July 8, 2025 What is a Companies House Personal Code and What to do with it
As part of the UK government’s ongoing efforts to improve corporate transparency and tackle economic crime, Companies House is introducing a new identity verification requirement for individuals. Once verified, these individuals will receive a unique identifier called a Companies House Personal Code.
In this blog, we’ll explain what the Personal Code is, who needs one, how to get it, what you’ll need to do with it, and why it’s important to keep it safe.
What is a Companies House Personal Code?
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 aims to increase trust and transparency in the Companies House register. Under this new regime, anyone who owns, manages, or controls a company, or similar organisation, must verify their identity. After successfully completing this process, individuals receive a Personal Code, which they’ll need to use for certain legal duties.
The Companies House Personal Code functions similarly to a National Insurance number or Unique Taxpayer Reference in that it is a unique identifier assigned to an individual rather than to a company. Due to its importance, the Personal Code must be kept confidential and shared only with trusted colleagues or professional advisors.
Who Needs a Companies House Personal Code?
In the majority of instances, the requirement to obtain a Companies House Personal Code applies to company directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs). It also extends to individuals in partnerships who perform roles equivalent to directors, such as members of limited liability partnerships. Additionally, company secretaries and any persons responsible for submitting filings to Companies House must obtain a Personal Code.
How Do You Get a Personal Code?
There are three main ways to verify your identity and get your Personal Code:
- Online through the official Gov.uk website
- In person at a participating Post Office
- Via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), like Elemental
You’ll need an accepted form of identification to complete the verification check. To find out more about how we can help please visit here.
What Will You Need to Do With Your Personal Code and When?
What you need to do with your Personal Code depends on your role and when you started it:
- Directors currently in position: From autumn 2025, you must provide your Personal Code when filing your company’s next confirmation statement.
- Directors appointed after autumn 2025: You’ll need to include your Personal Code when filing your appointment or when incorporating a new company.
- Persons with Significant Control (PSCs): Starting in autumn 2025, you will also be required to provide your Personal Code to Companies House to link your verified identity to your role.
Once the Personal Code system is fully operational from autumn 2025, you will not be able to file key documents such as confirmation statements or appointment forms without your Personal Code. It will also be necessary to provide the code when incorporating new organisations or updating existing roles.
This process ensures that verified identities are correctly connected to company records, meeting the legal obligations set out under the new verification regime. Companies House will provide further guidance once the functionality to submit codes and link records becomes available.
Do You Need More Than One Personal Code?
No. Each person will have just one Personal Code. It’s unique to you and doesn’t change with your employer or company.
How Is the Personal Code Issued?
Companies House sends the Personal Code directly to the individual’s email address provided during verification. Each email address can only be registered to one person.
How Should Organisations Manage and Store Personal Codes?
These codes are confidential and must be treated like a personal signature. They should be:
- obtained directly by the verified individual
- stored securely in systems with restricted access and audit trails
- maintained centrally to manage filings and updates effectively
Elemental’s platform allows secure, individual-level storage, controlled access, and tracking of code usage and status.
Organisations should regularly review verification status to identify any outstanding Personal Codes well before filing deadlines or appointments.
Is the Personal Code Public?
No. The code itself is private and not published. However, once the verification regime is active, the public register will show that your identity has been verified.
How Elemental Can Help
As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), Elemental can handle identity verification on your behalf and help obtain a Companies House Personal Code.
We also offer tools to help you manage and store Personal Codes safely, reducing the risk of misuse and ensuring compliance when the new regime goes live in autumn 2025.
To find out more, visit our Identity Verification Service page or get in touch with our team.
