Reply to: Ltd company address

[bluetoaster]

I stand by my original stance and opinion. I understand there are reasons why people would want to register their companies at their accountants but that option isn't for me.

[FarmerPalmer]

You could use either your accountant or a virtual office service.

[philip@wellwoodhoyle]

What is all this important HMRC/Co House mail and junk mail that accountants are supposed to get?

The only piece of regular mail is the annual corporation tax demand, which we get two copies of because one copy goes to the reg office, the other to the accountant. Why do I need it twice?

OK, there are usually a couple of items of junk mail for a newly formed company but very rarely anything else.

We offer reg office service but we certainly don't recommend or impose it. Our default position is for it to be the client's home or office address. If a client has a reason for not wanting that, yes, we'll set it to our office address instead. I don't really see any benefit for the accountant at all, in fact, I'd rather the small amount of "official" post went straight to the client so that they know what's going on. We don't need it as we have a database of deadlines etc., so aren't relying on a letter to prompt us to make a return.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

I'm not sure what benefits there are to the client to be honest.

Benefits to the accountant:
- ensures they get to see all important mail...some clients aren't great at forwarding on info like references/codes,
- means if the accountant slips up and misses something, they'll hear about it before the client does and can potentially fix without the client knowing,
- if other accountants send out marketing spam to the registered office address, the accountant can ensure client doesn't see it(!)

Benefits to client:
- if you move house regularly (as many of our younger clients seem to) you don't have to change the registered office address every time you move,
- ummm...

And here was me thinking I was doing them a good turn too. Dealing with paperwork without even the client knowing it can only be a good thing right? And saving them from sifting through endless junk mail too can't be bad.

[northernladuk]

Benefits to the accountant:
- ensures they get to see all important mail...some clients aren't great at forwarding on info like references/codes,
- means if the accountant slips up and misses something, they'll hear about it before the client does and can potentially fix without the client knowing,
- if other accountants send out marketing spam to the registered office address, the accountant can ensure client doesn't see it(!)

Are these not then benefits to the client???? I would have argued the first one is a great benefit.

[SueEllen]

I'm not sure what benefits there are to the client to be honest
Benefits to client:
- if you move house regularly (as many of our younger clients seem to) you don't have to change the registered office address every time you move,
.

-You don't have to deal with landlords who refuse to change the contact to allow you to use the rental address after "seeking" advice
- You don't have to panic/bin junk mail from those offering you odd services e.g. to buy your company, give you funding

[Maslins]

I'm not sure what benefits there are to the client to be honest.

Benefits to the accountant:
- ensures they get to see all important mail...some clients aren't great at forwarding on info like references/codes,
- means if the accountant slips up and misses something, they'll hear about it before the client does and can potentially fix without the client knowing,
- if other accountants send out marketing spam to the registered office address, the accountant can ensure client doesn't see it(!)

Benefits to client:
- if you move house regularly (as many of our younger clients seem to) you don't have to change the registered office address every time you move,
- ummm...

[northernladuk]

Yeah but I was under the impression that the benefits of being registered at the accountants far outweighed the rare situation you have to change your accountant. I need to read the older threads on this. I thought that advice from those was that it was a good idea. Either way, I've been registered at my accountants for nearly 10 years and haven't had a single problem..

[Ticktock]

If MyCos registered address was at an accountants and I changed accountants I would want to change the registered address away from them.

If MyCos registered address was my home / office then I would not need to do so.

Therefore, it would be more inconvenient for me to change accountants if my registered address were with them.

I don't see how these statements are wrong.

[northernladuk]

Wow.. Well I stand corrected. Am sure we've discussed this many times and it seemed to be the defacto option to pick...

He's still wrong in what he said though

[Maslins]

My personal view kinda agrees with bluetoaster. We do offer registered office address for clients but I recommend they use their home address (or office address if they have one). There's pros and cons, but my thoughts:
1) as director, you're legally responsible for the company, not your accountant. If all important post goes to them, and they drop the ball, you could be blissfully unaware that your company's fallen behind with stuff.
2) your accountant should of course be on top of things anyway, plus if they're authorised agent they'll get copies of most tax things (having reg office as them just means they'll get two copies),
3) if you do want to change accountants, and you don't know the authentication code, and your accountant doesn't play ball, can be a real headache.

Obviously it should all be fine regardless of where your registered office address is, I just feel you're in more control if it's an address where you get the post.

To the OP, Google "registered office provider" and I'm sure you'll find plenty of firms who'll act as this without also being your accountant. I personally wouldn't recommend it though, some seem to not even be capable of forwarding scanned mail.

[northernladuk]

I am sure it is very valuable for many, the OP included. I however don't see the service as being in my best interests and so choose not to use it.

Does that make me completely wrong?

From your definitions yes. You stated you took it the reason they wanted you to register it there was to make it difficult to move. That is wholly wrong. So yes.

[Willapp]

It's not wrong if that's how you prefer it. I use my accountant's address for two reasons:

1) Reminders from HMRC go direct to the accountant who can either deal with them directly or get in touch with me if necessary, saving me from dealing with them personally.

2) Your Ltd company address is public information and using your home address is likely to result in lots of unsolicited post from companies offering various "business services". Using a different address saves you from this.

At the end of the day it's personal preference but I think the privacy benefit of shielding my personal address from the world is worth it regardless, the HMRC paperwork is a benefit as I could probably handle it myself but why bother when I pay the accountant anyway.

[SueEllen]

I am sure it is very valuable for many, the OP included. I however don't see the service as being in my best interests and so choose not to use it.

Does that make me completely wrong?

You know there is a difference between registered address and trading address right?

[Crocodile85]

Thank you all,
I will read the links and perform a thorough search when home tonight!

You spoke about accountants providing this service, but what if I don't want their accountancy services but just the address one? Do you know some accountant that offer this option?