ID Verification Included vs Paid Separately: What Do Formation Packages Cover?

Formation packages cover identity verification in one of two ways: bundled into the package price or charged as a separate line item. Check the package inclusions for director and PSC verification, the filing of verification statements, and the code delivery before you buy.

Why Does Identity Verification Apply to UK Company Formation?

Identity verification applies because the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 requires directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) to verify their identity with Companies House. The requirement took effect on 18 November 2025 for new appointments.

Companies House uses verification to authenticate who controls UK companies. Each named person links to a checked identity. The register becomes more reliable as a result. Two roles fall under the rule: directors and PSCs.

Each verified person receives a personal code. The incorporation application references that code, so verification precedes filing. Non-UK residents follow the same rule as UK residents. A valid passport is the most common document for overseas applicants.

Our guide on who must complete identity verification when forming a UK company lists each role and its obligations. Read it first if you are mapping roles before you compare packages.

What Does an Included ID Verification Package Cover?

An included ID verification package covers the identity check for each director and PSC within the formation scope. Inclusions cover document validation, facial matching, personal code issuance, and the verification statement filed with Companies House.

An included package treats verification as part of formation. Three components sit inside that scope: document validation, facial matching, and statement filing. Each component removes a task from the client.

Document validation checks the passport or national ID against its security features. Facial matching compares a live image with the document photo. The provider then files the verification statement with Companies House.

Providers that perform these checks act as Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs). ACSPs register with Companies House and operate under UK anti-money laundering supervision. That status lets them verify identity on behalf of clients.

Read the package description for scope. Confirm the number of directors covered, whether PSCs are covered, and whether re-checks after a rejected document are covered.

What Does It Mean When ID Verification Is Paid Separately?

Paid-separately verification means the formation package covers incorporation only. Identity verification appears as an add-on, or the client completes it directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login before the incorporation filing.

A split package separates incorporation from verification. The formation fee covers the company filing. The identity check sits outside it.

Two routes exist for the separate check. The first runs directly through Companies House using GOV. UK One Login.UK One Login. Companies House charges no fee for this route. The second uses an ACSP, which bills according to its own terms.

The direct route places the workload on each director. Each person completes the document scan and facial check personally. The ACSP route transfers that workload to the provider.

Compare the add-on terms before purchase. Review three items: the billing basis (per person or per check), the people covered, and the handling of failed checks.

How Do You Compare Included and Separate Verification Options?

Compare options on four criteria: people covered, filing responsibility, turnaround, and cost transparency. A package that states all four in writing lets you evaluate the full formation scope before purchase.

People covered sets the first boundary. One package verifies a single director. Another verifies every director and PSC named in the application. Count your own appointments and match them to the stated scope.

Filing responsibility sets the second boundary. In the direct route, each person completes verification and passes the personal code to the formation provider. In the ACSP route, the provider files the verification statement.

Turnaround depends on verification because the incorporation filing requires the personal code. A pending check stalls the whole application. Cost transparency completes the comparison: itemised pricing shows each step, while bundled pricing shows one total. Both formats work when the inclusions are listed clearly.

For a decision-ready example of the bundled model, read Non-Resident Comprehensive: Free ID Check for Your Directors.

How Fast Can You Form a UK Company Online?

You can form a company online in as little as 3 working hours when you submit complete, accurate information and finish all required legal and ID checks. Processing excludes weekends and bank holidays.

Companies House processing governs the timeline. Your Web Filing Authentication Code arrives online through your company summary page. That code confirms the company exists and authorises later filings.

Three factors cause delays: incomplete information, incorrect documents, and technical or application-related complexities. Each factor adds processing time. Complete submissions avoid the first two.

Verification is a direct dependency in this sequence. A director without a personal code blocks the application. Included verification shortens the sequence because one provider handles the ID check and the filing together. Separate verification adds a handoff between the client, Companies House, and the formation provider.

Which Package Fits Non-UK Resident Directors?

Non-UK resident directors fit a package that bundles identity verification with incorporation. This structure handles the ID check, the company filing, and the code delivery in one process under a single provider.

Overseas directors complete verification without visiting the UK. The checks run online using a passport and a device camera. A bundled package keeps the steps in one place.

The comprehensive non-resident company formation package is built on this structure. Non-Resident Comprehensive includes the ID check for your directors within the formation scope. That inclusion removes the separate add-on decision.

Match the package to your appointment count. Non-Resident Comprehensive suits applicants who want verification, filing, and administration support handled together. Applicants who prefer the direct Companies House route keep a formation-only package and verify through GOV.UK One Login.

What Is the Takeaway on ID Verification in Formation Packages?

Included verification bundles the ID check into formation. Separate verification splits it into an add-on or a direct Companies House task. Both routes satisfy the 2023 Act. The difference lies in scope, filing responsibility, and turnaround.

Check four items in any package: people covered, who files the verification statement, the effect on timeline, and how pricing is itemised. These items reveal the full formation scope. They also show where delays arise.

Non-Resident UK Company Formation delivers the bundled model for non-UK residents. The service combines director ID checks, online incorporation, and Web Filing Authentication Code delivery through the company summary page.