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Companies House Identity Verification and PSC Rules for Directors

Identity verification is now a legal requirement for directors and people with significant control (PSCs). The assistant explains who must verify, how, and how to record your company's PSCs.

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Answers are written by a language model solely from this base's documents, with numbered sources. They can be wrong and aren't legal, medical or financial advice: check the sources before any important decision.

Who must verify, and how

Directors, PSCs and Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs) must verify their identity, usually only once. You can use the GOV.UK One Login service (by app, security questions or a participating Post Office) or ask an ACSP such as an accountant or solicitor.

You then receive a Companies House personal code. Existing directors give it in the next confirmation statement, which is refused until all directors are verified; new directors give it on appointment or at incorporation.

Identifying people with significant control

A PSC is usually anyone holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, able to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise able to control the company. Holdings are recorded in bands: over 25% up to 50%, more than 50% and less than 75%, and 75% or more.

If there is no PSC you must still say so, because PSC information cannot be blank. Each PSC has a 14 day period to provide their personal code.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I keep acting as a director without verifying?

It is an offence, and the company and all its directors may also be committing one. You may face prosecution and a fine, or a financial penalty.

Is it safe to share my personal code?

Share it only with people you trust to file for you, and keep it as secure as your HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference.

What if a possible PSC ignores my requests?

Send them a notice. Not responding within one calendar month, or giving false information, is a criminal offence punishable by a 2 year prison sentence, a fine or both.

For developers and agents

Embed / API / MCP

Connect this base to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT or your own app. Each API or MCP request costs €0.10, charged to your Kopik credit (not charged if nothing is found). You need an API key: create one from your dashboard.

MCP for your agents

This base's MCP server URL (tools ask_base and search_base):

MCP URL
https://kopik.io/api/mcp?base=uk-limited-company-directors-companies-house
Claude Code, Cursor and other clients
Claude Code
claude mcp add --transport http kopik-uk-limited-company-directors-companies-house "https://kopik.io/api/mcp?base=uk-limited-company-directors-companies-house" --header "Authorization: Bearer kpk_…"
JSON config (mcpServers)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kopik-uk-limited-company-directors-companies-house": {
      "url": "https://kopik.io/api/mcp?base=uk-limited-company-directors-companies-house",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer kpk_…"
      }
    }
  }
}

REST API for your apps

mode is "answer" (written answer + sources) or "passages" (raw passages only). Add an optional maxPriceCents to cap the price: if the base costs more, the call is refused and nothing is charged.

curl
curl -X POST https://kopik.io/api/v1/bases/uk-limited-company-directors-companies-house/query \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer kpk_…" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"question": "Your question here", "mode": "answer"}'

Getting started

  1. Create a key in your dashboard and top up your credit.
  2. Replace kpk_… with your key.
  3. Full details (responses, errors, JS and Python examples): developer docs.