{"id":601,"date":"2025-06-10T13:37:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T11:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/?p=601"},"modified":"2025-06-10T13:37:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T11:37:11","slug":"the-end-of-fake-directors-in-the-uk-from-2025-you-must-verify-your-identity-or-risk-your-company-being-struck-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/the-end-of-fake-directors-in-the-uk-from-2025-you-must-verify-your-identity-or-risk-your-company-being-struck-off\/","title":{"rendered":"The End of Fake Directors in the UK! From 2025 You Must Verify Your Identity or Risk Your Company Being Struck Off!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The era of free-for-all Ltd registrations in the UK is over.<\/strong><br>Until now, Companies House did not verify directors\u2019 identities \u2014 you didn\u2019t even need to provide a National Insurance number or any sensitive information. Even Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse could be listed as a company director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The UK government has decided to put an end to this. The year 2024 marks the beginning of a series of reforms aimed at increasing transparency and fighting economic crime. The <strong>Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023<\/strong> is being rolled out in stages through to 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After implementing changes that require a valid <strong>company address and email<\/strong>, it&#8217;s now time for <strong>identity verification for directors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who do the new rules apply to?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All registered Ltd, LLP and Limited Partnership companies \u2013 no exceptions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Company directors and beneficial owners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People submitting documents to Companies House (e.g. accountants, solicitors)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overseas companies operating in the UK (e.g. with a UK branch)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When do you need to verify your identity?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sooner, the better \u2014 avoid the stress of a last-minute rush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voluntary identity verification became available from <strong>8 April 2025<\/strong>. From <strong>September 2025<\/strong>, verification will be <strong>mandatory<\/strong> for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>People registering a new company<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New company directors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Individuals becoming a PSC (Person with Significant Control)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final deadline for verifying <strong>existing directors<\/strong> is <strong>Autumn 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can you verify your identity?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The easiest way is through the <strong>GOV.UK One Login<\/strong>, a free service. Log in or register here:<br>\ud83d\udc49 <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/signin.account.gov.uk\/sign-in-or-create\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/signin.account.gov.uk\/sign-in-or-create<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are three ways to verify your identity using GOV.UK One Login. The method will depend on your device, whether you have a photo ID, and what type it is. You&#8217;ll be guided through a few simple questions to find the best option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using the GOV.UK ID Check app<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll need one of the following photo ID documents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UK driving licence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UK passport<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biometric passport from another country<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UK Biometric Residence Card (BRC)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Answering questions online<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll answer a few questions about things like your mobile phone contract, bank accounts, credit cards, loans or mortgages.<br>You\u2019ll also need to provide information from your passport or bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">At a Post Office<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll enter your ID details online, then visit a Post Office that offers in-branch verification. They\u2019ll scan your ID and take a photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Through an authorised agent (ACSP)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your accountant or solicitor may be able to verify your identity, though this service may involve a fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens if you don\u2019t comply?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your company won\u2019t be able to submit documents to Companies House (e.g. Confirmation Statement, Annual Accounts)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You may face financial penalties \u2013 hundreds of pounds per violation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Criminal penalties \u2013 fines or, in serious cases, imprisonment for knowingly providing false data or avoiding verification<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Companies House may block or dissolve your company<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You won\u2019t be able to appoint new directors or PSCs<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you run a company in the UK, here\u2019s what to do now:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make sure your Companies House records are up to date<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the expiry date on your photo ID<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask your accountant if they can help with the process as an authorised agent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now\u2019s the time to get prepared \u2013 these changes are coming, whether you\u2019re ready or not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The days of fake names on company registrations in the UK are over! The British government is introducing mandatory identity verification for directors and company owners. Find out what\u2019s changing, who it applies to, and what penalties you could face if you don\u2019t comply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-regulations-legal-changes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=601"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/601\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":602,"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/601\/revisions\/602"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cloudcounting.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}