A Change of Registered Office is the formal process of updating a company's official legal address with the company registry. This ensures that all statutory correspondence, legal notices, and official government mail are delivered to the correct physical location as required by law.
A Change of Registered Office is the formal process of updating a company's official legal address with the company registry to ensure all statutory correspondence and legal notices are delivered to the correct location.
A Change of Registered Office occurs when a company decides to move its official headquarters from one physical location to another. In Ireland, every company is legally required to have a registered office address within the jurisdiction. This address serves as the official point of contact for the Corporate Enforcement Authority, Revenue, and the courts. It is not necessarily where the day-to-day business operations happen, but it is where legal documents are "served" and where statutory registers are often kept for public inspection.
When you undergo a Change of Registered Office, you are essentially notifying the state and the public that your legal "mailbox" has moved. This is a mandatory compliance step; simply updating your website or letterhead is not enough. Failing to update the company registry can lead to missed legal deadlines, as documents sent to an old address are considered legally delivered even if you never physically receive them.
To formalize a Change of Registered Office in Ireland, you must file a specific statutory form (known as a Form B2) with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). This filing must be completed online through the CORE portal. The notification should ideally be made as soon as the move happens, though the legislation typically allows a small window for the update to be processed. Once the form is submitted and recorded, the new address becomes the official record available to the public.
Yes, a Change of Registered Office is a formal corporate action that should be sanctioned by the company's directors. Before filing the paperwork, the board of directors should hold a meeting (or pass a written resolution) to approve the move to the new address. This ensures that the change is documented in the company's internal minute books, providing a clear paper trail for governance and compliance audits in the future.
Beyond the official filing for a Change of Registered Office, you must update several other parties. This includes Revenue (for tax purposes), your bank, insurance providers, and any professional advisors like your accountant or solicitor. You must also update your company stationery, including letterheads and emails, and ensure the new address is displayed on your website to comply with transparency regulations.
When performing a Change of Registered Office for an Irish company, the new address must be a physical location within the Republic of Ireland. It cannot be a PO Box number alone; there must be a physical point where documents can be delivered. While many startups use their accountant's office or a dedicated registered office service provider to maintain privacy and ensure compliance, the address must always be accessible during business hours.
Forgetting a Change of Registered Office can have serious consequences. If the company registry or Revenue sends a formal notice to an old address and it goes unanswered, your company could be marked for involuntary strike-off. This process leads to the dissolution of the company and the freezing of its bank accounts. Furthermore, if legal proceedings are initiated against the company, the "service" of papers at the registered office on file is deemed valid, meaning you could lose a court case by default if you aren't there to receive the summons.
Technically, you can use a residential address when initiating a Change of Registered Office, but it is often discouraged for privacy reasons. The registered office address is a matter of public record, meaning anyone can find your home address by searching the company registry. Many founders choose to use professional address services to keep their home life private whilst ensuring that all official government mail is handled by professionals.
