Client Identity Verification

Easily comply with Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) client identity verification requirements using secure biometric ID verification that seamlessly fits in your workflow.

What are the Companies House identity verification rules?

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) introduces mandatory identity verification for a range of individuals, aimed at significantly improving the transparency and accuracy of the UK’s company register.

  • Who needs to be verified? The new rules require mandatory identity verification for all new and existing individual company directors, People with Significant Control (PSCs), LLP members and anyone who files information with Companies House. This ensures that the information held on the public register is accurate and traceable.
  • What are the new requirements for company officers and PSCs? All directors and PSCs will need to have their identities verified either directly with Companies House or through an authorised third-party agent registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP). This applies not only to new appointments but also to existing officers and PSCs.
  • When do the new identity verification requirements take effect? From 18 November 2025, all directors appointed or PSCs added to a company will need to have their identity verified. That will apply whether it is part of a new company being formed or an appointment to an existing company. All existing directors and PSCs as at 18 November will need to have their identity verified within a year, on a timetable determined by Companies House.
  • How does ECCTA affect my client verification process? It mandates a new, rigorous, primarily digital verification process. The emphasis is on using online tools to verify clients, unless manual, paper-based checks are backed by specific detailed staff training requirements. Any checks previously undertaken for anti-money laundering purposes are unlikely to suffice.

Proof of ID check

A fully flexible approach to identity verification

Inform Direct provides a comprehensive, flexible solution to the new Companies House requirements. An accountant registered as an ACSP can undertake identity checks using our integrated process. For those completing the checks in your own software or where individual directors and PSCs undertake an identity check directly at Companies House, Inform Direct still helps you master your enhanced company secretarial compliance responsibilities.

 

Inform Direct enables ECCTA compliance, in whatever way you want to approach identity verification:

  • Accountants and other agents can record their ACSP registration details
  • Use reports to plan which officers and PSCs must have their identity verified
  • An ACSP can initiate identity checks for their clients to complete
  • Undertake checks on existing officers and PSCs or new appointees
  • Each client completes an easy-to-use step by step identity check
  • View identity check progress and results any time
  • Save the details of each check completed for compliance purposes
  • Download successful check details to submit on the ACSP portal
  • Enter personal codes received by the individual from Companies House
  • Submit personal codes in Companies House submissions once required
inform direct Identity verification checks

It's straightforward for accountants registered as ACSPs to manage identity verification in Inform Direct.

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A compliant ECCTA solution providing extra benefits

 

 

  • Comprehensive reporting: Reports help to identify directors and PSCs who still need to be verified or need personal codes to be supplied, helping you track progress and stay ahead of deadlines.
  • Complete visibility and control: Easily track the progress of checks, view results and the documents supplied by clients as part of verification
  • Efficient re-use of data: Easily identify where an individual has multiple roles across many companies, so you only undertake identity verification once. No duplicate data entry, no confusion.
appoint secretary function on inform direct Identity verification checks ownload identity verification document
send identity check request

 

  • Flexible verification options: Choose whether to include an address check alongside a biometric identity check
  • Features that work around you and your clients: Add personal codes from identity checks completed elsewhere, such as through Companies House identity verification.
  • A single, integrated platform: Identity verification sits within a holistic company secretarial solution so no switching between systems.
  • Straightforward workflows: Easy to initiate checks with a simple process for the client to complete verification
  • Safe and secure: Partnering with Credas, a leading specialist in digital identity verification, clients’ sensitive data are always protected

Pay-per-check pricing available to Inform Direct subscribers
Introductory offer of £3 + VAT per biometric identity check
or £4 + VAT including an address check

Register today

Read why users like you love Inform Direct...

Emma Lawrence

Ease of use and helpful blogs. More

Emma Lawrence of Starfish Accounting

Emma Lawrence Emma Lawrence of Starfish Accounting

We have been using Inform Direct since 2016 and the value we get out of the product is immeasurable. The ease of use as well as helpful blogs on all subjects makes it a core part of our processes and we wouldn’t be without it.

Triston Wallace

This is an essential time-saver More

Triston Wallace

Triston Wallace Triston Wallace

Inform Direct has helped our start-up in more ways than one. It has saved oodles of time dealing with Companies House as our share allocation fluctuated during early fundraising. It has helped us keep all our paperwork in order without the expense of having a solicitor to do this. The team at Inform Direct have always been quick and useful with their advice around both the system and how it links in with CH.

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