Companies House Extends Presenter Verification Timeline
Companies House has confirmed that the presenter identity verification requirement, originally scheduled for November 2026, will now take effect no sooner than November 2027. This 12-month extension provides additional time for businesses and professional advisers to prepare for one of the most significant changes in UK corporate governance.
The delay affects the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act reforms. From November 2027, anyone submitting documents to Companies House must either complete identity verification, or be registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
This change applies to company formation, statutory accounts filings, confirmation statements, and all other regulatory submissions. For sole practitioners and small firm owners, the requirement to appoint an alternate ACSP director by December 2025 remains in force.
Companies House will provide at least six months notice before implementation. The delay recognises the scale and complexity of rolling out digital identity verification across all statutory filing services, giving the regulator time to build the necessary infrastructure.
For accountancy practices acting as filing agents, ACSP registration remains the priority. If your firm is not yet registered and files on behalf of clients, you must complete the process before November 2027. The verification process can take several weeks, so applications should be submitted well in advance of the deadline.
This extension also gives Ltd company directors time to understand the requirements without the pressure of an imminent changeover. However, anyone involved in company formation or ongoing compliance should use this period to review their identity documents and prepare for verification.
Read the full ICAEW guidance on presenter verification changes.