Once registered as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), third-party providers will be able to complete identity verifications on behalf of their clients for Companies House. It’s the responsibility of each ACSP to make sure they meet the Companies House identity verification standard when completing verifications.
If you’ve registered as an ACSP and plan to offer identity verification, consider how you'll advertise your services so that people can easily find you.
How often does identity verification need to be completed?
Identity verification typically only needs to be completed once. Companies House may ask a director to verify their again if there’s reasonable cause to believe the information or evidence provided was:
- Misleading
- False
- deceptive
If they change their agent or accountant, they do not need to verify again.
Once registered, can an ACSP outsource the completion of identity verification checks to a third party?
Yes, you can outsource identity verification to a third party, but the ACSP will still be responsible for making sure the checks meet Companies House requirements.
ACSPs should check what evidence they need to provide to Companies House when they submit a verification statement. They should also keep records so that evidence can be supplied and checked on request.
If a client verifies their identity directly with Companies House using GOV.UK One Login, how can the ACSP confirm that they’ve completed the process?
Anyone who verifies directly through GOV.UK One Login will receive a Companies House personal code. They’ll need to use their personal code when filing information with Companies House to prove they have completed identity verification.
They’ll be able to view the code in their Companies House account and can then choose to share it with their ACSP.