Whether you choose to set up your new company with Companies House or through a formation agent such as Uniwide Formations, you will need to provide proof of your identity. In this article, we will explain whether you need to provide proof of ID, when you will need to provide your proof of ID, the law relating to proof of ID, and the type of documents that are acceptable as proof of ID.
Do I need to provide proof of my identity to register a company in the UK?
Yes, regardless of whether you choose to register your company through a formation agent or with Companies House directly, you will need to provide documents to prove your identity. This is a legal requirement under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
Without proving your identity, you will not be able to set up a new company, and your application will be refused. The good news is that proving your identity is now quicker and easier than ever, as we will explain later in this article.
What does the law say about proving my identity?
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 states the identity of proposed officers and persons with significant control must have their identity verified. Section 43 states, “An individual must not act as a director of a company unless the individual’s identity is verified”. The law requires that a verification statement must be provided by the authorised corporate service provider confirming that it has verified the identity of the applicant in accordance with the regulations.
The law also makes it clear that not meeting this requirement may mean that an offence is committed by the company and every officer of the company who is “in default”. As such, this is a legal requirement that cannot be overlooked or bypassed.
Why are proof of identity checks required when setting up a company?
Proof of identity checks are mandatory when setting up a company to reduce the potential for fraud and improve transparency, trust and accuracy of information on the Companies House register. The checks are part of routing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know-Your-Client (KYC) checks that apply to everyone. KYC is a compulsory process requiring financial institutions and businesses to verify the identity of their customers. It also requires those businesses to monitor the financial activities of their customers to prevent fraud, money laundering, and terrorist financing.
Who needs to prove their identity when setting up a company in the UK?
You will need to prove your identity when setting up a company in the UK if you are in one of the following positions:
- A company director
- Company Secretary
- Member
- General Partner
- Managing officer, or
- Person with significant control (PSC)
If you are in one of these roles, you will only need to verify your identity once.
How can I prove my identity when registering a company in the UK?
There are two ways to prove your identity when registering a company in the UK with Uniwide Formations:
- Using the CREDAS app on your smartphone, or
- Submitting certified documents – This option is only available to professionals, including accountants and solicitors who act on behalf of a client and have met the anti-money laundering requirements.
The vast majority of applicants now use the smartphone option simply because it is much easier and faster to complete the process. In most cases, it can be completed in just 5 minutes.
Proving your identity using the CREDAS smartphone app
By using the CREDAS smartphone app, you can complete the company incorporation identity process digitally. CREDAS is a mobile ‘app’ that takes you through the identity verification process from start to finish. It has been designed to be extremely easy to use and, in most cases, only takes around 5 minutes to complete. In some cases, it may be necessary to carry out some additional checks. Proving your identity using the CREDAS app involves the following simple steps:
- You will receive an e-mail or text message from us with instructions
- Click the link provided to download the CREDAS app
- Open the app and enter the unique code provided in your e-mail or text message
- Enter your e-mail address
- Check the details shown on the screen and click yes to continue
- Read and accept the terms and conditions
- Take a picture of yourself (a “selfie”) using your phone’s in-built camera
- Copy the actions shown to prove that you are a real person (not just a photo)
- Select scan ID and choose which document you wish to use (passport, driving licence, national ID card, or other). Complete the scanning process, including checking that the scan is clear. Submit your scanned ID document, and
- E-mail Uniwide Formations the scanned copy of your Proof of Address.
Proving your identity by providing documents
If your accountant or Solicitor is registering your company, they can provide us with duly certified copies of permitted original documents. The certification process can only be carried out by:
- A Solicitor or Notary Public
- The Post Office
- A civil servant
- A minister of religion
- A doctor
- A chartered accountant, or
- A teacher or lecturer
The person certifying the document must ensure that the following wording is included on the certified copy:
“Certified as a true and accurate representation of the original seen by me.”
It must also show the date of certification, in addition to the name, address, occupation and signature of the certifier.
Your certified documents can be sent to us by post or e-mail.
As part of this process, the certifier must check both your proof of address and proof of identity.
Acceptable documents as proof of identity/address
| Proof of ID | Proof of address |
|---|---|
|
At least one of the following documents, which must be current and valid:
|
You must provide at least one of the following documents, which must show both your name and address. These must be dated within the three months prior to our receipt of them:
|
A complete list of acceptable ID documents can be found on our dedicated page.
If you register your company through Companies House, you will need to provide one of the following types of ID:
- Biometric passport from any country
- UK photo driving licence (full or provisional)
- UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
- UK biometric residence card (BRC)
- UK Frontier Worker Permit (FWP)
When is a more detailed identity check required?
A more detailed identity check may be required if:
- Your identity cannot be verified on the first attempt, or
- You are a non-UK resident.
In either of these cases, we will contact you to request more information, which may include:
- A passport or driving licence
- Proof of your address (e.g. bank statement or utility bill dated in the last three months)
Why has my identity check not been successful?
If your identity check has failed, this may be for a number of reasons, including:
- Mistakes made when entering details
- Incorrect details entered (e.g. entering the wrong address)
- If you have recently moved home
- You are not on the electoral register
- Issues with using the CREDAS app including:
- An unclear proof of ID image
- Not following the instructions fully when scanning your document
Summary
- Proof of identity checks are a mandatory part of setting up a new company in the UK, whether you choose to use the services of a company formation specialist or apply directly to Companies House.
- Identity checks are required to guard against money laundering and to ensure that the information held on your company at Companies House is accurate
- If you use our company formation services and you are a UK resident, then we can check your identity digitally using the CREDAS app.
- In around 90% of cases, our customers pass our digital ID checks successfully.
- If you are not eligible for our digital ID check or do not pass our digital ID check, we will send you an e-mail asking you to provide the necessary information and documents. This mostly applies to non-UK residents.
Final words
We hope you have found this guide to the company incorporation proof of ID requirements useful. Uniwide Formations offers a range of company formation packages to meet your business needs, and we aim to make the process as streamlined as possible. We will take care of your company formation on your behalf and make proving your identity a breeze.