Yes. Valid proof of address in the UK includes recent utility bills, council tax bills, bank or building society statements, HMRC or benefits letters, and tenancy agreements — all issued within the last three months (or 12 months for council tax).
What counts as proof of address in the UK?
Valid proof of address typically includes recent official documents that show your name and UK address, such as utility bills, bank statements, council tax bills, tenancy agreements, and HMRC letters.
Proof of address documents must display your full name and a residential address. Most providers accept documents dated within three months. Council tax bills and mortgage statements can be up to 12 months old. Photocopies must be clear and unaltered. Documents issued electronically are acceptable when they are official PDF statements or secure online statements.
Which utility bills qualify as proof of address?
Accepted utility bills include gas, electricity, water, and landline phone bills that show your name, address, and a date within the last three months.
Providers verify the bill issuer against known UK utilities. Mobile phone bills are often rejected unless they are itemised and issued by major providers. Prepaid electricity top-up receipts are usually not accepted. Utility bills must be billed to the individual, not a company, unless verifying a business address under specific procedures. Read our articles, Documents Accepted for Business and Identity Verification, and Get Verified Without Delays with Form My Company’s Help.
Are bank and building society statements acceptable?
Yes. Bank or building society statements issued within three months that show your name and address are widely accepted as proof of address.
Statements must be official: stamped, on letterhead, or a secure PDF from online banking. Screenshots of online accounts are often rejected unless they include the bank’s secure header and a timestamp. Joint account statements are accepted when your name appears on the document. Statements from international banks are accepted only if they include a UK address and are in English.
Do council tax bills count as proof of address?
Council tax bills issued within the last 12 months are accepted as proof of address and commonly used in UK identity checks.
Councils print the resident’s name, property address, and tax year. Local authority letters confirming council tax liability are also acceptable. Use a current-year bill rather than older receipts. If you recently moved, a council tax registration letter can serve as temporary proof until the bill arrives.
Can tenancy agreements or mortgage statements be used?
Yes. Tenancy agreements and mortgage statements showing your name, address, and relevant dates are valid proof of address.
Signed tenancy agreements must include the landlord’s details and start date. Short-term or informal rental receipts are not acceptable. Mortgage statements must be dated within 12 months and issued by a recognised lender. Both documents must be originals or certified digital copies.
Are official government letters accepted?
Official government letters from HMRC, DWP, or the NHS that show your name and address and are dated within three months are accepted.
Examples include tax coding notices, benefit award letters, and NHS appointment letters when they list your address. HMRC self-assessment and PAYE documents serve as proof if they are current. Benefit letters older than three months may be rejected unless they confirm ongoing entitlement.
Can digital documents and online statements be used?
Yes. Digital statements in PDF form or secure online statements are accepted when they clearly show the issuer, your name, address, and date.
Acceptable digital formats include official PDFs from utility portals and bank statements downloaded from online banking. Screenshots of web pages are frequently rejected. Email confirmations may be accepted when they include a secure PDF attachment or a verified sender header.
What documents are commonly rejected?
Rejected documents include mobile bill screenshots, handwritten letters, expired insurance cards, electoral roll printouts without corroborating documents, and generic mail that lacks official headers or dates.
Landlord rent receipts without an agreement receive low acceptance. Printed copies of social media posts or correspondence from private sellers are invalid. Verification teams discard documents with signs of tampering, redaction, or mismatched names.
How do identity verification services validate addresses?
Identity Verification Services validate addresses by matching document data to official databases, checking issuer authenticity, and confirming document dates and formats.
Services run automated checks against credit reference agencies and address registries. They inspect document metadata for digital files and verify security features on scanned originals. Manual reviews handle edge cases, such as recently moved applicants or documents issued abroad.
What to prepare for director or PSC identity checks?
Prepare at least two independent documents: one photo ID and one recent proof of address, both matching the name and address on company records.
Photo ID options: passport, UK driving licence, or national identity card. Proof of address options: bank statement, utility bill, or council tax bill. Ensure the documents are dated within three months, except for council tax (12 months). Provide certified translations for non-English documents.
How long should documents be dated to qualify?
Most documents must be dated within three months; council tax and mortgage statements can be up to 12 months old.
Verification teams apply strict recency rules to prevent fraud. If a document falls outside the window, submit an alternative within the correct timeframe. For recent movers, provide a tenancy agreement plus a recent utility or bank statement showing the new address.
Explore our Identity Verification Service: Director or PSC guides,
Everything You Need to Know About the UK One Login for Business
What is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) in UK?
How does this support corporate compliance?
Using standard proof-of-address documents allows companies to verify beneficial owners, directors, and PSCs and meet UK anti-money laundering (AML) and Companies House requirements.
Verified addresses reduce onboarding delays and regulatory risk. Companies document verification steps and retain records for statutory retention periods. Identity Verification Services integrate address checks with ID validation to create audit-ready reports.
Provide one consolidated address document from the accepted categories to speed verification. Use recent, official PDF or original documents that show your full name and UK address. For director or PSC checks, pair an accepted proof of address with a valid photo ID to meet identity verification standards.
From My Company offers an Identity Verification Service: Director or PSC that validates photo ID and proof of address to prevent onboarding delays. The service verifies documents against official UK datasets and produces compliance-ready reports for Companies House and AML requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is From My Company’s Identity Verification Service: Director or PSC used for?
From My Company’s Identity Verification Service: Director or PSC confirms the legal identity of company directors and people with significant control (PSC) to meet UK Companies House and anti‑money laundering requirements. The service cross‑checks official documents and verifies personal details to support secure onboarding and ongoing compliance.
Which documents does From My Company check for director identity verification?
From My Company typically verifies a director’s government‑issued ID such as a passport or UK driving licence, plus a recent proof of address document like a bank statement or utility bill. These documents are used to match name, date of birth, and residential address against authoritative records.
How long does From My Company’s Identity Verification Service: Director or PSC usually take?
The verification process is usually completed within a single working day when all required documents are uploaded clearly and are current. Response times may vary slightly if additional checks or manual review is needed for complex director or PSC cases.
Can From My Company verify a PSC who lives outside the UK?
Yes, From My Company can verify a non‑UK‑resident PSC using a valid national ID or passport plus acceptable proof of overseas residence, such as a recent bank or utility statement. The service aligns the data with international AML standards and UK‑based company‑filing rules.
Does using From My Company’s Identity Verification Service help with Companies House compliance?
Using From My Company’s Identity Verification Service: Director or PSC helps ensure that director and PSC data is validated and documented in line with Companies House verification rules. Verified records support smoother submissions and reduce the risk of rejections or compliance flags during company filings.
