The short answer
A registered office is the official address Companies House and HMRC use to contact the company, and it appears on the public register. A trading address is where the business actually operates. They can be the same or different, but the registered office must be a real UK address where post can be received.
Checked 26 October 2026. Rates for 2026/27.Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registered office | Mandatory, public, in the same UK nation as registration |
| Trading address | Where you work, optional |
| Directors’ service address | Can differ from home address |
| Change registered office | Online, free |
| Display | Must appear on letters, website and invoices |
What a registered office is
The registered office is the official address of the company. It is where Companies House, HMRC and other official bodies send formal documents, such as notices and legal papers. By law every company must have one, and it must be in the part of the UK where the company is registered, which means England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Documents delivered to the registered office are treated as having been received by the company, even if no one reads them. That is why it is important to use an address where post is collected reliably and where somebody can act quickly if a legal notice arrives.
What a trading address is
A trading address is the place where your business operates, such as an office, shop, studio or workshop. Many small companies work from home or remotely and have no separate trading premises. Others have several trading locations. You are not required to register a trading address with Companies House.
Your trading address matters for tax, insurance, planning, business rates and licensing. If customers visit you, it also affects your signage and local registrations. It might be the same as the registered office, but it does not have to be.
Using your home address
Many directors use their home as the registered office. It is simple and free, but the address becomes public on the Companies House register, and it may appear in searches and on third-party directories. For some people, that is a privacy concern. Companies House can protect a director’s home address in limited cases, such as risk of violence or intimidation, but only under specific conditions.
Directors also have a service address on the register, which can be different from their home address. Using the registered office as the service address keeps a home address private without needing special protection.
Using an accountant or registered office service
A common alternative is to use the address of an accountant or a company formation agent. Registered office services typically forward post, scan documents and keep your home address off the register, usually for between £0 and £100 a year. Some accountants offer this as part of a package.
Check that the provider will deal with official mail promptly and tell you quickly when something important arrives, because missed legal notices can lead to default judgments or strike-off proceedings.
Rules on displaying the address
A company must show its registered name and registered office address on its business letters, order forms and website. It must also display the registered number and the place of registration. If you use a different trading name, the registered name still needs to appear.
Failing to display these details can result in a fine, so make sure your website footer, email footers and invoices include them. It is a simple compliance task that is often forgotten.
How to change the registered office
You can change the registered office online using a Companies House form, called an AD01, at no cost. The change takes effect when the form is accepted. You do not need shareholder approval unless the articles state otherwise. You must then update your records with HMRC, your bank and other organisations, and tell customers if needed.
Remember to update the address on all documents, including your website and invoices. If you move to a different country of the UK, you may need to re-register the company, so ask for advice first.
Which option should you choose?
If you work from home and do not mind the address being public, the simplest choice is to use your home as both registered and trading address. If you want to keep your home address private, use a registered office service or your accountant’s address. If you have an office and customers visit, use that office as the registered address too.
Choose an address that is stable and reliable. Changing the registered office frequently creates paperwork, and missing an official letter can cost you far more than a small annual fee.
What happens if you miss official post
The registered office is where legal notices arrive, including court papers, HMRC letters and Companies House warnings. If nobody checks the mail, the company can miss a deadline. HMRC may issue penalties, Companies House may begin strike-off action, and a creditor may obtain a county court judgment, all without the director knowing until too late.
To avoid this, set up post forwarding or scanning if you use a service, check your home mail daily if you use your home address, and keep Companies House and HMRC email contacts up to date. A missed letter is one of the most preventable causes of company problems.
A practical comparison
A freelancer working from home might keep their home as both the trading and registered address and accept that it is public. A contractor who moves often might prefer a stable registered office service, so the address on the register does not change each time. A shop or studio will use its premises as the trading address, and often as the registered office too.
If your circumstances change, you can update either address at any time. The key is to make sure Companies House always has a current registered office where post can be delivered.
Quick checklist for your addresses
Check that your registered office is a physical UK address in the correct nation, that post is collected regularly, and that the address is shown on your website, invoices and letters. Confirm that directors’ service addresses are set as you want them, and that HMRC, your bank and your insurer hold the same registered office. If you move, file the change with Companies House first and then update the others. A short annual review of where official post goes is enough to keep the company safe from missed notices.
The bottom line
A registered office is the official address Companies House and HMRC use to contact the company, and it appears on the public register. If you would rather not do it alone, our fixed fees start at £45.83 + VAT a month.
Frequently asked questions
What is a registered office?
It is the official address of a company, registered with Companies House, where legal notices and official post are sent. It must be a physical UK address in the same nation as the company’s registration.
Can my registered office be a PO box?
No. Companies House does not accept a PO box as a registered office. It must be a physical address where documents can be delivered by hand.
Is my home address public if I use it as a registered office?
Yes. The registered office appears on the public register, so if you use your home address, anyone can see it. A registered office service keeps your home address off the register.
Do I need a trading address?
You do not need to register a trading address with Companies House, but you must keep a real business address for tax, insurance and other purposes.
How do I change my registered office?
File an AD01 form online with Companies House, free of charge. Update your details with HMRC, your bank and your customers as well.
Can I use a virtual office as my registered office?
Yes, as long as it is a physical address where documents can be delivered and the provider handles post reliably. Many virtual office services offer a registered office address at a low annual fee.
Do I have to tell HMRC if my registered office changes?
Yes. After updating Companies House, tell HMRC separately, because they hold their own record of the company address and send tax correspondence there.
Can the registered office be different from the trading address?
Yes. Many companies use an accountant’s or a service provider’s address as the registered office, while the business operates from home or another location.
This article is general information, not personal tax or financial advice. Rules and rates change, so check GOV.UK or speak to an accountant about your circumstances. Rates shown are for 2026/27, last checked November 2026.