Due to recent changes to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act 2023, Companies House has updated some of its fees, effective 1 February 2026.
Alongside this, the way companies manage compliance, identity verification, and official communication has changed too.
Changes to Fees (from 1 February 2026)
From the beginning of February, Companies House has changed the fees on the services it provides. These fees are reviewed yearly to make sure they reflect the cost of delivering each service, which keeps them proportionate to the current economy while remaining low by international standards.
Fee income contributes to several key areas:
Company incorporation.
Publishing accessible company information, which is valuable to the UK economy.
Using new ECCT Act powers to query or remove false or misleading information.
A full list of fee changes has been published here: Changes to Companies House fees.
There is also a more in-depth outlook on how Companies House uses fees.
The aim of these changes is to create a more trustworthy business environment and reduce the harm caused by non-compliant actors. The funding received also allows Companies House to support the Insolvency Service, a body with wide-ranging enforcement powers that can be used to prosecute fraudulent businesses, financial wrongdoers, and other areas of non-compliance.
Identity Verification Requirements
Another notable change is the newly required identity verification process. This is expected to be completed by both business directors and PSCs, though there are slight differences between the two processes.
PSCs, or People with Significant Control, are people who hold the power to appoint or remove a majority of the board’s directors, or who have significant control over a company’s activities.
This new requirement is designed to ensure the people in control of businesses are transparent and truthful about who they are, a necessary step in the effort to reduce fraudulent activity. It will make it harder for criminals to impersonate PSCs and directors, support fairness between businesses, and, as a running theme, support transparency.
The verification process is quick and secure, and often completed in a matter of minutes. Once complete, it does not need to be repeated.
There are two routes you can use: Verify Your Identity for Companies House, or use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, such as:
- Company formation agents.
- Solicitors.
- Accountants.
- Chartered secretaries and governance professionals.
If an individual is both director and PSC for multiple companies, they must link their verified identity to each role using their personal code. A personal code is an 11-character code a person receives once their identity has been confirmed. This code is personal to the individual, not to a company or business.
Companies House has published advice to help with the verification process.
Registered Email Address Requirement
Since 4 March 2024, all companies are required to provide a registered email address to Companies House. The email provided is used to send compliance-related updates.
Directors must make sure they can access and read emails sent to this address, as keeping up to date with compliance is one of the most important aspects of running a business. The registered email can be updated online.
When choosing an email address, consider that:
- The email is not displayed on the public register.
- An email is required under the Companies Act 2006.
- Compliance-related updates cannot be unsubscribed from.
Staying Up to Date
On the subject of staying up to date with compliance, it is also worth keeping an eye on Companies House activity so you can catch changes early and stay ahead.
You can access updates through:
- The Changes to UK company law website.
- GOV.UK guidance.
- The Companies House Facebook profile.
- The Companies House LinkedIn profile.
- The Companies House YouTube channel.
Acting now will keep your company compliant, protected, and ready for the future.
