A recent Companies House press release warns directors not to ignore their statutory obligation to complete identity verification and announces the first three successful prosecutions (brought by the Insolvency Service) for non-compliance.
Two of the directors concerned apparently continued to act as directors while unverified, including participating in key board decisions and approving and filing accounts at Companies House, despite receiving multiple reminders and being given ample opportunity to comply. In addition, a fellow board member, who failed to take reasonable steps to prevent one of the unverified directors from continuing to act, was also prosecuted.
Companies House has long signalled that it intended to use the enhanced enforcement powers granted under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to tackle non-compliance, including through prosecutions and financial penalties. It looks like that has now begun in earnest.
