.

Handled properly, the changes simply become part of good governance: clear responsibility for filings, verified identities, and compliance that runs smoothly in the background.