How can overseas business owners solve the problem of not having a UK address?
- TBA
- Jun 6
- 4 min read
Since the start of the new financial year, HMRC and Companies House have significantly ramped up audits of individuals and businesses.
HMRC has raised the interest rate on overdue tax payments from the previous base rate + 2.5% to the Bank of England base rate + 4%.
Meanwhile, Companies House, now empowered to impose fines, has already issued 234 penalties totalling £58,500 to companies found to be using false registration information.
Among these penalties, most relate to offences such as submitting false director details, forging information about persons with significant control, and using fake or unauthorised addresses.
Since UK company registration requires a real, compliant UK address, this has become a major headache for some business owners.
Today, we’ll discuss what to do if your UK company’s registered address is disputed or deemed non-compliant—and how overseas business owners can still register a UK company without a physical address in the country.
Why might a company address be disputed?
Companies House may raise objections to a registered office address, service address, or principal place of business for several reasons, including (but not limited to):
Fraudulent use of an incorrect address (e.g. to register a company, apply for credit, or falsely appoint directors);
Use of a residential or commercial address without the property owner’s consent or knowledge;
The registered office not meeting the legal criteria for a ‘proper’ address;
Continued use of a third-party address service that has lapsed due to unpaid fees, incomplete identity checks, or abuse of the service.
If your company’s address might be in dispute, you can apply to Companies House to change the registered office, LLP address, or service address by submitting Form RP07.
What is Form RP07 and what is it used for?
Companies House requires companies, LLPs, and certain associated individuals to provide official address details, which are made publicly available. All addresses submitted must be accurate and legally authorised for use.
If the address is disputed, Form RP07 can be used to formally request a change.
However, companies or LLPs cannot use RP07 to change their own registered address, nor to change service or principal addresses of directors, secretaries, PSCs, or LLP members.
How do you complete Form RP07?
Form RP07 is available from Companies House.
It can be submitted online, or downloaded and submitted by post.
Information required includes:
Applicant’s full name (or company name if the applicant is a legal entity);
Contact address and email;
Name and registration number of the company involved;
The disputed address;
How the address is being used (registered office, service address, or principal place of business);
Reason for the change request.
The applicant must sign the form and include supporting evidence, such as:
A utility bill (dated within the last 6 months) for the disputed address;
A Land Registry title document (dated within the last 12 months);
A written agreement confirming the applicant is authorised to use the address;
Proof of ownership (e.g. freehold/leasehold documents);
If the applicant is a service provider, contract start/end dates must be supplied.
Companies House will assess each case based on the documents provided.
Once submitted, Companies House will send the applicant a confirmation letter and notify the company or individual using the disputed address. That party then has 28 days to prove they have the right to use the address. If they fail to do so, or if Companies House deems the evidence insufficient, the disputed address will be removed from the register and replaced with a default address.
However, if the company or individual updates their address before the end of the 28-day period, they can avoid the use of the default address.
Companies House default addresses
1. England and WalesCompanies House Default AddressPO Box 4385Companies HouseCrown WayCardiff, CF14 3UZ
2. ScotlandCompanies House Default AddressPO Box 24238Edinburgh, EH7 9HR
3. Northern IrelandCompanies House Default AddressPO Box 2381Belfast, BT1 9DY
What if you don’t have a UK address?
Whether you’re a UK-based business owner seeking to use a commercial address instead of your home address to protect privacy, or an international entrepreneur wanting to register a UK company, using a registered office address service can help meet legal requirements.
These services typically include:
Basic Registered Address
A legally compliant UK address for official company registration and receipt of government correspondence (e.g. from HMRC and Companies House).
Government Mail Handling
Receiving and managing official mail from HMRC and Companies House, with email notifications, scanning, or postal forwarding options.
Mail Scanning & Forwarding
Providing scanned copies of letters via email. Physical mail can be forwarded to a specified address (postage fees may apply).
Enhanced Address Services
Some addresses can also serve as a business correspondence address, enabling receipt of customer or partner mail—not just government letters.
If you have questions about your company address or would like to learn more about setting up a UK company or using our agent address services, contact our team for more information.
For individuals and businesses looking for UK taxation services, use our contact form to get in touch for more information.
Get in touch with us at info@tbgroupuk.com or for a free one-to-one consultation.
