A registered office address is the official address of an Irish company on the CRO register. Every company must have one in Ireland. It is where legal documents, court orders, and CRO correspondence are delivered. Here is what it means and how to find or change it.
What Is a Registered Office?
Under Section 50 of the Companies Act 2014, every Irish company must have a registered office situated in the State. This is not necessarily where the company trades — it is the address where official correspondence is legally deemed to be delivered.
The registered office must be a physical address in Ireland. A PO Box is not acceptable.
What Is It Used For?
- CRO correspondence: Annual return reminders, strike-off notices, and filing confirmations
- Legal proceedings: Court documents and statutory demands can be served at this address
- Revenue correspondence: Tax notices may be sent here
- Public register: The address is visible to anyone searching the CRO register
How to Find a Company's Registered Address
Search for any company on Businesses.ie — the registered office address is displayed on every company profile page. You can also find it on CORE (core.cro.ie).
Can You Use a Virtual Office?
Yes. Many companies use a registered agent or virtual office service to provide a registered office address. This is legal and common, especially for:
- Home-based businesses that don't want their home address on public record
- Foreign companies registering an Irish entity
- Companies using serviced office space
However, someone must be available at the address during business hours to accept post and legal documents.
What Happens If You Don't Update It?
If a company moves without updating its registered address with the CRO:
- CRO notices go to the old address: Including strike-off warnings — you may not receive them
- Legal documents served at the old address are valid: A court summons delivered to the registered office is legally deemed served, even if nobody collects it
- The CRO may initiate strike-off: If letters are returned undelivered
How to Change the Registered Office (Form B2)
- Log in to CORE at core.cro.ie
- Select the company
- Choose "Form B2 — Change of Registered Office"
- Enter the new address
- Pay the fee: €15 online (€30 on paper)
- The change takes effect on the date the CRO registers it
The change must be filed within 14 days of the actual move.
Registered Office vs. Trading Address
| Feature | Registered Office | Trading Address |
|---|---|---|
| Required by law | Yes | No |
| On CRO register | Yes | No |
| Legal documents served here | Yes | No (unless same address) |
| Must be in Ireland | Yes | Not necessarily |
| Can be a virtual office | Yes | Yes |
Summary
Every Irish company must have a registered office address in Ireland. It is where legal and CRO documents are served. Find any company's registered address on Businesses.ie. To change it, file a Form B2 via CORE (€15 online). Failure to update after moving can result in missed legal notices and CRO strike-off proceedings.