Identity verification under ECCTA

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) is the biggest change to Companies House in a generation. A central plank is mandatory identity verification for the people behind companies.

Who must verify

Broadly, all directors and people with significant control must verify their identity, as must anyone who files documents at Companies House on a company’s behalf. Verification is being phased in.

How it works

Individuals can verify directly with Companies House, or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) — a firm that is registered for anti-money-laundering supervision and can verify identity on their behalf. Compaxit is built around this ACSP role, capturing and evidencing the checks.

Why it matters

The aim is to reduce fraud and improve the reliability of the register. Filings may be rejected, and roles may not be recognised, where verification has not been completed.