What ICAEW's 2026 deadline briefing means for Arab directors

ICAEW's January 2026 briefing covers three things: identity verification deadlines, AML supervision changes, and Companies House filing requirements. It's written for UK accountants. Here's our read for Arab directors.

On identity verification: the 12-month transition began on 18 November 2025, but the relevant date is not the same for everyone. Existing directors provide their personal code with the company's next confirmation statement. Check the Companies House register for the dates attached to each role.

On AML supervision: this change affects accountants, not directly directors. But it affects you indirectly. Companies House will require agents who file on a client's behalf to be registered Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs). That was originally signalled for spring 2026 and has since been postponed to no earlier than November 2026, so it is not in force yet. What is already in force is identity verification: only an ACSP can verify a director's identity on their behalf. Fileminder is ACSP-registered. If you're unsure whether your current accountant is, ask them directly.

On confirmation statements: unlike late accounts, there's no fixed monetary penalty for filing late, but the overdue status is publicly visible on the register, and persistent non-filing leads Companies House to pursue strike-off. Dormant and lightly traded companies still have to file.

The bigger picture: 2026 is not a distant deadline. If your company was incorporated between now and October, your verification deadline could arrive before the end of this year.