Big Shake-Up in Company Law ECCTA, Identity Verification & 5m + people affected

By Rupert McIntosh

A seismic change is coming to UK company law.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) is not just another regulatory tweak — it’s a game-changer.

From 18 November 2025, a new regime of mandatory identity verification (IDV) kicks in, affecting over 5 million people: all company directors, persons with significant control (PSCs), and members of LLPs. If you’re in one of those roles, the law now requires you to prove who you are before you can act in that capacity, file documents, or be recognized in Companies House as a director or PSC.

In this post, I’ll explain who is affected, the three ways you can comply, the practical problems many are already facing, the murkiness around fee disclosures among ACSPs, and how one provider stands out.

Who Needs to Verify Their Identity Under ECCTA

Here’s a summary of the scope and scale:

• Directors of UK registered companies — new and existing.
• Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) — including those defined as “relevant legal entities” (RLEs), which must nominate an individual officer for verification.
• Members of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs).
• Limited Partnerships (LPs), especially where general partners are legal entities.
• Those who file documents on behalf of companies (company secretaries, or any third party acting under authority).

Estimates suggest this law will apply to more than 5 million individuals across existing companies and LLPs once full enforcement takes effect. It’s one of the largest compliance demands UK directors and company controllers have ever faced. 

Key Dates & The Three Compliance Routes

When is this compulsory?

• 18 November 2025 is the critical date. From then, identity verification is legally required. 
• New directors and PSCs (appointed after that date) must verify before their appointment or incorporation. 
• Existing directors, members, and PSCs have a 12-month transition period tied to their company’s next confirmation statement after 18 November. 

How can you verify?

There are three main routes under the IDV regime:

1. Yourself, via the GOV.UK One Login service.
   • Online using the GOV.UK One Login portal or app.
   • Use of acceptable photo ID (UK passport, biometric passport, photocard driving licence, UK biometric residence permit or card, UK Frontier Worker permit).
   • Possibly security questions, proof of address. 
2. Post Office (in person verification).
   • Branches participating in in-branch IDV where photo ID is scanned and a photo is taken.
   • Useful if you don’t have the tech or face difficulties with the online route.
3. Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP).
   • These are accountants, notaries, solicitors, company formation agents etc., officially registered and supervised, who can verify identity, help with filings, etc.

Problems & Frictions People Are Already Facing

Even before the mandatory date, there are several real-world headaches. These are things many will find frustrating:

• Online / GOV.UK One Login failures:
  Some people’s passports/driving licences aren’t accepted; photo matching or biometric scans get rejected; security questions don’t match personal histories. If you’re non-resident, or your name or address history is complex, the digital route can be difficult.
• Post Office queues and availability:
  In-branch verification requires an appointment or visiting certain branches that offer the service. But many people report long waits, limited slots, or travel difficulties. For those far from service-centres, this is burdensome.
• ACSP confusion:
  Though some ACSPs do offer services now, finding one is often hard. Websites may list “we do IDV via ACSP” but don’t give pricing, don’t show sample timelines, or even require multiple phone calls to find out what the cost is.
• Lack of upfront transparency from many ACSPs:
  Many firms are reluctant to disclose fees. This makes comparison hard and increases the risk of hidden costs. For directors and PSCs under time pressure, that uncertainty adds stress.

ACSPs Who Don’t Provide Fee Quotes — Why It Matters

When seeking an ACSP, one of the first things people try to do is get a quote. But many providers do not publish or even supply these easily. Here’s why that’s a problem:

• You can’t budget or plan (especially important for small businesses or individuals).
• There’s fear about hidden fees later — maybe for document handling, or for “premium verification”.
• Lack of transparency can feel like a red flag; in the context of ECCTA, where legal compliance is required, you want an ACSP you can trust.

Notary Public London – Edward Young: A Clear Option

I dug into ACSPs, and here’s one firm that stands out for clarity: Notary Public London – Edward Young.

Bio & Background

Edward Young is a long-established notary in London with many years’ experience in document authentication, cross-border legal verification, and identity services.

His practice handles verification of ID documents, notarisation, and works with clients who need reliable, professional ACSP services.

Their approach is noted for being very upfront about what is required, transparent about fees in many cases, and offering options for different client categories.

• They provide clear process descriptions.
• They offer different service levels (e.g., in-person, online, expedited) depending on your preference.  Edward claims that, if you have your passport to hand, you can complete the online verificaiton in 5 minutes.    His firm then makes the filing. 
• They tend to explain what IDs will work, what the timeline is, etc. — avoiding the “call us for a fee” black-box approach some others use.
• They also have fixed fees of £125 plus VAT with discounts available to multiple verifications at the same company. 

Here is what Edward said about ECCTA and the new requirements
“Identity verification is going to be a big adjustment for company directors, and many are already feeling the disruption it will cause to their day-to-day responsibilities.

But it’s a necessary step. For too long, bogus directors and fraudulent filings have been able to slip through the system, damaging the integrity of the UK’s corporate register.

By making every director, PSC and LLP member prove who they are, Companies House is taking essential action to combat economic crime and restore trust.

Most directors I speak to recognise the importance of this reform, even if they’re concerned about the time and complexity involved. The key will be getting clear processes and professional support in place so compliance doesn’t become an unnecessary burden.”

Other ACSPs I Found (Fee Quote Disclosure Low or Unclear)

I found at least three other providers that claim ACSP status / verification services, but which do not clearly publish fee quotes (at least as of checking their websites). I’m not naming them here to avoid unfairness, but this is important: if you’re shopping, you’ll likely encounter firms where pricing is vague or has to be requested.

What You Should Do If You’re a Director, PSC, or LLP Member

1. Check your role and prepare now. Know whether you’re a director, PSC, member of an LLP, etc.
2. Gather required IDs in advance: biometric passport, photocard driving licence, residence permit, etc.
3. Try the GOV.UK route early — voluntary verification is open; doing it early may avoid delays and issues when it becomes mandatory.
4. If you prefer a professional route, contact ACSPs and explicitly ask for a full, written quote: breakdown of fees, timeline, what you get.
5. Watch your confirmation statement deadlines — you’ll need verified identity by the next confirmation statement after November 18, 2025.

Risks of Not Complying

Failing to verify your identity by the legal deadline carries serious consequences:

• You may be unable to act as a director or PSC legally. Firms may reject filings that don’t include the required personal-code.
• Company activities can be blocked (e.g. new filings, changes in directorships).
• Fines or financial penalties. In some cases, criminal offences or disqualification are possible. ECCTA gives powers to disqualify directors who persistently fail to comply.

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Conclusion

ECCTA’s identity verification requirements mark a big shake-up in UK company law. With over 5 million individuals set to be impacted — all directors, PSCs, LLP members — from 18 November 2025, compliance is no longer optional. The three routes of verification (GOV.UK One Login, Post Office in-person, or via ACSP) give options, but each has real friction points. Some ACSPs are being vague about fees, which adds confusion and risk.

If you want a provider who is clear and upfront, Notary Public London – Edward Young is one I found that stands out. With transparent process descriptions, clear ID requirements, and options for different levels of urgency, they offer a model of what ACSP service should be.

Written by Rupert McIntosh