---
title: "ECCTA 2023 Director Identity Verification (IDV) Mandatory ACSP Compliance | ReguLex UK Statutory Intelligence"
source_url: "https://regulex.uk/practice/statutory-guides/eccta-director-idv-mandate"
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description: "The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023) introduces the most sweeping reform to UK company administration in 180 years. Starting in Autumn 2026, every director and Person with Significant Control (PSC) of a UK company must complete identity verification and obtain an 11-character Companies House personal code. This guide details how accounting practices can deploy white-label verification vaults and recover compliance fees under MLR 2017 Regulation 28."
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> **Canonical Source:** [https://regulex.uk/practice/statutory-guides/eccta-director-idv-mandate](https://regulex.uk/practice/statutory-guides/eccta-director-idv-mandate)
>
> *The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023) introduces the most sweeping reform to UK company administration in 180 years. Starting in Autumn 2026, every director and Person with Significant Control (PSC) of a UK company must complete identity verification and obtain an 11-character Companies House personal code. This guide details how accounting practices can deploy white-label verification vaults and recover compliance fees under MLR 2017 Regulation 28.*

## 1. The Statutory Mandate & Criminal Penalties

Under Section 167G of the Companies Act 2006 (as inserted by ECCTA 2023), it is a criminal offence for an individual to act as a company director unless their identity has been verified.

Directors who fail to verify face Level 5 standard scale criminal fines (£5,000+ per director), civil financial penalties levied by the Registrar, and potential director disqualification.

Furthermore, companies are prohibited from filing Confirmation Statements (Form CS01), appointing new officers, or registering changes at Cardiff without providing verified director codes.

## 2. The Two Identity Verification Pathways

Directors have two lawful avenues to complete verification:

Pathway A (Direct Government Route): The individual completes verification directly via GOV.UK One Login using NFC biometric passport scanning.

Pathway B (ACSP Intermediary Route): The client's chartered accountancy practice, registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, verifies the individual under MLR 2017 standards and submits a verification statement to Cardiff.

In both pathways, the individual is issued a unique 11-character alphanumeric Personal Verification Code (e.g., `GB-IDV-8492018`). This code is vaulted by the practice and referenced on all future statutory filings.

## 3. Monetising ACSP Compliance & Fee Recovery

Carrying out director identity verification, biometric AML document audits, and code vaulting imposes significant administrative overhead on accountancy practices.

Under Regulation 28 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, practices are legally entitled and advised to recover reasonable administrative fees for statutory onboarding and continuous identity maintenance.

UK accountancy practices typically charge between £150 and £500 + VAT per corporate entity annually for ACSP compliance management, turning a regulatory mandate into a recurring, high-margin revenue line.

## Inspect Your Practice's Co-Located Client Roster

ReguLex screens your firm's exact registered office address against real-time London Gazette strike-off publications, Form RP07 squatter evictions, and Autumn 2026 Director IDV mandates.

## Frequently Asked Statutory Questions

### What is the transition period for existing directors?

Existing directors will have a 12-month statutory transition window following commencement to provide their verification codes at the time of their company's first annual Confirmation Statement.

### Are Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) also subject to IDV?

Yes. PSCs must verify their identity within 14 days of being recorded on the register or face criminal sanctions.

---

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