Proof of ID and Address Requirements [Comprehensive Guide]

All formation agents (that's us and our competitors) have a legal obligation to check Proof of ID and Proof of Address documents. This is to ensure we comply with 'Anti-Money Laundering' (AML) regulations and 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) requirements. Our free online Proof of ID check ensures you get validated quickly and simply.

To activate your service:

Your service can not be activated until all the necessary identity documents have been verified.

With the help of Credas' digital ID software, the ID process should be very simple to complete. You will just require the following:

• A government-issued photo ID
• A recent proof of home address 
• A device with a webcam or camera

During the process, you will be prompted to:

1. Take a clear photo of your ID

• Must be a valid passport, driving licence or national identity card.
• Take a clear photo of the original ID. No scans, screenshots or photocopies.
• Lay the ID flat and try to avoid glare or reflections.
• Align the ID with the guidelines on the screen. No details should be hidden or cut off.

2. Take a live photo of your face

• Take a photo of yourself against a plain background and under even lighting.
• Align your face with guidelines on the screen.
• Ensure that there are no other persons or objects in the photo.
• Remove any glasses or hats if you are wearing them.

3. Verify your residential address

• UK residents - You will need to enter your residential address. This information will then be checked against the electoral roll register and credit database.
• Non-UK residents - You will need to take a photo of 1 x proof of residential address document. See the approved list below.
• High risk country residents - You will need to take a photo of 2 x proof of residential address document. See the approved list below.

Proof of Residential Address (Approved List):

• Utility Bill (Gas, Electric or Water)
• Telephone bill (Mobile phone bills are not accepted)
• Insurance Letter (Motor, Home or Life)
• Mortgage Statement
• Council Tax Bill
• Bank/ Building Society Statement (includes Credit Card Statement)
• TV Licence
• HM Revenue and Customs Letter/Notice of Coding
• Letter from Benefits Agency
• Financial Statement (e.g Pension/ Endowment)
• Polling card

The Proof of Residential Address document must:

1. Be dated within the last 3 months.
2. Show the account holder/company officer’s name and home address.
3. Be written in English or accompanied by an English translation (by an Official Sworn Translator)
   

Walkthrough

Below is a guide on what the system may look like for you. This may differ slightly depending on circumstances and devices but it follows the same simple protocol. 

On the Proof of ID page, the following options will show:

If you click on "I need to verify ID for someone else, you can enter in that person's email and they will be sent a link to do the ID check. 

If you click “I am verifying ID for myself”, you will be redirected to the Credas software to begin the verification.

• Please ensure you enter your forename and surname exactly as it appears on your photo ID. If entered incorrectly, the ID verification will fail.

• UK residents - Enter and search for your home address. This information will be checked against the electoral roll register and credit database.

• Select the government issued photo ID you would like to use (Passport is highly recommended).

• Must be a valid passport, driving licence or national identity card.
• Take a clear photo of the original ID. No scans, screenshots or photocopies.
• Lay the ID flat and try to avoid glare or reflections.
• Align the ID with the guidelines on the screen. No details should be hidden or cut off.

• Take a photo of yourself against a plain background and under even lighting.
• Align your face with guidelines on the screen.
• Ensure that there are no other persons or objects in the photo.
• Remove any glasses or hats if you are wearing them.

• Non-UK residents - You will need to take a photo of 1 x proof of residential address document. See the approved list here.
• High risk country residents - You will need to take a photo of 2 x proof of residential address document. See the approved list here.

• This has now been sent to our verification providers and this check has been completed. 

An email will be sent you upon validation to confirm the status of the ID check. 

Failure to send the necessary documents

ID documents must be received within 6 weeks of your initial payment. Failure to send acceptable ID will result in your company being reported to Companies House and the removal of your Registered Office address. If our address is not being used and the company is yet to incorporate, the application cannot be passed through to Companies House with a successful ID check in place.

FAQs

Will I be notified If I was successful or not?

Yes, at the end of the day you will get an email informing you if the ID check has been completed or not. 

I haven't got my ID documents to hand at the moment. Can I still incorporate my company?
No, we cannot submit the company application for registration unless the ID for the account holder has been verified. 

Can I use a mobile to verify my ID if I do not have a webcam?
Yes, you can verify your ID using a smartphone, laptop or desktop with a webcam.

What happens if my director or Person with Significant Control is a company and not a person?

You would need to provide a certificate of incorporation and corporate documents which show the company number, registered office address and beneficial owners of that company. Please see the full list of documents here.

I am based overseas, can I also use this online verification tool?
Yes, this system is available to anybody as long as they have the required documentation and a device which can take a picture as disclosed in the "To activate your service" section. 

What happens if I cannot pass this check?
You may need to provide us with certified or notarised documents depending on where you are from, but in the meantime it is best to contact us at id-check@madesimplegroup.com for more information. 

If I am the account holder and the officer of the company will I need to perform this check twice?
No, as long as the system can identify you being the same entity meaning same name (and spelling) and matched date of birth then you will only need to perform the check once yourself. 

How often would I need to provide ID documents?
We are legally obliged to conduct ongoing compliance checks to ensure that all identity information are correct and up to date. Therefore, you will be required to provide new documents, for example, when your passport has expired, residential address has changed, or if the documents on file are older than 3 years.

There was an error, what do I do?
If you are experiencing problems with completing the online ID verification, please email our Compliance team at id-check@madesimplegroup.com with screenshots and a brief explanation of your scenario.