It’s easy to be daunted by the different addresses that you must provide when completing a company formation. The registered office, service address and residential address. Then, when you throw the business address into the mix, things seem even more complex. But don’t worry, it’s easily explained. Let’s take a look.
The registered office
This is the official address for a UK limited company. If you were to complete a search on the Companies House register, this is the primary address that will show up. The address must be based in the UK.
A company does not have to conduct any trading activity from the registered office. In fact, there’s no requirement for the company to have any officers or staff based here, provided any official company documents that arrive at the address (for example, mail from Companies House and HMRC) are seen by the company officers.
The service address
Also known as the correspondence address, this is the official address for the company directors, shareholders, secretaries and people with significant control. Like the registered office, this address is on the Companies House register. Unlike the registered office, this address can be based outside of the UK.
Again, despite the official nature of the address, no business activity needs to be conducted at the address, nor do officers or staff have to be based at it.
The residential address
When adding your directors, shareholders, secretaries and people with significant control, as well as having to provide a service address, you will also need to give a residential address. This has to be the legitimate residential address. This does not go on the public register unless it’s also being used as the registered office or as a service address.
Companies House requests this address for their own information and will only give it out to other official bodies in specific circumstances, for example, suspected criminal activity.
The business address
This is the address that is given to banks, customers, suppliers, partners and other business contacts. Put simply, it’s where the company’s non-statutory mail is sent. It is not an official Companies House address and so will not be placed on the Companies House register.
Like the registered office and service address, a company does not have to conduct any trading from the business address, nor do any officers/staff need to be based there.
We hope this has cleared up any confusion you may have had about limited company addresses. If you do still have any questions, please leave a comment and we’ll be happy to help.
