ID and Proof of address

We are regulated by HMRC to comply with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017). Accordingly, we are obliged to undertake a digital ID verification check of your identity and address.

If we cannot complete a digital verification of your identity and address, we will ask you to provide certified copies of the original documents set out below. Failure to comply with our request for such documents will oblige us to cancel our services to you. NO REFUND SHALL BE GIVEN FOR SERVICES CANCELLED BECAUSE YOU FAIL TO COMPLY WITH OUR REQUEST FOR PROOF OF ID AND ADDRESS.

We are obliged to verify ID and Proof of address of the following people:

  • All shareholders, guarantors, partners in or owners of a company that have more than a 25% stake in that company
  • Any person subscribing to any of our address services
  • Any person who uses us for the following services: Company name change, Dissolution of a company, appointment, removal or change of details of an officer, shareholder or partner in a company or partnership.

Proof of ID

If you are UK resident you will be processed through our online ID verification process, if we can satisfactorily complete your online check you will not be required to provide certified copies of proof of ID and address documents by email or post.

UK residents who fail the online ID verification process, and all non-UK residents, will be required to provide certified ID and proof of address documents by email or post, as follows:

Acceptable ID documents

  • Valid Passport (not expired)
  • Driving licence photocard (paper UK driving licences are not be accepted)
  • National identity card
  • HM Forces identity card
  • Student Card (must be current)
  • Employment identification card
  • Disabled drivers blue pass

Acceptable documents that prove your address.

All documents must be dated within the last 3 months, and must show both your name and address.

  • HM Revenue and Customs Notice of Coding (preferred)
  • Telephone Bill – excluding mobile Bill
  • Gas, Water, Electricity Bill
  • Mortgage statement
  • Council tax bill
  • Bank statement
  • TV licence
  • Insurance Letter (Motor, Home or Life)
  • Bank/ Building Society Statement (includes Credit Card Statement)
  • Letter from Benefits Agency
  • Financial Statement (e.g Pension/ Endowment)
  • Polling card

All documents should either be in English or accompanied by an English translation by an Official Sworn Translator.

Certified ID Procedures

The acceptable ways to certify your ID and your address, depend on your place of residence.

For UK and EU Residents

Friends and relatives cannot certify documents. Your proof of ID and address documents should be certified by any of the following persons or institutions.

  • The Post Office
  • Civil Servant
  • Minister of Religion
  • Doctor
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Solicitor or Notary
  • Teacher or Lecturer

Non-EU Residents

Your proof of ID and your address should be notarised by a Public Notary.

Certification should be as follows:

  • Each certified document should have the following statement written on it: "Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me".
  • The documents should be dated by the certifying notary and should state the notary’s name, address, licence number and country in which they are licenced

Non-EU Residents

Your proof of ID and your address should be notarised by a Public Notary.

You can send your documents to us either;

By E-mail:

Your scanned copies should be sent to us at admin@1st-choice-business.co.uk., OR

By Post

If you are unable to send scanned copies of your documents to us, we can accept them by post. The address to post the documents to:

Smart Docustore Ltd
27, Old Gloucester Street,
London
WC1N 3AX, UK

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