Companies House ID Verification: Cost, Time and Common Mistakes FAQ

Cost and timing are usually the first practical questions once you know you need Companies House identity verification. The choice is between the government’s free self-service route and a paid Authorised Corporate Service Provider service. This FAQ explains TAH’s fixed fees, what happens in the process and the mistakes worth avoiding.

TAH is a Companies House Authorised Corporate Service Provider. You can start an application online, then complete the engagement letter and payment before the identity check begins. If you want the broader route comparison first, see our ACSP vs GOV.UK One Login article.

Cost and route choice

How much does it cost to verify my identity for Companies House?

TAH’s all-inclusive fixed fee is £125 for a UK-based director and £175 for a foreign or overseas director. The difference reflects the two service categories. You can see the same figures and choose how to begin on the service and pricing page.

The fee covers onboarding, the identity check through TrustID or a manual review, TAH’s compliance review and the Companies House submission. It is a service fee for a supervised firm to manage those steps; it is not a separate charge for each point in the process.

There are no document uploads required simply to start. First complete the application, e-sign the engagement letter and pay the fixed fee. TAH then initiates the appropriate identity-check route: a TrustID guest link for the digital route, or an appointment request for the manual route.

Is verifying through GOV.UK One Login really free?

Yes. GOV.UK One Login is the government’s free, self-service identity verification route. It is distinct from using an ACSP, which charges for its own verification and submission service. Companies House describes One Login as the direct route and explains that an ACSP may help people who need a wider range of accepted documents (Companies House guidance).

The routes are different ways of completing identity verification. One Login is suitable for people who can complete the government’s self-service checks. An ACSP option is available if you prefer support through the process or need the document range available through an authorised provider.

With TAH, the process includes a 29-point compliance review and an authorised submission after the identity check. Read the ACSP service overview if you want to understand what the fixed fee covers before applying.

How long the process takes

How long does the whole verification process usually take?

The digital identity check itself usually takes about 10 minutes. That is the phone-based check where you photograph accepted ID and take a live selfie. It is useful to separate that short check from the whole end-to-end process, which includes the application and TAH’s review and submission steps.

TAH’s seven-step process is: sign the engagement letter online and pay the fixed fee; complete the online application; complete the TrustID digital check or attend the manual check; pass TAH’s 29-point compliance review; have TAH submit the Identity Verification Statement as authorised agent; receive the 11-character personal code directly from Companies House; then receive TAH’s written confirmation.

A case is opened the same working day once the engagement letter is signed and the fee is paid. Companies House emails the personal code directly to the applicant, so TAH does not see or handle it. Start through the online application when you are ready to begin.

If you need a manual check, the identity-review appointment is arranged separately. You request an appointment at the Bedford or London–Stratford office through the site, and TAH confirms it. That practical scheduling step is a reason to leave sensible time rather than treating the 10-minute digital check as a promise that every route will take the same time.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

What's the most common mistake directors make with ID verification?

Companies House does not publish a ranked list of directors’ mistakes. The most important avoidable mistake to guard against is treating the identity check as the whole legal job. Verification gives you a Companies House personal code, but a verification statement that supplies that code also has to be filed.

The two steps are set out in Companies House’s approach to mandatory identity verification: complete identity verification to get the personal code, then file the verification statement. Completing only the first step does not satisfy the requirement (Companies House non-compliance guidance).

TAH’s process is designed around that distinction. After the check and compliance review, TAH submits the Identity Verification Statement as authorised agent. The personal code then comes directly from Companies House to you. Our step-by-step guide explains where this fits into the overall journey.

Can I fix a mistake after I've already submitted my verification?

Do not ignore it or assume it will resolve itself. Contact TAH promptly with the details so the status can be checked and the next step explained. Keep the information you used in your application to hand, including which route you chose and any confirmation you have received.

The practical aim is to raise the point before a relevant deadline creates unnecessary pressure. TAH’s written confirmation is sent once its process is complete, while the Companies House personal code is emailed directly to the applicant. Those are useful records when explaining where you think an error may have occurred.

If the issue is about the legal requirement rather than a simple application detail, remember that identity verification and filing the verification statement are separate steps (Companies House non-compliance guidance). Use the application route or the contact details on the site to bring the issue to TAH quickly.

Should I verify early, or wait until closer to my deadline?

Verify early where you can. It gives you room for the engagement letter, application, identity check, 29-point review and authorised submission without a deadline creating avoidable pressure. It also gives you time to arrange a manual appointment if the digital route is not suitable.

Identity verification became mandatory from 18 November 2025. The transition period is tied to each company’s confirmation statement date, rather than being one single date for every existing company (Companies House rollout announcement). Waiting does not make the process shorter; it only reduces the time available to complete the relevant steps carefully.

If you are deciding which route to use, compare the service on the ACSP page with the government option, then start early enough to work through the route that matches your documents and circumstances.

Plan the process, not just the check

It helps to separate the short identity check from the service as a whole. A supported digital check usually takes about 10 minutes, but it is only one point in TAH’s seven-step process. Before it, there is the engagement letter, fixed-fee payment and online application. After it, there is the 29-point compliance review, the authorised submission, the Companies House personal-code email and TAH’s written confirmation.

That sequence explains why an all-inclusive fixed fee covers more than the moment you photograph an ID document. It covers onboarding, the identity check by TrustID or manual review, TAH’s compliance review and the Companies House submission. The service and pricing page sets out the £125 fee for a UK-based director and the £175 fee for a foreign or overseas director.

There are two practical paths after you pay. For an online route, TAH manually initiates a TrustID guest link for you. For an in-person route, you request an appointment at the Bedford or London–Stratford office through the site and TAH confirms it. The process is therefore most efficient when you have already decided which route matches your documents and can complete the requested step without delay.

Keep an eye on the two separate outcomes. TAH submits the Identity Verification Statement as authorised agent, but Companies House sends the 11-character personal code directly to you. TAH never sees or handles that code. Keep the email safely: it is part of the record that the verification process has produced for you.

The same distinction matters when you are checking whether the legal requirement is complete. Getting a personal code is step one. Filing the verification statement that supplies it is step two. Companies House’s guidance makes clear that completing only the first step does not satisfy the law (Companies House non-compliance guidance).

Starting early is not about adding urgency. It is simply the sensible way to leave room for the route you need, the review, and any question you may need to raise. If you are ready to proceed, start your application; if you are still comparing routes, read the step-by-step guide first.

Key takeaways

• TAH charges a £125 all-inclusive fixed fee for a UK-based director and £175 for a foreign or overseas director.
• GOV.UK One Login is free, while an ACSP fee pays for the authorised provider’s service and support.
• The digital identity check usually takes about 10 minutes, but the full process includes seven steps and a 29-point review.
• Do not stop at obtaining a personal code: the verification statement must also be filed.
• Starting early gives you more time to choose the right route, arrange any manual check and resolve questions before a deadline.