ICAEW members are flagging a scam in which company directors have been contacted by people acting as accounting firms, who give them misleading information about Companies House ID verification and charge them unnecessary fees.

As outlined in a recent ICAEW Insights article, 99% of directors, partners in LLPs and persons of significant control can verify themselves for free, using a UK government One Login account. There are no charges involved in the process, and it is not complicated.

Accounting firms are encouraged to keep clients informed of such scams. Directors, particularly owners of small companies, should stay vigilant and cautious if they receive any letters from firms offering Companies House ID verification services, and should check their validity with their accounting firms.

Any suspected scam communication that proports to come from Companies House can be reported direct to Companies House.

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