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.
From 1 February 2026, Companies House is changing a number of its statutory fees. The headline changes most SMEs notice are:
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.
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:
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.
The same transition plan states that by the end of 2026, Companies House expects to:
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:
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.
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 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).
The GOV.UK guidance “Verify your identity for Companies House” sets out several routes, including:
This range of options is deliberate and intended to accommodate directors and PSCs who are not particularly tech-savvy.
Most will never register as an ACSP themselves. Many, however, will rely on advisers who must do so.
GOV.UK ACSP guidance explains that:
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?”
Across most client types, we are applying a straightforward Companies House readiness plan:
1) Map who needs to verify
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.
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.