Updated for 2025 — covers Companies House rules, HMRC expectations, director privacy, and UK bank onboarding realities.
Quick Answer (2-min read)
A PO Box cannot be used as your company’s Registered Office Address at Companies House.
UK law requires a real, physical, deliverable street address — not a mailbox, not a forwarding depot, and not a PO Box.
This rule ensures:
- HMRC and Companies House can deliver statutory notices
- Bailiffs & legal service teams can serve documents
- The company is tied to a clear UK jurisdiction (E&W / Scotland / NI)
A PO Box can still be used for general correspondence, but never as your official registered office.
Why a PO Box is not acceptable as a Registered Office
Under the Companies Act 2006:
- The registered office must be a physical address that can receive documents
- It must show a geographical location
- It must indicate the correct jurisdiction
- It must be suitable for service of legal documents
A PO Box fails on all four points.
More specifically:
❌ It doesn't show jurisdiction (e.g. England & Wales)
❌ Cannot reliably receive legal notices
❌ Not a staffed or managed address
❌ Banks reject PO Boxes during verification
→ Instead, founders should use a Registered Office Address in London.
This is why Companies House explicitly states:
“A PO Box address is not acceptable as your registered office.”
When a PO Box can be used (limited scenarios)
A PO Box is acceptable for:
- Marketing mail
- Customer support mail
- General correspondence
- Non-statutory communication
BUT — your registered office must still be a street address, such as a
Central London virtual office.
The modern solution: Virtual Office with a real London address
If you work remotely or want privacy, a virtual office is the recommended setup:
Best-practice configuration (2025):
Registered Office Address
→ Use a credible street address like EC2A Registered Office.Director Service Address
Keeps your home address private (public register protection).AI Mail Management
Tools like AI categories, urgency detection, and instant summaries save founders hours each month.On-demand forwarding
Forward only important mail → no unnecessary postage.
This setup is fully compliant and trusted by UK banks, HMRC, and Companies House.
BetaOffice example (compliant + privacy-first)
BetaOffice provides:
- ✔ Central London Registered Office (EC2A)
- ✔ Director Service Address
- ✔ AI-sorted mail (summaries, deadlines, categories)
- ✔ Searchable digital records
- ✔ Forward only when needed
- ✔ GDPR-secure dashboard
👉 See plans
👉 Or explore our PO Box alternatives in London
Detailed Checklist (for full compliance)
Your setup is correct if:
- Your registered office is a real street address, not a PO Box
- Address matches your UK jurisdiction
- You use a separate director service address for privacy
- Mail scanning is reliable and secure
- You have forwarding options for HMRC, banks, CH reminders
- Your website & invoice footer show the correct details
For many founders, the simplest solution is a cheap virtual office in London that includes both ROA + director privacy.
Bank onboarding: PO Box = automatic fail
Most UK banks explicitly reject PO Boxes:
- Monzo Business
- Starling Bank
- Tide
- Revolut Business
- Wise Business
- HSBC / Lloyds / NatWest
They require:
✔ A real UK address
✔ Clear proof of Registered Office
✔ Match with Companies House
A PO Box cannot satisfy these checks — but a
Verified London business address does.
Mini-FAQ (high-intent SEO terms)
Can I use a PO Box if I also provide a street address?
Yes — as long as the Registered Office is the street address, such as a
London virtual office.
Can I register in London while living abroad?
Yes — non-UK residents can use a London Registered Office as long as it is a real deliverable address.
Can legal documents be served to a PO Box?
No. Legal service must be possible at the Registered Office.
Is a “Mailbox address” the same as a Registered Office?
Not unless it is paired with a real physical location capable of receiving statutory mail.
Connect with us (LinkedIn & X)
For founder tips, compliance guidance, and product updates:
- LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/generation-beta-digital-ltd
- X (Twitter) → https://x.com/BetaOfficeUK
These social signals strengthen Google’s understanding of the BetaOffice brand entity.
Founder takeaway
A PO Box is fine for general mail —
but for legal, banking, HMRC and compliance purposes,
you must use a real UK street address as your Registered Office.
If privacy, compliance, and automation matter:
Upgrade to a Central London presence with AI-sorted mail.
Get started — 7-day risk-free trial.
