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Guide · Client
Companies House Identity Verification for Accountants
Hundreds of directors, one register, and a practice process that has to prove it happened.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · 60-day free trial · Last updated 27 September 2026
Quick answer
Companies House identity verification requires directors, people with significant control and those filing on a company's behalf to have their identity verified. Accountants either direct clients to verify themselves or, as a registered authorised corporate service provider, verify them. Remindoo tracks which clients are verified and chases the rest.
Who has to verify their identity?
Directors, people with significant control and anyone filing with Companies House on a company's behalf, under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act.
For a practice, that means every director and PSC across your company client base, plus your own staff who file. Check the current GOV.UK guidance for the categories in scope and the dates each requirement applies from, as the regime has been phased in.
What are the verification routes?
Individuals can verify directly with Companies House, or verification can be carried out by a registered authorised corporate service provider.
Firms that register as an ACSP can verify clients themselves, which many find smoother than asking hundreds of directors to complete the process alone. Registration carries obligations, including record keeping, so weigh the workload against the control.
How do you manage this across a whole client base?
Treat it as a tracked project: a field per director recording status, a task per client, and scheduled chasing until everyone is verified.
The practical problem is not the rule, it is knowing which of 400 directors has done it. Record the status against each client, filter for the unverified, and chase on a schedule rather than asking the whole list again each month.
Companies House Identity Verification for Accountants: step by step
- 1
List every director and PSC
Build the full list across your company clients.
- 2
Check the current rules
Confirm on GOV.UK who must verify and by when.
- 3
Decide your route
Choose between client self-verification or ACSP registration.
- 4
Communicate clearly
Tell clients what they must do, how and by when.
- 5
Record the status
Track verified, in progress and not started per person.
- 6
Chase the gaps
Follow up on a schedule until the list is clear.
See it working with your own clients
A 30-minute walkthrough using your services, deadlines and templates.
How do you do it in Remindoo?
- Sync company data. Import company, director and filing details from Companies House.
- Add status fields. Use custom fields to record verification status per person.
- Create a task per client. Track the verification work as a job with an owner.
- Send the client instructions. Use an email template so the message is identical every time.
- Automate the chasing. Schedule reminders to clients who have not completed it.
- Report on progress. Filter to see how many directors remain unverified.
Companies House sync
Import company details and filing deadlines.
See featureCustom fields and data tokens
Capture and reuse the data your firm needs.
See featureEmail templates
Standard client messages ready to send.
See featureAutomated reminders
Timely prompts before work becomes urgent.
See featureAML risk scoring and digital ID checks
Risk assessments plus built-in digital KYC, AML and proof-of-address checks.
See featureWhat are the common mistakes?
- Assuming clients will verify without prompting
- No record of who has verified
- Treating it as a one-off rather than ongoing for new appointments
- Missing PSCs who are not directors
- Not checking the current dates on GOV.UK
“Companies House integration onboards clients in minutes; AML scoring keeps us compliant.”
Frequently asked questions
Who must verify their identity at Companies House?
Directors, people with significant control and those filing on a company's behalf, subject to the phased implementation. Check GOV.UK for the current position.
Can accountants verify clients' identity?
Firms registered as authorised corporate service providers can carry out verification. Registration brings its own obligations.
Is this the same as AML identity checks?
No. AML customer due diligence is a separate obligation under the Money Laundering Regulations, though the evidence often overlaps.
Does Remindoo verify identity with Companies House?
No. Remindoo tracks the status, chases clients and stores the records; verification itself is done via Companies House or an ACSP.
Does Remindoo include AML identity checks?
Yes. Digital ID, KYC and proof of address checks are built in for your AML client due diligence, which is a separate requirement from the Companies House regime.
What happens if a director does not verify?
Consequences including filing restrictions and offences apply under the regime. Check GOV.UK for the current enforcement position.
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Sources
Last updated 27 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice.
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.
Related Remindoo features
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.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
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“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
