Service addresses and registered offices are two types of addresses that you need to provide to Companies House when you set up a company (or limited liability partnership) in the UK. A service address is required by certain individuals associated with these incorporated business structures, whilst a registered office address is the official address of the company itself.
Below, we discuss the main purpose and requirements of each type of address, explaining how they differ from one another in a practical sense. This information will be useful to you if you’re planning to set up a company in the UK.
A service address is an official contact address where certain individuals can receive statutory mail and correspondence from Companies House, HMRC, and other official bodies regarding their role in a company.
By law, you must provide a service address to Companies House when you join a company in any of the following capacities:
Companies House displays service address details on the public register. All members of the public have access to this information via Companies House online search service .
A service address can be located anywhere in the world – it does not have to be in the UK. You can use a residential or commercial (non-residential) address, including the same address as your company’s registered office.
Due to the public disclosure of this information, the majority of individuals prefer to use an address that is not their place of residence. A non-residential service address will allow you to protect your privacy by keeping your home address off the public register.
You can change your service address at any time. In such instances, you must notify Companies House as soon as possible to ensure that your details remain accurate and up to date on the public register.
You can report a change of service address for a director, company secretary, PSC, or LLP member online via Companies House WebFiling or Rapid Formations’ free Client Admin Portal .
No, your service address can be located in any country in the UK or overseas – whichever address works best for you. You can change it at any time and as often as you wish to suit your own requirements.
Yes, you may use the same address as your company’s registered office and your own service address. For many company owners, this is the most convenient option, ensuring that all important statutory mail is delivered to the same place.
A registered office is the official contact address of a limited company (or LLP). You must provide this address to Companies House during the incorporation process and maintain a registered office throughout the life of your company.
Under the Companies Act 2006 , a registered office must be located in the UK jurisdiction where the company is incorporated (i.e. in England & Wales, Wales only, Scotland, or Northern Ireland).
Registered office details are disclosed on the central public register at Companies House. This information remains on record indefinitely, even if the address is changed or the company is dissolved.
The principal purpose of a registered office is to receive statutory correspondence and legal notices from official bodies such as Companies House and HMRC.
You can use any residential address or commercial address (apart from a PO Box), as long as it is situated in the correct jurisdiction and you provide the full postal address. However, a non-residential address is more appropriate. Aside from protecting the privacy of your home, your business with benefit from a more professional, corporate image.
You can change your registered office at any time and as often as you wish. Companies House must be notified of any such change of address within 14 days. You can report this change free of charge via Companies House online WebFiling service or Rapid Formations’ free Client Admin Portal .
Companies House will automatically notify HMRC when a change of address take place, so there will be no need to tell HMRC yourself. Documentation can continue to be served at your old address for 14 days after the change.
No, your registered office must always remain in the country of incorporation. However, if you register your business in the jurisdiction of England and Wales, you can move your registered office from England to Wales, or vice versa. These two countries are classed as one jurisdiction for the purposes of company formation and registered offices.
Directors, LLP members, subscribers, and PSCs are required to provide their residential address details during the company formation (or appointment process, if they join after incorporation). This information will only be made available to the public if used as a service address or registered office.
Rapid Formations offers a professional Service Address in London from just £26.00 per year. All of your official government mail will be delivered to your chosen service address, scanned by our Mail Team, and emailed to you free of charge within one working day.
We also provide a London Registered Office in Covent Garden, which is suitable for companies and LLPs in England & Wales. This is available for £39.00 per year. All official government mail addressed to your company will be scanned and forwarded to you by email within one working day.