Key takeaways
- Check verification status: directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) who have not completed identity verification may be contacted by Companies House and should act promptly.
- Do not overlook PSCs requirements: individuals who are both a director and a PSC may need to use their personal code for each role.
- Find personal codes: directors and PSCs should check whether their 11-digit code was issued through One Login or via an ACSP, as this determines where they can find and save it.
- Forward Companies House emails: practitioners should pass on all relevant correspondence to clients and check that company records are up to date.
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From 26 August, Companies House is reaching out to directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) who haven’t completed their identity verification requirements, in a bid to encourage compliance.
In particular, Companies House has cited that non-compliance is a particular issue with PSCs. While PSCs only need to verify their identity once, for those who are both a director and a PSC, a personal code is required for each role. This additional step for directors who are also PSCs is easily overlooked, the Companies House reports.
ICAEW members may find themselves receiving a large number of emails from Companies House as a result, particularly where companies have provided their agent’s email as their registered email address. Individuals with more than one director or PSC role may end up receiving several emails.
What is a personal code?
A personal code is issued to directors and PSCs once they’ve verified their identity. Finding the 11-digit code will depend on whether the individual used One Login or verified via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
One Login users will find their code under ‘manage account’ after logging in using the same email they used to verify. Those verified after 8 July will also have received it via email.
ACSP-verified individuals will receive the code to the email provided by the ACSP. They will need to save that code to their account. To do that, they will need to sign into Companies House using the same email address that received the personal code and confirm they have verified their identity. They will then be asked to enter their personal code and date of birth.
What practitioners need to do
Companies House is calling for practitioners to ensure these emails are passed onto the relevant clients to ensure that the message gets into the right hands. Where a practitioner gets multiple emails, it requests that all correspondence is forwarded to the individual in question.
Practitioners that receive an email from Companies House about this should review the directors and PSCs associated with the company and check their identity verification status on the register. If a director or PSC is no longer associated with the company, the company should ensure its register information is updated with Companies House as soon as possible.
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