Missed Your Companies House ID Verification Deadline? FAQ on What to Do Next

A missed Companies House identity verification deadline needs attention, but it is not a reason to stop. This FAQ explains the late-ID-verification position in simple English: what can happen, what may block your company and what practical action to take next. The important distinction is that identity verification and filing a verification statement are separate legal steps. Completing an identity check gives you a personal code, but the code must also be supplied in the required verification statement (Companies House's published non-compliance approach).

The questions below focus on the consequences after a deadline has passed. They do not replace the need to bring the position up to date. Companies House can respond with measures ranging from a default letter and financial penalties to annotating the public register, referral to The Insolvency Service, prosecution and striking-off. The response is described as fair and proportionate, rather than an automatic prosecution in every late case (GOV.UK's published non-compliance approach; Companies House on proportionate enforcement). If you need a clear explanation of how the identity-check route works before starting, read our step-by-step guide or see TAH's Authorised Corporate Service Provider service.

What a missed deadline can mean

What happens the moment my verification deadline passes?

Once the relevant deadline has passed, you may be in non-compliance. It is unlawful for a director to act as a director without completing identity verification, and that can be a criminal offence under section 167M of the Companies Act 2006 rather than a late-filing fee. A company can also be in breach if a director remains unverified, and a PSC who does not verify may commit an offence in their own right. Companies House can use a default letter, financial penalties, a public-register annotation, referral to The Insolvency Service, prosecution and ultimately striking-off as part of its enforcement toolkit (GOV.UK guidance on mandatory identity-verification non-compliance).

Can I still verify my identity after missing my deadline?

You should take steps to complete identity verification rather than leave the position unresolved. The legal process still requires two things: a successful identity check that gives you a Companies House personal code, and a verification statement supplying that code. An identity check on its own does not satisfy the requirement. Completing the outstanding steps is therefore the practical next move even though the original date has passed. If you use TAH, you can start an application for its identity-check and authorised-agent service; the relevant verification statement must still be completed using your personal code (Companies House's published approach).

Will missing my deadline block my company's confirmation statement?

Yes. Companies House will not accept a confirmation statement while any director remains unverified. Since 18 November 2025, confirmation statements are filed with each director's personal code and verification statement. That means one unverified director can block the whole company filing, not just their own record. It can therefore turn an individual verification issue into an immediate company filing problem (GOV.UK guidance on meeting the identity-verification standard).

Does Companies House prosecute everyone who misses their deadline?

No. Companies House says it applies a fair and proportionate approach to enforcement, so a late case is not automatically a prosecution. That does not mean there are no consequences: default letters, financial penalties, register annotation, referral, prosecution and striking-off remain available measures. Its guidance says that three or more offences over a five-year period makes prosecution more likely; this is a guideline, not a fixed rule (Companies House on its fair and proportionate approach; the published enforcement guidance).

Extenuating circumstances and immediate action

Is there any way to get more time if I have a genuine reason?

There is a formal route for genuine extenuating circumstances, called a representation. It must be submitted before the deadline. If Companies House accepts it, enforcement action is typically paused for up to two months while the issue is resolved. The decision on the representation is final. This is a route for a genuine reason, not a general extension after the deadline has already passed. If your date has already gone, you should concentrate on completing the two required verification steps rather than rely on a representation that needed to be made earlier (GOV.UK guidance on representations and enforcement).

What should I do right now if I've already missed my deadline?

Act promptly to complete the two required steps: identity verification to obtain your personal code, followed by the verification statement that supplies it. Do not assume that completing only the identity check ends the matter. If you want TAH to handle the identity-check and authorised-agent stage, use the application page; its route and fixed-fee details are on the service pricing page. The aim is to remove the unverified status that can trigger enforcement and block the company's confirmation statement (Companies House's non-compliance guidance; GOV.UK identity-verification guidance).

What can appear on the public record

Does missing my deadline show up publicly on the register?

It can. Annotating the public register to show non-compliance is one of the measures available to Companies House. The published enforcement toolkit does not say that every late case receives an annotation, so it should not be treated as automatic. But it is a real possible consequence alongside a default letter, penalties, referral or prosecution. Resolving the verification issue quickly is the practical way to avoid leaving an unverified position unresolved (Companies House's published enforcement toolkit).

If your company is at risk of a blocked confirmation statement, focus on getting the identity step completed and then using the personal code in the verification statement. For background on the rollout timetable, see our Companies House transition deadline guide. For more detail on the consequences, read our non-compliance penalties article.

There is no benefit in treating a missed deadline as merely a reminder that can wait. The published approach distinguishes the personal-code stage from the verification-statement stage, and it gives Companies House several possible ways to address non-compliance. A company with an unverified director also faces the immediate filing issue: its confirmation statement will not be accepted until every director is verified. The most useful response is therefore to finish the verification route, keep your personal code available and make sure the verification statement uses it (Companies House's non-compliance guidance; GOV.UK guidance on confirmation statements).

For the company, the immediate priority is to remove the obstacle to its confirmation statement. Companies House will not accept that filing while any director remains unverified, so the position cannot be solved by dealing with only one part of the requirement. Obtain the personal code through a successful identity check, make sure the verification statement supplies it, and then address the blocked company filing. This sequence follows the two-step requirement set out in the published guidance (Companies House's non-compliance approach; GOV.UK guidance on confirmation statements).

Key takeaways

• Missing a verification deadline can leave a director, PSC and company in a non-compliant position.
• An unverified director can prevent Companies House from accepting the company’s confirmation statement.
• Companies House does not prosecute every late case, but it has a wide enforcement toolkit.
• A genuine representation must be made before the deadline and, if accepted, can pause enforcement for up to two months.
• Complete both required steps: obtain the personal code through identity verification and supply it in the verification statement.