I Am a CLG Director

You are a director of a Company Limited by Guarantee and need to complete, or understand how to complete, the applicable Companies House identity-verification process.

I Am a CLG PSC

You have been identified as, or believe you may be, a Person with Significant Control (PSC) of a CLG and need to understand the applicable identity-verification requirements. Where PSC status itself is uncertain, that position should be established before assuming that verification is required.

I Am Both Director & PSC

You hold both roles in the same CLG and want to understand how identity verification, your Companies House Personal Code and the applicable role-related requirements apply to your circumstances.

I Am an Overseas Director or PSC

You live outside the UK but are a director or PSC of a UK CLG and need to understand the available verification route for your circumstances, including whether the identity document and verification method available to you are suitable.

I Am Unsure Whether I Am a PSC

You are unsure whether your role, influence, membership or other circumstances mean that you should be treated as a PSC. The first step is to understand the relevant control position rather than assuming that your corporate role automatically makes you a PSC.

My CLG Has No Shareholders

Your CLG is structured without shareholders and you are unsure how this affects the question of PSC status and identity verification. A CLG's membership or guarantee structure should be considered separately from the assessment of significant control.

My Identity Verification Has Failed

You have tried to complete identity verification but the process did not work as expected. Coddan can help you understand the reason for the difficulty and the applicable next step or available ACSP route, where the circumstances meet the relevant requirements.

My Identity Details Do Not Match Companies House

Your name or other personal information appears differently between your identification, verification information and the Companies House record, and you are unsure whether the discrepancy needs to be addressed before verification can be completed.

Several Directors or PSCs Need Verification

Your CLG has several directors or PSCs who need to complete the applicable process and you want a coordinated professional route rather than handling each person's circumstances separately.

Verification Completed

Where the required checks can be completed successfully, the intended outcome is a completed identity-verification process within the applicable service scope.

ACSP Verification Outcome

Where the applicable requirements are met, Coddan can provide Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) identity-verification support and establish the appropriate outcome for the individual concerned.

Companies House Next Step

Where applicable, Coddan can explain the relevant Companies House step following verification, including what information or action may need to be completed next.

Personal Code Guidance

Where relevant, Coddan can provide guidance concerning the Companies House Personal Code and the practical steps associated with the individual's verified identity and corporate role.

Discrepancy Identified

If the identity information does not align with the information available for the individual, the discrepancy can be identified so that the relevant issue can be considered before proceeding further.

Further Corporate Action Identified

Verification may reveal that another corporate or Companies House action needs to be addressed before the intended outcome can be achieved. Identifying that requirement helps prevent the customer from pursuing the wrong route.

CLG Director

A proposed individual director must verify their identity before acting as a director. The incorporation or appointment filing needs the individual’s Companies House Personal Code and the required confirmation. Existing directors follow the applicable transition requirement through the company’s next confirmation statement from 18 November 2025. Verification and the company filing are separate pieces of work.

CLG Person with Significant Control

A CLG PSC must verify their identity and give their personal code through the PSC process in the period that applies to them. A PSC who is also a director provides the same personal code separately for each role.

Director & PSC in the Same Person

An individual who is both director and PSC verifies their identity once, then gives the same personal code for both roles through the applicable separate Companies House processes. Coddan can help identify the two steps and their timing.

Member or Guarantor Is Not Automatically a Director or PSC

Being a member or guarantor of a CLG does not, by itself, mean that the person should be treated as a director or PSC. The person's actual corporate position and, where relevant, the applicable significant influence or control circumstances should be considered separately.

What Is a PSC?

A Person with Significant Control is an individual who meets the applicable conditions for significant control or significant influence over a company. PSC status is a separate corporate concept from simply holding a position as a director, secretary, member or guarantor.

Does Every CLG Have a PSC?

Not necessarily. The PSC position depends on the particular facts and control arrangements of the CLG. Its legal form alone does not determine whether an individual should be recorded as a PSC.

Can a CLG With No Shareholders Have a PSC?

Yes. A CLG having no shareholders does not by itself determine its PSC position. The relevant assessment concerns whether an individual meets the applicable conditions for significant influence or control within the company's actual arrangements.

Is a Guarantor Automatically a PSC?

No. A guarantor or member is not automatically a PSC simply because they hold that position. Their role and the CLG's constitutional and governance arrangements should be considered when determining whether the applicable conditions for significant control or influence are met.

Is Every Director a PSC?

No. Directorship and PSC status are separate. A director may also be a PSC where the applicable conditions are satisfied, but appointment as a director alone does not automatically establish PSC status.

Significant Influence or Control

For a CLG, the PSC assessment may need to consider whether an individual has significant influence or control through the company's actual arrangements. The CLG's constitution, membership structure and governance arrangements can therefore be important when establishing the correct Companies House position.

What Is a PSC?

A PSC is an individual who meets the applicable Companies House conditions for significant control or significant influence over a company. For a CLG, this assessment is not simply based on share ownership because the company may have members or guarantors rather than shareholders.

What Is a Beneficial Owner?

Beneficial owner is a wider compliance term used in different legal, regulatory and due-diligence settings to identify the person who ultimately owns, controls or benefits from an organisation or arrangement. Its precise meaning depends on the context in which it is being used.

What Is a UBO?

Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) is generally used to identify the ultimate natural person behind ownership, control or benefit. The term is particularly common in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), banking and customer due-diligence processes and should not automatically be treated as synonymous with a Companies House PSC.

Establish Your Companies House Role

First establish whether you are acting as a director, PSC or another relevant Companies House role. For a CLG, this may require consideration of the company's membership, constitutional arrangements and actual control position.

Select the Appropriate Route

The standard digital verification route may be suitable where your identity document and circumstances are compatible. Where the standard route is unsuitable or unsuccessful, an applicable alternative or ACSP route may need to be considered.

Prepare Your Identity Documents

The available identity document can affect the verification route. Its type, condition, compatibility with the verification technology and your individual circumstances should be considered before starting the process.

Complete the Identity Checks

Complete the applicable identity checks using the selected route. A digital process may involve document validation and biometric checks, while an alternative route may involve professional review of identity documents and supporting information.

Review & Verification Outcome

The submitted information is assessed through the applicable verification process. If an issue prevents completion, the reason should be identified before deciding whether another applicable verification route should be used.

ACSP Attestation & Personal Code

Where the applicable ACSP route is used, Coddan can support the required verification and Companies House attestation process. Once the relevant identity-verification process has been completed, the resulting Companies House Personal Code can be used for the applicable Companies House requirements.

Verification Failed

What it may mean: the verification process was unable to establish the required identity information successfully. The failure itself does not necessarily mean that the person cannot be verified.

What happens next: identify the reason for the unsuccessful attempt before deciding whether to retry, correct information or consider another applicable route.

Passport or Identity Document Problem

What it may mean: the document may be expired, damaged, difficult to read, unsuitable for the technology being used or otherwise incompatible with the selected verification route.

What happens next: establish whether the document can be used through another applicable route or whether another acceptable document is required.

Unsupported Document

What it may mean: the document may not be supported by the particular digital verification method being attempted. This can be a route-compatibility issue rather than an indication that the person's identity cannot be established.

What happens next: establish which verification options are available and whether an alternative or ACSP route is applicable.

Incorrect Name or Date of Birth

What it may mean: the information supplied during verification may not correspond with the relevant identity or corporate records. This can include a name variation, spelling difference or date-of-birth discrepancy.

What happens next: establish which information is correct, where the difference originates and whether the relevant record or verification information requires further action.

Companies House Details Do Not Match

What it may mean: the person's identity information may differ from information currently recorded at Companies House, such as a name, date of birth, address or another registered detail.

What happens next: compare the relevant information and establish whether the identity information, Companies House record or another underlying corporate detail requires attention.

Standard Route Cannot Be Completed

What it may mean: the standard digital process may not be suitable for the person's circumstances, document or previous verification outcome.

What happens next: where applicable, consider an alternative or manual ACSP verification route rather than repeatedly attempting a process that is unsuitable.

What Is a Companies House Personal Code?

A Companies House Personal Code is a unique code associated with an individual following the applicable identity-verification process. It is used as part of the process of connecting the verified individual with their relevant Companies House role.

Why Does the Personal Code Matter?

It provides an important link between identity verification and the individual's Companies House record. Without understanding how the code is used, a customer may complete verification but remain unsure about the next required corporate step.

Director and Personal Code

A newly appointed CLG director provides the personal code with the appointment filing. An existing director provides it through that CLG’s next confirmation statement. Directors of several companies must provide it for each company.

PSC and Personal Code

A CLG PSC provides the personal code using the Companies House PSC identity-verification details service. The applicable 14-day window depends on when they became a PSC and whether they are also a director; check the dates shown for the person on the Companies House register.

What If You Are Both a Director and PSC?

If the same individual is both director and PSC, the identity check gives them one personal code, but they must provide it separately for each role. The director and PSC submissions follow their own process and timing.

What You May Need to Do

Depending on your circumstances, you may need to complete identity verification, obtain your Personal Code and provide or use it through the applicable Companies House process. If you hold more than one relevant role, the requirements for each role should be considered.

Your Details Still Matter

The information used during verification needs to correspond appropriately with the relevant Companies House information. If there is an incorrect name, date of birth or other material discrepancy, the issue may need to be addressed before the verified identity can be connected successfully to the intended corporate position.

One Person, Two Relevant Roles

An individual may be both a CLG director and PSC. Identity verification concerns the individual, but the applicable Companies House requirements associated with each corporate role should still be considered separately.

Several CLG Directors

Where several CLG directors require verification, each director should be identified individually and their applicable identity-verification and Companies House requirements coordinated for that person.

Multiple CLG PSCs

If a CLG has more than one PSC, the relevant individuals should be considered separately. Verification of one PSC does not satisfy the identity-verification requirement applicable to another person.

Several People Requiring Verification

A CLG may need to coordinate verification for several individuals at the same time. A structured process helps establish who needs verification, which role each person holds and what remains outstanding.

1. Identify the Individuals

Establish which CLG directors and PSCs are involved and whether any individual holds both roles. This creates a clear starting point for the verification process.

2. Match Each Person to Their Role

Establish the relevant Companies House role for each individual. Where someone is both a director and PSC, the requirements associated with both roles should be identified.

3. Coordinate the Verification

Each individual completes the applicable verification process. Where several people are involved, their progress can be coordinated so that completed and outstanding requirements are easier to identify.

4. Complete the Applicable Companies House Steps

Once each person's verification position has been established, the applicable Companies House action, Personal Code step or other requirement can be dealt with according to that individual's role and circumstances.

Identity Verification During Formation

For a new CLG, each proposed director needs a personal code for the incorporation filing. PSC information is considered during formation, but a PSC’s personal-code submission follows the applicable PSC process. Identity verification does not itself incorporate the CLG.

Verification for an Existing CLG

For an existing CLG, identity verification may arise for an existing director or PSC, a new appointment, a change in circumstances or another applicable Companies House requirement. The verification requirement should be considered separately from any corporate change that may follow.

Verification Can Accompany a Corporate Change

A new individual director appointment needs the required verification confirmation. A new PSC follows the applicable verification and code-submission deadline. Resignation, a routine change of particulars or ordinary admission of a member does not automatically require fresh identity verification. Establish which requirement applies before arranging another check.

Verification and the Personal Code

Successful identity verification and the resulting Companies House Personal Code form part of the identity-verification lifecycle. The code may then need to be used through the applicable Companies House process for the individual's relevant corporate role.

Connection With Ongoing Compliance

Identity verification is distinct from continuing company administration. Confirmation statements, annual accounts, the register of members, minutes and reportable company changes remain separate matters. Local statutory registers of directors, residential addresses, secretaries and PSCs are no longer mandatory; keep the required Companies House information up to date and retain useful supporting records.

One-Off Verification, Continuing Support and Company Secretary Are Different

Identity verification can be instructed as a specific task. Continuing secretarial support is a separate service arrangement for wider administration, records or filings, and a formal company-secretary appointment is a separate corporate decision. None is automatically created merely because an individual completes identity verification.

1. Considers the individual's circumstances.
2. Establishes the applicable verification route.
3. Reviews the required identity evidence.
4. Carries out the applicable verification checks.
5. Identifies discrepancies or verification difficulties.
6. Progresses the verification outcome where the requirements are satisfied.
7. Explains relevant Personal Code or Companies House steps.
8. Identifies any connected corporate action where relevant.

CLG Company Secretarial Services

If your CLG needs continuing support with statutory records, Companies House obligations, corporate administration or governance-related matters, ongoing company secretarial support may be more appropriate than another identity-verification service.

CLG Confirmation Statement & Annual Compliance

If identity verification forms part of your CLG's wider annual compliance cycle, the next step may be the Confirmation Statement and associated annual compliance work. Identity verification and the Confirmation Statement process remain separate requirements, even where they arise during the same compliance period.

CLG Director, Secretary & PSC Changes

If verification is connected with the appointment, resignation or change of particulars of a director, company secretary or PSC, any corresponding corporate filing should be considered separately once the relevant identity position has been established.

CLG Formation

If you are establishing a new Company Limited by Guarantee, identity verification may form part of the wider formation and compliance process. Formation should be considered alongside the proposed directors, PSC position, registered details and governance structure.

Identity Verification Solutions Center

If your circumstances extend beyond a CLG director or PSC, the wider Identity Verification Solutions Center provides access to Coddan's broader identity-verification services and related support routes.

Business Directors ID Verification

If your identity-verification requirement extends beyond the CLG context, Coddan's broader Business Directors ID Verification service may provide a more appropriate route for a director connected with another type of UK company.

Companies House Correction Service

If an identity detail differs from the Companies House record, Coddan can establish whether the issue is in the identity evidence, the existing filing or a genuine change. The appropriate filing or correction depends on the source of the discrepancy; it should not be assumed that one correction form covers every case.