If you’ve been a company director for any length of time, you’ll have noticed that dealing with Companies House has started to feel a bit different. More requirements, higher fees, new identity checks – and there’s more to come.
All of these changes trace back to one piece of legislation: the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, usually shortened to the ECCTA. It’s the most far-reaching reform of Companies House since company registration began in 1844, and it’s being rolled out in phases that will continue into 2027.
Rather than waiting for each change to catch you off guard, here’s a clear look at what the ECCTA actually does, what’s already in effect, and what you need to be preparing for.
What the ECCTA Is
For most of its history, Companies House functioned as a register and not much else. You submitted your paperwork, it got published, and that was largely the end of the process.
There was very little checking of whether the information being filed was accurate, complete, or even genuine. If someone submitted false director details or a fictitious registered office, Companies House had limited power to do anything about it.
The ECCTA changes that. It gives Companies House an active role in maintaining the quality of the register, with a set of new powers it’s never had before:
- Querying and rejecting filings: Companies House can now challenge submissions it considers incomplete, inconsistent, or suspicious, and refuse to accept them
- Removing false information: If data on the register is believed to be misleading or inaccurate, Companies House can take steps to remove it
- Imposing civil penalties: Rather than having to pursue criminal prosecutions for every offence under the Companies Act 2006, Companies House can now issue financial penalties directly
- Sharing data with law enforcement: Information held on the register can be shared more readily with agencies investigating economic crime
In practical terms, this means filings are subject to more scrutiny than they used to be. Directors should expect that inaccurate or incomplete submissions may be challenged or sent back, rather than simply accepted and published.
Identity Verification
Arguably the most talked-about change under the ECCTA is mandatory identity verification.
Since 18 November 2025, all new directors, persons with significant control (PSCs), and LLP members must verify their identity before their appointment can be registered at Companies House.
Existing directors and PSCs are in a 12-month transition period. Your specific deadline depends on your role and the timing of your company’s next confirmation statement, but the final backstop is November 2026. Here’s how the deadlines work in practice:
- Existing directors: must provide their personal code when filing the company’s next confirmation statement after 18 November 2025
- Existing PSCs who are also directors of the same company: must submit their code via a separate online service within 14 days of the confirmation statement date
- Existing PSCs who are not directors: must provide their code within the first 14 days of their birth month (e.g. if born in March, the window is 1–14 March 2026)
- New appointments (from 18 November 2025 onwards): must be verified before the appointment can be filed
Verification itself is a one-off process. You can do it directly through Companies House – either via the GOV.UK One Login app (which requires a biometric passport or UK driving licence) or in person at a Post Office.
Alternatively, you can verify through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), which includes regulated professionals like accountants and solicitors.
Once verified, you receive a personal code that’s linked to your identity. You’ll use this code across all your roles – so if you’re a director of three companies, you only verify once, but you’ll need to provide the code separately for each entity.
The key thing to understand is that without a verified identity, you won’t be able to file. New director appointments will be rejected, confirmation statements can’t be submitted, and Companies House has indicated it will begin compliance action against unverified individuals from late 2026. Getting this sorted now avoids a last-minute scramble.
Registered Office and Contact Details
These changes have been in force since March 2024, but they’re worth flagging because they affect how Companies House assesses your company’s information going forward.
Every company must now have a physical UK address as its registered office – PO boxes are no longer accepted. Companies House also has the power to change your registered office if it considers the address inappropriate (for example, if mail sent to the address is returned undelivered).
New companies have been required to provide a registered email address at incorporation since March 2024.
Existing companies must provide one as part of their next confirmation statement. This email address is not made public, but Companies House uses it for official communications – so it needs to be one that’s actively monitored.
If you’re unsure whether your current details meet the new requirements, it’s worth checking a few things:
- Registered office: Is it a genuine physical UK address where post can be reliably received?
- Registered email: Has one been provided, and is someone actually reading it?
- Director details: Are all current appointments accurately reflected on the register?
- PSC information: Is it up to date, and are all relevant individuals aware of their verification obligations?
Getting the basics right now means fewer problems when you come to file your next confirmation statement.
Higher Filing Fees
The ECCTA’s expanded powers need to be paid for, and because Companies House operates on a cost-recovery basis, that cost falls on the businesses using its services.
From 1 February 2026, several core filing fees increased:
- Digital incorporation: up from £50 to £100 (same-day service up from £78 to £156)
- Confirmation statement (digital): up from £34 to £50
- Confirmation statement (paper): up from £62 to £110
- Voluntary strike-off (digital): down from £33 to £13
The widening gap between digital and paper costs is deliberate. Companies House is actively incentivising digital filing, and the pricing now makes it very difficult to justify paper submissions on cost grounds alone.
If your business still files anything on paper, it’s worth reviewing whether switching to digital makes more sense.
The Failure to Prevent Fraud Offence
This one applies specifically to larger organisations, but it’s a notable part of the ECCTA nonetheless.
Since 1 September 2025, it’s been a criminal offence for a large organisation to fail to prevent fraud committed by an associated person – which includes employees, agents, and subsidiaries – where the fraud was intended to benefit the organisation.
A “large organisation” is one that meets at least two of the following: more than £36 million in turnover, more than £18 million in balance sheet assets, or more than 250 employees. The penalty for the offence is an unlimited fine, and the Serious Fraud Office has been vocal about its intention to pursue prosecutions.
The defence is straightforward in principle – you need to demonstrate that your organisation had reasonable fraud prevention procedures in place at the time of the offence.
What Directors Should Be Doing Now
The ECCTA isn’t a single deadline – it’s a rolling programme of changes.
Some are already in force, some are months away, and others won’t arrive until 2027. But the common thread is that Companies House expects more from the companies on its register, and the consequences of falling behind are becoming more serious.
Here’s a practical checklist:
- Complete identity verification as soon as possible – don’t wait for your confirmation statement deadline to approach
- Check your registered office is a physical UK address and that your registered email is up to date and monitored
- Review your PSC details to make sure they’re accurate and that all relevant individuals are aware of their verification obligations
- Start planning for the accounts changes arriving in 2027, especially if you currently file abridged or minimal accounts
- If you’re a larger company, review your fraud prevention procedures against the government guidance
How Double Point Can Help
The ECCTA involves many moving parts, and it can be difficult to keep track of what applies to your company and when.
At Double Point, we work with our clients to stay on top of these changes – from handling identity verification and confirmation statements through to preparing for the new accounts filing requirements.
If you’re unsure where you stand or want to make sure nothing has been missed, book a free consultation with us today.
We’ll talk through what’s relevant to your business and make sure you’re ready for what’s ahead.