ECCTA & Companies House guides
Practical guides on identity verification under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) - what blocks a confirmation statement, who has to verify, how to check status, and what it means if you look after more than one company.
Companies House API key not working: 401, 400 and 403 errors explained
Fix a Companies House API key that returns 401, 400 or 403: Basic auth with an empty password, key types, sandbox vs live, and browser Origin blocks.
How to get a free Companies House API key, step by step
Register, create an application, generate a key and make your first call with curl and Python.
Confirmation statement identity verification: what you need before you file
What confirmation statement identity verification requires: who must verify before you file a CS01, what blocks the filing, and how to check status first.
Confirmation statement rejected because of an unverified director? Here's what's happening
Since 18 November 2025, Companies House rejects a confirmation statement if any director has not completed identity verification. Here is why it happens and how to fix it - fast.
How to check a director's identity verification status at Companies House
Three ways to check whether a UK company's directors and PSCs have completed ECCTA identity verification: the register, a free online checker, and the API.
The ECCTA deadline for accountants: audit your client book before November 2026
ECCTA identity verification enforcement begins 18 November 2026. A practical checklist for accountancy firms and advisors responsible for many client companies.
Director "not verified" on Companies House: what it means and what to do
A director shows as not verified on Companies House - what that status actually means, whether it is currently illegal, and how it gets fixed.
How to check a director's verification status before you sign, lend, or appoint
Where to check a director's ECCTA verification status, what each result means, and how much weight to put on it before you do business with a company.
Client identity verification for Companies House: what advisors need to know
What Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) client identity verification involves, who needs to register, and what happens if you skip it.
Using the Companies House API
Managing more than a handful of companies?
Registrum checks ECCTA identity verification for every director and PSC across your whole client book, and alerts you when a company's compliance status changes. Start with a free portfolio scan - no signup, no card.
Get your free portfolio scan →