Can I Still File If a Director Is Not Verified?
If a company director has not completed Companies House identity verification, the company may be unable to submit certain filings. The most important restriction currently affects the confirmation statement, which Companies House will not accept until all relevant directors have completed identity verification and the required personal codes are provided.
Can You File a Confirmation Statement?
No, not successfully.
Before a company can file its confirmation statement, all directors must have verified their identity and have their Companies House personal codes available. The personal code for each director must be provided as part of the confirmation statement.
If even one director has not completed the required verification, Companies House will not accept the confirmation statement.
What If the Director Is Waiting to Verify?
The director should complete identity verification as soon as possible rather than submitting the confirmation statement without their verification details.
Identity verification can generally be completed directly through GOV.UK One Login or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider where appropriate.
Once verification is completed, the director receives their Companies House personal code, which can then be used for the company's confirmation statement.
What About Other Company Filings?
The current identity verification rules do not mean that every Companies House filing requires every director's personal code.
For example, personal codes are not currently required for annual accounts simply because they are being filed. However, additional filing restrictions are being introduced as the Companies House identity verification reforms are phased in.
This means companies should not assume that an unverified director will only affect the confirmation statement indefinitely.
What If There Are Several Directors?
If a company has multiple directors, every relevant director must complete the required identity verification.
For example, if a company has three directors and two have verified but one has not, the company cannot successfully file its confirmation statement until the outstanding director has completed the requirement.
If an accountant or company formation agent is filing on the company's behalf, the directors will need to provide their personal codes to the person handling the filing.
What If the Director Cannot Verify?
If the director is having difficulty completing the verification process, they should investigate the reason rather than allowing the deadline to pass.
Common issues include incorrect personal information on the Companies House register, problems with identity documents or difficulties using the GOV.UK One Login process.
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider can provide an alternative verification route where appropriate, including for overseas directors.
Fraser Bond Can Help
Fraser Bond can support companies dealing with Companies House identity verification problems, unverified directors and filing difficulties.
Support can include reviewing the company's position, helping identify the appropriate verification route and assisting with outstanding Companies House compliance requirements.
If a confirmation statement is approaching its deadline and one of the directors has not yet verified, it is important to resolve the issue before attempting to file.
