Contractor Limited Company ID Verification Guide

If you are an IT contractor, consultant or freelancer working through your own limited company, Companies House identity verification applies to you. As the director and usually the main shareholder, you hold both roles that must verify under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. If you don't verify, your company's confirmation statement cannot be filed, and that affects your ability to keep trading and invoicing clients.

This guide is written for one-person and two-person contractor companies. It covers what you need to do, when, and how to get it done quickly without taking time away from client work. For the general rules that apply to every director, see our director identity verification requirements.

Why Contractors Must Verify Twice Over (But Only Do It Once)

A typical contractor company has one person in two roles:

Director: you run the company, so you must verify and provide your Personal Code with the next confirmation statement.
Person with significant control: holding more than 25% of the shares makes you a PSC. PSCs provide their code within the first 14 days of their birth month. See PSC verification explained.

You only verify once. The same Personal Code links to both roles, and to any other company you are involved with. If a spouse or partner holds shares, check whether they are also a PSC; our shareholder guide explains the thresholds.

Contractor Limited Company Verification Deadlines

Existing directors must verify by the time the company files its next confirmation statement, within the transition period ending on 17 November 2026. As a PSC, your deadline depends on your birth month. In practice, most contractors should verify now rather than work out which date comes first.

If you miss it, Companies House can refuse filings, and failing to verify is an offence for the individual. Our guide on what happens if you don't verify covers the consequences. For a contractor, a filing problem can also cause difficulties with agency onboarding and client due diligence, which often check that the company is in good standing.

The Real Cost of Doing It Yourself

The GOV.UK route has no fee, but contractors bill by the day. If the app rejects your document, or the security questions don't match because you moved recently, you can lose hours trying again or have to make a Post Office trip during working hours. Our verification cost guide compares the options in detail.

Why Contractors Choose CorpAssist

Your time is billable. CorpAssist takes about 10 minutes of it:

A 10-minute online form from your laptop, done between client calls
No app, NFC chip scan or Post Office visit
A compliance officer reviews your application first, so errors are fixed rather than rejected
Works if you are contracting abroad: passports from 190+ countries accepted and no UK phone number needed
Fast Track processed within 24 hours when a confirmation statement is due
One fee from £29.99 + VAT covers you as director and PSC, and any other companies you hold roles in
Free resubmission if a document needs to be replaced

Start Verification Now See How It Works

How to Get It Done This Week

Check your confirmation statement date on the Companies House register. See our confirmation statement guide.
Have your passport or UK photocard driving licence ready, plus three years of address history.
Complete the CorpAssist form and upload your document. Choose Fast Track if your filing date is close.
Give your Personal Code to your accountant so they can include it with the confirmation statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do contractors with a limited company need Companies House ID verification?

Yes. If you trade through your own limited company, you are a director and almost certainly a person with significant control (PSC). Both roles require identity verification under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

I am the only director and shareholder. Do I verify twice?

No. You verify once and receive one Personal Code, which covers both your director appointment and your PSC entry. The timing for providing it can differ between the two roles, so check both.

My spouse is a shareholder in my company. Do they need to verify?

Only if they are a director or hold more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or otherwise have significant control. A spouse holding 50% of the shares is usually a PSC and must verify.

Can my accountant verify my identity for me?

Your accountant can file on your behalf only if they are an ACSP and you have verified. Verification itself must be completed by you, with your own documents. Many contractors verify through an ACSP service such as CorpAssist and then give the Personal Code to their accountant.

Is verification a business expense?

A verification fee paid for your role as director of your company is generally treated as a company expense. Confirm the treatment with your accountant.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. CorpAssist is an independent commercial service and is not Companies House or GOV.UK. We facilitate identity verification through a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider. Source: GOV.UK identity verification guidance.

Last verified: September 2026