Directors warned to verify identities with Companies House following first Insolvency Service prosecutions

• First court action for identity verification offences brought by the Insolvency Service
• Three directors fined after failing to comply with requirements
• Convictions serve as a warning to directors: verify your identity or risk prosecution

Directors are being warned to verify their identities with Companies House or risk prosecution after the Insolvency Service secured its first convictions for these offences.

Jill White and Marc Dillon, directors of White (Reading Properties) Limited, and Modinat Banjo, director of J Isogony Apparel Limited, were fined at City of London Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 16 September.

Identity verification is a central part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which strengthened Companies House powers to improve the accuracy of the company register and tackle the misuse of UK companies for criminal purposes.

Newly appointed directors have been required to verify their identity with Companies House before acting as a director from 18 November 2025.

Existing directors are required to verify during the 12-month transition period, when filing the company’s next confirmation statement, helping to ensure that those who own and control businesses can be identified and held accountable.

Daniel Hart, Senior Criminal Lawyer at the Insolvency Service, said:

Identity verification is a legal requirement for company directors and forms a key part of efforts to improve the accuracy of the Companies House register and tackle economic crime.

These prosecutions demonstrate that directors have responsibilities not only for their own compliance but also for ensuring unverified individuals do not continue acting as directors on behalf of a company.

In both cases, multiple opportunities were provided for the directors to comply with the requirements before enforcement action was taken.

There is no option to opt out. Directors who continue to act without verifying their identity risk investigation and prosecution.

Martin Swain, Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement Engagement at Companies House, said:

These first prosecutions by the Insolvency Service for failing to comply with identity verification requirements mark an important milestone in strengthening the integrity of the UK’s company register.

Identity verification is a cornerstone of the reforms being introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, helping to ensure that those setting up, running and controlling companies are who they claim to be.

These cases send a clear message that identity verification is not optional. The vast majority of directors and people with significant control will comply with the new requirements, but where individuals fail to meet their legal obligations, Companies House will take appropriate enforcement action.

Our goal is to create a register that is more reliable, more transparent and better equipped to support economic growth while deterring those who seek to misuse UK companies for criminal purposes.

White, 62, of Speen, Buckinghamshire, acted as a company director despite not verifying her identity. She participated in board-level decision making and signed company accounts while remaining unverified.

Indeed, White only completed identity verification in early September 2026, around nine months after the deadline and shortly before appearing in court.

Dillon, 62, of Atlanta Close, Benson, Oxfordshire, had verified his own identity. However, he was prosecuted after failing to take reasonable steps to prevent White from continuing to act as a director while unverified, despite being aware of the legal requirement.

As a director of White (Reading Properties) Limited, he had a legal responsibility to ensure the company did not allow an unverified individual to continue acting as a director.

Both were also convicted after their company failed to file a confirmation statement on time.

White was fined £166, ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £66.

Dillon was fined £307, with costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £123.

Banjo, 50, of Thornham Street, London, continued acting as a director despite also failing to complete the mandatory identity verification process. She signed and delivered company accounts on behalf of J Isogony Apparel Limited while remaining unverified.

Banjo completed identity verification only on or around 28 May 2026.

She was similarly convicted after failing to file a confirmation statement within the statutory period.

Banjo was fined £80, ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £32.

Company directors who have not yet verified their identity should do so as soon as possible.

Identity verification can be completed online through Companies House free of charge or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

Further information

• Jill White is of Speen, Buckinghamshire. Her date of birth is 29 November 1963
• Marc Dillon is of Atlanta Close, Benson, Oxfordshire. His date of birth is 4 September 1964
• White (Reading Properties) Limited (company number 00722126)
• Modinat Banjo is of Thornham Street, London. Her date of birth is 19 January 1976
• J Isogony Apparel Limited (company number 09299408)
• Directors should verify their identity for Companies House here
• More information about identity verification and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act can be found here
• Directors can find information about their obligations and responsibilities at the Insolvency Service’s Director Information Hub
• Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.