A service address is an important issue for any UK limited company director, LLP member, secretary, or person with significant control (PSC). It serves as the official correspondence address for these individuals and is a legal requirement under UK law.
What is a Service Address?
A service address is the official correspondence address for an individual company director, LLP member, secretary, or person with significant control (e.g., a shareholder who owns more than 25% of the company’s shares).
It is where they will receive their official government mail. The address must be a physical location, not a P.O. Box, and must be situated in the same country where the company is registered – England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. These address details are displayed on public record.
As a director of a company, you need to supply 2 addresses to Companies House:
- a correspondence address
- your home address
Your correspondence address appears on the public register, for all to see. Your usual residential address is kept on a private register that’s only available to certain public authorities such as the police.
Why Do I Need a Service Address?
The service address is a legal requirement for limited company directors, secretaries, subscribers (the first members who join a company during the incorporation process), LLP members, and people with significant control (PSCs).
It is where they receive official government mail and legal notices from HMRC, relating to the individual’s role in the company/LLP.
The service address is displayed on the Companies House public register, which means it’s publicly available.
However, using a service address facility can protect the privacy of your home address and prevent unsolicited mail and visitors arriving at your place of residence.
Choosing a Service Address
When choosing a service address, you have several options:
- Home address: Some directors use their home address as the service address. While this is a cost-effective option, it does mean your home address will be publicly available, which may raise privacy concerns.
- Business premises: If you have a physical business location, this can also serve as your service address. However, if you move premises, you’ll need to update your service address.
- Third-party service provider: Many individuals opt to use a third-party service provider’s address as their service address. This can provide a level of privacy and professionalism, but there will be a cost involved.
Changing a Service Address
If you need to change your service address, you must notify Companies House promptly. The change is usually processed within a few days, but it’s important to ensure all relevant parties are informed to avoid missing crucial correspondence.
Forwarding of Service Address Mail
All official government mail received at the service address will be forwarded to you, typically by scan and email, on a daily basis. It’s important to note that this service only covers official government mail and does not include general business correspondence.
Service Address vs Registered Address
It’s important to distinguish between a service address and a registered address.
The registered address is the official address of the company, while the service address is the official correspondence address for individual company directors, LLP members, secretaries, or PSCs.
They can be the same, but they don’t have to be.
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