By Gil Rosen, Adv.

JST&Co.’s Gil Rosen, who is also qualified and licensed to practice as a solicitor in England & Wales and regularly advises UK and Israeli based clients on English corporate and commercial law matters explains about the new identity verification (IDV) regime being introduced for English companies.

From November 18th, 2025, UK company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) must verify their identity with Companies House. This will also be the case for directors and PSCs who are not resident in the UK, including those based in Israel. This reform is part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act and is aimed at increasing corporate transparency and preventing fraud. From April 8th 2025, individuals have been able to voluntarily verify their identity with Companies House via GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) under the new IDV regime.

Each director will receive a unique Companies House personal code once verified, and this code must be used when submitting filings such as confirmation statements, director appointments and share allocations. If a director fails to have their identity verified, the company may be unable to file and the director could even face disqualification.

Verification Methods

There are two ways to verify identity:

* Online via the GOV.UK One Login portal – available to directors with an accepted ID, including biometric passports. Israelis who need to verify their ID may use their Israeli biometric passports.

* Through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) – a UK-based accountant, solicitor, or company agent who is registered and supervised under UK anti-money-laundering regulations and approved by Companies House to act as an ACSP.

How I Can Help

Until now, a company was able to authorise anyone to file for it at Companies House and indeed I have provided this service to many clients over the years. However, as of November 18, 2025 only the directors themselves or ACSPs, who mut be based in the UK may file with Companies House.

Logistically, this makes filing necessary reports trickier for companies whose directors are not based in the UK. I can assist Israeli based directors of English companies by guiding them through the verification process. Thereafter, I will be able to complete the various reports that must be submitted to Companies House in the same manner that I have for years and I can then instruct the director on how to submit the filings, or where directors prefer, I will gladly refer them to appropriate ACSPs in the UK to take care of the filing.

If you are an Israel based director or owner of an English company, now is the time to prepare. Contact me for guidance on verification, submissions of reports to Companies House and for full support with your English company law requirements.