Change registered office address UK – step-by-step guide

19 October 2026

Opening paragraphs introducing the topic

Changing where your company is officially based can feel bureaucratic, but it is a routine compliance task for many small businesses. This guide explains how to change registered office address UK – what Companies House needs, how the AD01 form works, and who else you must tell after the change.

Why change your registered office address and what it means

Your registered office is the official address on the public Companies House register. It is where statutory mail is legally considered delivered and where Companies House and other authorities will send official notices.

There are several common reasons companies change their registered office address.

You have moved premises or now work from a new location.
You want a professional or serviced address for privacy or presentation.
Your company is using an accountant, agent or office provider to receive post.

Changing the registered office address UK does not change the country of incorporation. If your company is registered in England and Wales, its registered office must remain in England or Wales – the same principle applies for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Step 1 – Decide the new address and check suitability

Not every address is acceptable. Before you begin the Companies House address change process, confirm the new address meets requirements.

The registered office must be a physical postal address in the same UK jurisdiction as the company. PO Box-only addresses are usually not acceptable without an additional street address.
The address will appear on the public register. If privacy is a concern, consider using a professional registered office service or your accountant's address.
If you plan to use a commercial provider, confirm they accept company post and will forward or scan mail promptly.

If directors have personal residential addresses on the public register and you plan to update those too, remember to consider the difference between a registered office, a service address and a director's usual residential address. We cover that below.

Step 2 – Board decision and minutes

Most companies handle a registered office change via a board resolution. The exact internal process depends on company articles, but good practice is to record the decision in the minutes.

Arrange a board meeting or obtain written consent from directors as allowed by the articles.
Record the new registered office address and the effective date in the minutes or written resolution.
Keep a copy with your statutory records.

You do not normally need shareholder approval solely to change the registered office, but review your articles or shareholder agreements if you are unsure.

Step 3 – Notify Companies House – use the AD01 form

To make the Companies House address change official you must file form AD01. The AD01 form notifies Companies House of a change to the registered office address.

You can file AD01 online using your Companies House WebFiling or Companies House service where available.
Paper AD01 is also an option if you cannot file electronically.

When filing online you may need to verify identity. Companies House provides guidance on identity verification – see the GOV.UK guidance at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house.

The Companies House address change is a simple administrative filing, but accuracy is important because the address appears on the public record and is used for legal service.

AD01 form – what you put on it

The AD01 form requires the company number and the new registered office address. If filing online, follow the prompts carefully.

Ensure the address includes the correct postcode and is in the correct jurisdiction.
Confirm the effective date for the change if the form asks.
Check whether any signature or additional confirmation is required for the filing method you choose.

Keep a copy of the submitted AD01 and Companies House acknowledgement with your statutory records.

Service address vs registered office – understand the difference

Directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and company secretaries may supply a service address which is recorded on the public register in place of a residential address. This is different from the registered office.

Registered office – the companys official address for statutory and legal correspondence. It appears on the companys public record.
Service address – an address used by individuals (directors and PSCs) for receiving official notices and correspondence. It can be different from their residential address.

If you change the registered office to an accountant or service provider, directors may keep a separate service address for privacy. Remember to update any service addresses separately if the individuals want them changed on the public register.

Notify HMRC and other bodies after the change

Updating Companies House does not automatically update all other organisations. You must tell other parties about the change to avoid missed notices or compliance issues.

HMRC – update your company and director details with HMRC. For personal details, HMRC explains how to tell them about changes at https://www.gov.uk/tell-hmrc-change-of-details. Companies should also update any PAYE, VAT or corporation tax contacts.
Payroll – if you run payroll, update your PAYE settings and confirm the company address on your PAYE scheme. You may need to inform employees about the change.
Bank and finance providers – notify your business bank accounts, lenders and card providers.
Customers and suppliers – update invoices, letterheads, websites and contracts to the new address.
Insurance – amend business insurance policies to ensure coverage remains valid at the new address.
VAT – if registered for VAT, check whether your VAT records or contact details need updating. You may also need to update your VAT registration paperwork if the registered office change affects the contact address.
Vehicles – if company vehicles are registered to the business or directors, update the vehicle log book (V5C) via https://www.gov.uk/change-address-v5c and check Direct Debit details at https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-direct-debit where relevant.

Keep a checklist and confirm each body has accepted the new address.

Practical checklist – who to tell and when

To make the process clean and avoid missed correspondence, follow a checklist.

File AD01 with Companies House and keep the acknowledgment.
Update HMRC records for corporation tax, PAYE and VAT as applicable.
Notify your bank, insurers and lenders.
Update invoices, contracts, websites and stationery.
Tell your accountant, payroll provider or company secretary.
Notify third parties who send regular notices, for example funders and landlords.

You may find it helpful to set a short timeline and assign responsibilities to ensure nothing is missed.

Using an accountant or registered office provider

Many small companies use their accountant or a registered office provider to receive statutory mail. This can help protect privacy and ensure important notices are managed promptly.

If you adopt a provider address, get written confirmation of the service level – how mail is handled, how fast it is forwarded or scanned, and any costs.
Ensure the provider allows their address to be used as a registered office and understands company law obligations.
Remember to update your statutory books to show the new registered office and store the provider agreement in your records.

Using a professional address does not remove directors responsibilities to ensure the company receives notices and acts on them.

What changes are public and what stays private

A registered office change is public. Anyone searching Companies House will see the new address on the companys entry. However, you can protect personal residential details using a service address.

The registered office appears on the public company record.
Directors and PSCs can use a service address to avoid publishing their home address.
The company must still keep its statutory records available for inspection at the registered office or a single alternative inspection location if one is chosen.

If anonymity or privacy is a priority, discuss options with your accountant or legal adviser.

Common questions and pitfalls to avoid

There are a few common errors that lead to delays or complications when changing a registered office address.

Filing the wrong jurisdiction address – make sure the address is in the correct legal jurisdiction for the company.
Forgetting to update HMRC and PAYE – this can lead to missed tax correspondence and potential penalties.
Not recording the board resolution – keep good minutes and statutory records.
Using a provider without a clear mail-handling policy – this can result in missed statutory notices.

If you are unsure about any step, seek professional advice or contact Companies House for clarification.

After the change – ongoing compliance considerations

A registered office change is one piece of company compliance. Keep these ongoing obligations in mind.

Confirmation statements and annual accounts must be filed from the registered office address shown on the public register.
Ensure the registered office is able to accept service of documents, including legal notices.
If you later move again, repeat the AD01 filing process and update the same organisations.

Maintaining an up-to-date registered office helps avoid missed legal deadlines and ensures regulators can contact the company when needed.

When you might need extra help – complex situations

Some changes are straightforward, but others can be more complex.

Moving across jurisdictions within the UK – you cannot simply change jurisdiction by changing the registered office. Seek legal or company law advice.
If your company is part of a group or has secured lenders, check whether lender consents or shareholder approval are required.
If the company is insolvent or under investigation, speak to your legal advisers before making address changes.

Figures can support you with compliance, minute drafting, and ensuring filings are completed correctly. See our Statutory Accounts & Tax and Bookkeeping & Xero services if you need ongoing support.

UK tax and legal accuracy

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax or financial advice. Please speak to a qualified accountant before taking action. Tax year 2026/27.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How do I change registered office address UK?

A: File form AD01 with Companies House, record a board resolution or written minutes of the decision, and notify HMRC, your bank, insurers and other parties. Use the Companies House online service or paper filing as required.

Q: What is the difference between a service address and a registered office?

A: The registered office is the companys official address for statutory mail. A service address is used by directors or PSCs to receive official correspondence in place of their residential address. Both can appear on the public register but serve different roles.

Q: Do I need to tell HMRC when I change the registered office?

A: Yes. Updating Companies House does not automatically update HMRC records. For individual personal detail changes HMRC guidance is at https://www.gov.uk/tell-hmrc-change-of-details. For company-level updates, notify HMRC about PAYE, VAT and corporation tax contacts.

Q: What is the AD01 form and where do I get it?

A: AD01 is the Companies House form to notify a change of registered office address. You can file AD01 online using Companies House services or complete a paper AD01 form. Companies House also requires identity verification for some online filings – see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house.

Q: Will changing the registered office change the companys legal jurisdiction?

A: No. A change of registered office does not alter the legal jurisdiction of the company. If you need to change the jurisdiction, seek legal advice as the process is more complex.

Summary and next steps

Changing your registered office address UK is a routine compliance task but it must be done correctly to avoid missed notices and legal issues. In short:

Choose a suitable address and record the board decision.
File AD01 with Companies House and verify identity if required.
Notify HMRC, banks, insurers and other key contacts.

If you would like help with the AD01 filing, updating HMRC records, or ensuring your statutory books are up to date, Figures can help. Book a discovery call with our team to discuss your situation and next steps – book a discovery call.

You can also explore our Statutory Accounts & Tax and Payroll & PAYE services to keep all compliance matters under control.