Published: 2 April 2025 6:29 pm  Author: Oliver Stanley

ACSP registration and IDV launch on 8 April 2025

We recently joined a call with Companies House regarding the launch of their ACSP registration process and the upcoming launch of the IDV process on 8 April 2025.

ACSP registration is now live and appears to be working well.  There’s a helpful ‘how to’ page on their website, and it seems to be just a case of following the instructions.  One point mentioned was the importance of entering the correct AML registration number – as Companies House use this to verify the ACSP’s regulated status.  A lot of early applicants had issues with their applications because they entered the wrong number.

IDV – Companies House also confirmed that from 8 April 2025, individuals will be able to voluntarily start to verify their identity and obtain a personal code from Companies House.  This code is not needed yet, but will be (based on current timings) sometime in Q3 2025.

Individuals will be able to verify:

• directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login, or
• through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).

However it is done, Companies House will email the personal code to the individual and each individual code will need a unique email address.  So if you are an ACSP planning to complete IDV for all your clients and client’s stakeholders, you wont be able to get their personal codes sent to a single email address – which could be irritating, to put it mildly!

When implemented, identity verification will become compulsory for new and existing directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and LLP members.  The code will be required in incorporations, new appointment filings and in the first confirmation statement filed after implementations for all entities on the register.

The standard of ID verification carried out by Companies House or an ACSP is set out in the relevant Registrar’s Rules:

• The Registrar’s (Identity Verification by the Registrar) Rules 2025
• The Registrar’s (Identity Verification by Authorised Corporate Service Providers) Rules 2025