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Companies House & company law

Identity verification (IDV)

In short: The Companies House requirement for directors, PSCs and those filing to have a verified identity.

What Identity verification (IDV) means

Identity verification can be done directly with Companies House or through an ACSP. Once verified, a person receives a personal code that links them to their Companies House record.

Firms acting for clients usually verify identities as an ACSP and keep the evidence, because it fits naturally alongside AML due diligence already being collected.

Why it matters in practice

Unverified directors can block filings, so it becomes an onboarding step rather than an annual afterthought.

General information for UK practices, not legal, tax or regulatory advice. Rules change — check current GOV.UK guidance and your professional body before acting.

Built for UK practice growth

Every deadline. Every client. One system.

Start with the workflows that cause the most chasing, then bring leads, AML, proposals and clients into the same calm operating system.

Why recording AML checks properly matters

UK accountants must follow the Money Laundering Regulations and their supervisor's guidance. If a check is not recorded, supervisors will generally treat it as not done.

Evidence for your supervisor

Dated ID checks and risk assessments on each client file are what a supervisor asks to see during a review.

Consistent risk scoring

A standard risk assessment means every client is judged the same way, whoever onboarded them.

Ongoing monitoring

Reminders for periodic reviews help keep checks current rather than done once and forgotten.

Faster onboarding

Built-in digital ID and AML checks in Remindoo reduce back-and-forth with new clients.

Practical tips from UK practice

  • Complete identity checks and a risk assessment before starting chargeable work.
  • Set review dates by risk level, with higher-risk clients reviewed more often.
  • Record the reason for each risk rating, not just the rating.
  • Check your supervisor's current guidance, as requirements can change.

Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.

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Premier Books Consultancy Ltd

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