Want to know how to verify my ID for Companies House without guessing what comes next? This step-by-step guide to verifying identity with Companies House explains TAH's process in plain English. It is for applicants who want TAH, an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, to manage the identity check and authorised-agent submission. The route begins with an online application; it does not begin by sending us a scan of your passport.
There are two ways through the TAH service: an online digital check on your phone, or an in-person/manual check with original documents. Both lead through the same seven stages: engagement and payment, application, identity check, TAH's compliance review, submission, your Companies House personal code and written completion confirmation. You can see the service outline on our Authorised Corporate Service Provider page.
The route choice comes after you start, not before you apply. Route A is the online/digital route: it uses an accepted document, a photograph of that document and a live selfie through a secure phone link. Route B is the in-person/manual route: a trained reviewer examines two original documents at an office appointment or scheduled video call. Whichever route you use, prepare the documents that apply to that route and make sure you can access the email address used in your application. This guide follows those Companies House identity verification steps in the order TAH handles them.
Start the application and choose your route
What's the very first step to verify my ID for Companies House?
If you use TAH, the very first step is to sign the engagement letter online and pay the fixed fee. That formally opens the case, and TAH opens it on the same working day. You then complete the online application with your personal and company details and confirm the documents you plan to use. You can begin with our online application when you are ready.
Do I need to upload my passport or ID documents to start the application?
No. There is no document upload needed to start. The opening stage is the application, electronic signature on the engagement letter and payment. Your documents are checked later, in the route you choose. This keeps the start simple: give the required application details first, then complete the digital or manual identity-check step with the right documents.
What happens after I sign the engagement letter and pay the fee?
TAH opens your case on the same working day and you complete the online application. If you select the online route, TAH manually initiates a TrustID guest link for you. If you select the manual route, you request an appointment at the Bedford or London–Stratford office through the site and TAH confirms it. The fixed fee is £125 all-inclusive for a UK-based director and £175 all-inclusive for a foreign or overseas director. It covers onboarding, the identity check, TAH's compliance review and the Companies House submission; see TAH's pricing for the route that fits you.
Complete the identity check
How does the online digital identity check work, step by step?
First, choose Route A: Online/Digital (IDVT) and complete the opening application, engagement letter and payment. Second, TAH manually starts your TrustID guest link. Third, open that secure link on your phone. Fourth, take a photograph of an accepted identity document and a live selfie. The digital check takes about 10 minutes. It can use a biometric or machine-readable passport, Irish passport card, UK/Channel Islands/Isle of Man/EU photocard driving licence, EU/Norway/Iceland/Liechtenstein biometric national ID card, UK BRP or BRC, or a UK Frontier Worker permit. After the check, TAH moves to its own 29-point compliance review.
How does the in-person / manual identity check work, step by step?
First, choose Route B: In-Person/Manual and complete the application, engagement letter and payment. Second, request an appointment at the Bedford or London–Stratford office, or arrange a scheduled video call. Third, have two original documents ready for a trained reviewer to examine. You can use two Group A documents, or one Group A document and one Group B document. Group A includes a non-biometric passport, EEA national identity card, UK or international photocard driving licence, UK BRP/BRC, HM Forces ID card or a UK/Channel Islands/Isle of Man firearms licence. Group B includes a bank or building-society statement, utility bill, council tax statement, mortgage statement, birth certificate, or marriage/civil-partnership certificate; proof-of-address documents must be dated within three months. If you live outside the UK, at least one document must be government-issued. Fourth, TAH carries out its 29-point compliance review.
What happens after my identity check is complete?
Once the digital or manual check is complete, TAH carries out its own 29-point compliance review. TAH then submits the Identity Verification Statement as your authorised agent. The next message about the personal code comes directly from Companies House to you, not through TAH. When the process is complete, TAH sends you written confirmation. For a wider outline of the service and the two routes, visit our ACSP service page.
Ready to start the process with the route that suits your documents?
Start your applicationReceive and use your personal code
How do I get my Companies House personal code?
After TAH has submitted the Identity Verification Statement, Companies House emails an 11-character personal code directly to the applicant. Use an email address that you can access yourself and keep an eye on it after the submission stage. TAH never sees, stores or handles this personal code. That is why the email comes from Companies House to you rather than being passed on by the reviewer.
What do I need to do with my personal code once I receive it?
Keep the personal code safe and follow the directions in the Companies House email. The code is personal to you: TAH does not receive it and cannot hold it for you. Keep access to the email address you used, as this is where Companies House sends the code. Do not expect the reviewer to forward the code or provide a copy; the seven-step process is deliberately set up so that the code goes straight from Companies House to the applicant. If you need help understanding the stages around your application, use our step-by-step guide or contact TAH through the application route.
How long does the whole process take from start to finish?
TAH opens a case on the same working day after the engagement letter is signed and the fee is paid. For Route A, the digital check itself takes about 10 minutes once you receive the TrustID link. Route B depends on arranging the office appointment or scheduled video call and having the correct original documents ready. After either check, the remaining stages are TAH's 29-point review, authorised-agent submission, the Companies House email containing your code and TAH's written confirmation. Starting before you need the code gives you room to complete each stage carefully.
Key takeaways
- Start with the online application, engagement letter and payment — not a document upload.
- TAH offers a phone-based digital route and a manual route using original documents.
- The fixed all-inclusive fee is £125 for a UK-based director and £175 for a foreign or overseas director.
- TAH completes a 29-point compliance review and submits the Identity Verification Statement as authorised agent.
- Companies House emails the 11-character personal code directly to you; TAH never sees or handles it.