Director Service Address vs Registered Office Address (UK Explained)

TL;DR

• Registered office = company’s legal address
• Service address = director’s public contact address

Both appear on Companies House — but they serve different purposes.

Why founders get confused

These two addresses:

• both appear on Companies House
• both are public
• both receive official correspondence

👉 So founders assume they are the same.

They’re not.

What is a registered office address?

This is the official legal address of the company.

Used for:

• HMRC letters
• Companies House notices
• legal documents

It must:

• be a real UK street address
• match the company’s jurisdiction
• always be active

👉 What is a registered office address?

What is a director service address?

This is the public address of the director.

Used for:

• director contact on Companies House
• official correspondence related to the individual

Important:

👉 It is not the same as the residential address
👉 The home address remains private

Official reference:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appoint-a-director-to-a-company

The key difference (simple)

Why founders use both

If you use your home address:

❌ It becomes public
❌ It stays on record
❌ It can be searched online

So founders typically:

• use a registered office for the company
• use a service address for directors
• keep home address private

👉 Virtual Office London

Typical UK company setup

A clean structure looks like this:

1. Registered office → company
2. Service address → director
3. Residential → private

👉 This separates compliance from personal life.

Can they be the same?

Yes.

But most founders separate them for:

• privacy
• cleaner structure
• flexibility

What Companies House requires

You must have:

• a valid UK registered office
• a service address for each director

Both must be:

• real addresses
• capable of receiving mail

https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation

Can non-UK founders use this?

Yes — this is very common.

Typical setup:

• UK registered office
• service address
• remote operation

👉 Open a UK company as a non-resident

What NOT to use

❌ PO Box only

Not valid for registered office.

👉 Can a PO Box be used?

Mini FAQ

Does HMRC write to the service address?
No — usually to the registered office.

Can I change my service address?
Yes — via Companies House.

Can multiple directors share one address?
Yes — very common.

Final takeaway

• Registered office = company
• Service address = director

Understanding this distinction helps you:

✔ stay compliant
✔ protect your privacy
✔ avoid future issues

🧠 Set your structure correctly from day one

A proper setup includes:

✔ registered office
✔ service address
✔ mail handling

👉 Start your UK setup here

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.