What is an ACSP for Companies House?

An ACSP is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, also called a Companies House authorised agent. The firm must be registered with Companies House and supervised for anti-money laundering by a UK supervisory body. ACSPs can verify identities to the Companies House standard and submit verification online.

Is ACSP identity verification the same as bank KYC?

No. Companies House sets a separate identity verification standard. AML customer due diligence for banking or general client onboarding does not replace it. An ACSP must complete the Companies House steps and keep the required records.

What is a Companies House personal code?

After successful ACSP identity verification, Companies House emails the individual an 11-character personal code. They use it to connect verified identity to their director or PSC record. The code can be reused across roles and companies subject to Companies House rules.

Can a non-UK resident use an ACSP instead of GOV.UK One Login?

Yes. Non-UK residents often use an ACSP because GOV.UK One Login security questions may rely on UK financial history they do not have. Finstow verifies remotely when the Companies House standard allows, using approved identity documents.

Is Finstow a registered ACSP with Companies House?

Yes. Finstow is registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider with Companies House. You can confirm Finstow on the official ACSP register published by Companies House by searching the CSV list for FINSTOW LTD ACSP.

Guides

Corporate · Guide

ACSP Identity Verification

How Finstow verifies directors and people with significant control for Companies House, and what you need before filings go in.

Key dates

Mandatory identity verification and filing rules

Identity verification became mandatory for directors and PSCs from 18 November 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. From Spring 2026, only verified individuals or Authorised Corporate Service Providers will be able to file documents at Companies House at all.

New directors must verify before appointment or incorporation. Existing directors confirm verification at their next confirmation statement, within the 12-month transition that started on 18 November 2025. Existing PSCs must verify within 12 months of the same commencement date.

Finstow Corporate Services · Licensed UK accountancy and corporate services · AAT practice 1007717 · Registered Companies House ACSP

Last reviewed: 20 September 2026

Finstow on the Companies House ACSP register (open the CSV list and search FINSTOW LTD ACSP)

ACSP identity verification is how a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider confirms who a director or person with significant control (PSC) is, then tells Companies House the check met the identity verification standard. Finstow is a registered ACSP and completes this work for clients alongside formation and secretarial filings.

The rules above apply whether you verify yourself through GOV.UK One Login or use an ACSP. This guide focuses on the ACSP route, what Finstow does in practice, and why overseas directors often rely on a firm like Finstow rather than One Login alone.

What is ACSP identity verification?

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a business registered with Companies House as an authorised agent. The firm must be supervised by a UK anti-money laundering supervisory body. Accountants, solicitors and corporate service providers such as Finstow sit in that group when registered.

ACSP identity verification means the agent runs checks that meet the Companies House identity verification standard, then reports completion through the ACSP service. Companies House emails the individual an 11-character personal code. They use that code to connect verified identity to director or PSC records and to future filings.

The register can show a verification statement with the person's name, verification date, ACSP name, and the AML supervisory bodies behind the agent. That is intentional transparency, not an optional extra.

ACSP or GOV.UK One Login, which route should you use?

Individuals can verify free through the Verify your identity for Companies House service, which uses GOV.UK One Login. One Login may ask security questions drawn from your UK financial footprint, such as mortgages, loans or mobile contracts, or guide you through photo ID and Post Office routes depending on your answers.

That works well for many UK-resident directors with a long UK credit and address history. It is often frustrating or impossible for non-UK residents and for founders who have moved abroad but still control a UK company. If you cannot pass One Login's checks, you are not exempt from verification. You need another lawful route.

ACSP identity verification is the practical option in those cases. Finstow verifies remotely when the standard allows, using approved identity evidence rather than UK credit-file questions. That is why internationally active groups lean on an ACSP tied to their formation or secretarial provider instead of asking every overseas director to battle One Login alone.

You can still choose One Login if you qualify. Many clients use Finstow because verification sits in the same engagement as company formation, PSC mapping and confirmation statements.

How is Companies House identity verification different from AML KYC?

Banks and professional firms already run AML customer due diligence. Companies House identity verification is a separate standard with mandatory steps. GOV.UK states that AML checks alone do not satisfy it.

An ACSP must record how verification was done, including whether a person or identity document validation technology reviewed documents, which documents were used, and the completion date. Records stay for seven years. Companies House can request evidence and may suspend ACSP status if the standard is not met.

A bank KYC file does not replace ACSP identity verification. You still need the Companies House process finished before deadlines bite, even when onboarding with the same documents.

Who needs identity verification for Companies House?

Directors (and equivalent roles), PSCs, and ACSPs themselves must verify under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act reforms. Overseas directors of UK companies are in scope. So are PSCs who live abroad.

New directors must complete verification before appointment or incorporation. If you were already a director on 18 November 2025, you verify and provide your personal code through the company's next confirmation statement during the 12-month transition from that date. Existing PSCs must verify within 12 months of 18 November 2025.

From Spring 2026, unverified individuals will not be able to file at Companies House. Planning verification early avoids a last-minute block on appointments, confirmation statements, or PSC updates.

What happens when Finstow verifies your identity?

The steps below follow the same outcomes Companies House describes for ACSP verification, per Companies House guidance, but this is Finstow's client journey rather than a copy of the government page.

You provide Finstow with your full name, home address, and an email inbox you control. We tell you which identity documents we need under the verification standard. You send clear copies or complete our secure upload process. We review them against the standard, not merely against a generic KYC checklist. See Companies House guidance on verifying your identity for the underlying rules.

Once Finstow accepts your documents, we usually submit verification to Companies House within one UK business day. Complex cases or incomplete evidence take longer because we will not file a check we cannot support if Companies House asks for records.

Companies House emails your 11-character personal code to the address Finstow submitted. It often arrives within a few hours. Check spam and promotions folders before assuming failure. You use the code to connect verified identity to your director or PSC roles. The public register can then show a verification statement naming you, the date, Finstow as the ACSP, and our AML supervisory bodies.

Finstow keeps verification evidence for seven years and must produce it if Companies House requests it. That is a legal requirement for ACSPs, not an internal policy.

If your personal code email does not arrive

First, search junk, spam and quarantine folders. Codes come from Companies House systems, not Finstow's domain, so filters sometimes hide them.

If nothing appears after a reasonable wait, email Finstow at enquiries@finstow.com with the verified person's full name, company name if relevant, and the date Finstow submitted verification. We check the email address on the ACSP submission, correct typos if needed, and liaise with Companies House to resend the code when the address was wrong.

Do not start a duplicate verification with another ACSP unless Companies House or Finstow tells you to. Duplicate submissions create confusion on the register.

What documents are typically used for ACSP identity verification?

Finstow follows the published Companies House standard. The exact pair of documents depends on nationality, residence, and whether checks are manual or technology-assisted.

Identity documents used in ACSP identity verification
Document type	When it is required
Passport (Group A identity document)	Common primary document for UK and overseas directors and PSCs; must meet validity and image quality rules.
Biometric residence permit or national ID with biometrics	Used where applicable for non-UK nationals resident in the UK or with listed EU or EEA documents.
Second document from the published groups	The standard requires two documents in total, with rules on pairing biometric and non-biometric evidence.
Address evidence	Required when the standard or Finstow's checklist needs proof of home address separate from the ID document.
Alternative routes in GOV.UK guidance	Used when primary documents are unavailable; Finstow confirms feasibility before you rely on an exceptional route.

Send the documents Finstow requests for your case. A bank onboarding pack rarely matches the Companies House list without gaps.

Why ACSP identity verification matters for company formation

Verification now runs alongside UK company formation and every later filing. If a director or PSC misses a deadline, Companies House can block appointments and statements. Banks still expect clean register data.

New incorporations should plan verification before directors are appointed. Existing groups often batch PSC verification ahead of the 12-month window that began on 18 November 2025.

Finstow connects verification to Company Formation & Structuring, Company Secretarial, and Registered Office & Agent services under our Corporate pillar.

Common problems with ACSP identity verification

Wrong email address for the personal code

Companies House sends the code to the email the ACSP submits. A typo means delays until the ACSP corrects details or Companies House resends the code. Use an inbox the director or PSC monitors.

Assuming AML files are enough

A firm may hold standard KYC from onboarding but never complete the Companies House standard or submit verification. The register will not show verified identity until the correct process finishes.

Using a ceased or non-registered agent

Only registered ACSPs can submit verification through the authorised agent service. Check the public ACSP list and the ceased or suspended list before instructing an agent.

Weak records at the ACSP

Seven-year retention is mandatory for ACSP verifications. Poor record keeping creates regulatory risk for the agent and uncertainty for the client if Companies House audits the check.

Choosing company formation services UK firms with ACSP capability

When comparing company formation services UK providers, ask whether they are registered ACSPs, whether they verify directors and PSCs in-house, and how they handle overseas clients remotely.

Ask how verification records are stored, who you contact if a personal code fails to arrive, and whether verification is bundled with formation or billed separately. Finstow is a registered ACSP with Companies House and publishes its listing on the official ACSP register for clients who want independent confirmation.

Where Finstow fits

Finstow is a licensed accountancy and corporate services firm in London and a registered Authorised Corporate Service Provider with Companies House. We complete ACSP identity verification for directors and PSCs as part of company formation, appointments, and ongoing secretarial work.

Verification stays with the team that maintains PSC maps, statutory registers, and filing calendars. We verify UK and overseas individuals where remote checks meet the standard, submit to Companies House, and support you if personal codes go missing.

To arrange verification, contact Finstow with each person's name, role, and target filing dates. Confirm Finstow's ACSP listing on the Companies House ACSP register if your compliance team needs third-party proof.

Frequently asked questions

When did identity verification become mandatory for directors and PSCs?: Identity verification became mandatory from 18 November 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. New directors verify before appointment or incorporation. Existing directors verify via their next confirmation statement within the 12-month transition from that date. Existing PSCs verify within 12 months of 18 November 2025.
What is an ACSP for Companies House?: An ACSP is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, also called a Companies House authorised agent. The firm must be registered with Companies House and supervised for anti-money laundering by a UK supervisory body. ACSPs can verify identities to the Companies House standard and submit verification online.
Is ACSP identity verification the same as bank KYC?: No. Companies House sets a separate identity verification standard. AML customer due diligence for banking or general client onboarding does not replace it. An ACSP must complete the Companies House steps and keep the required records.
What is a Companies House personal code?: After successful ACSP identity verification, Companies House emails the individual an 11-character personal code. They use it to connect verified identity to their director or PSC record. The code can be reused across roles and companies subject to Companies House rules.
Can a non-UK resident use an ACSP instead of GOV.UK One Login?: Yes. Non-UK residents often use an ACSP because GOV.UK One Login security questions may rely on UK financial history they do not have. Finstow verifies remotely when the Companies House standard allows, using approved identity documents.
Is Finstow a registered ACSP with Companies House?: Yes. Finstow is registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider with Companies House. You can confirm Finstow on the official ACSP register published by Companies House by searching the CSV list for FINSTOW LTD ACSP.