Service Addresses can Provide Privacy for Contractors

Since the main implementation of the Companies Act 2006, which took affect on 1st October 2009, company directors have been afforded a new element of privacy with the introduction of ‘service addresses‘ that can be used in place of residential addresses on the public record.

Lack of privacy in the past

In the past, some directors have been uncomfortable with their personal information being visible to the public. 

Although an accountant or virtual office provider can provide a registered office address for limited companies, this service has not previously been available for directors’ addresses. 

Providing a service address

If you decide to provide a service address to Companies House, your details will only be available to certain credit reference agencies to carry out credit and money laundering checks, and public sector bodies such as HMRC and the Police.

The details of directors who have a Confidentiality Order in place (if they are in the security industry for example) will be visible to an even smaller set of organisations.

All company directors must provide two separate addresses to Companies House – their usual residential address, and a service address (which can be the same). 

The service address can be any address where official documents can be sent, and not a PO Box or DX Number.

If both addresses provided by a director are the same, this fact will not be made apparent on the public record.

How to update your addresses

To update the addresses of any company officials (director or company secretary), you should complete Form CH01 which is available from the Companies House website. 

You or your accountant can submit the changes via WebFiling, or use a paper version of the form. There are no charges for changing directors’ details.

Written by James Leckie from IT Contracting.