Every Australian company has two addresses on the ASIC register that mean different things. The registered office is where official notices and legal documents go. The principal place of business is where the company actually trades. Mixing them up, or forgetting to update one, is a common source of missed letters and ASIC late fees.
This guide explains what each address is for, the ASIC rules on PO boxes and occupier consent, whether home, coworking and virtual offices work, the 28-day time limit for changes, and how to update ASIC and the ABR in 2026-27. Every rule was checked against ASIC company address guidance, the ABR and the Corporations Act on 7 October 2026.
It is for directors of small companies, new company owners and anyone moving premises. If you are still choosing a structure, see our sole trader to company guide and company registration costs.
Key takeaways
- The registered office is the company’s official address for notices; the principal place of business is where it mainly conducts business.
- Both must be physical street addresses in Australia. Neither can be a PO Box.
- If the company does not occupy the registered office, you need the occupier’s written consent.
- Tell ASIC about any address change within 28 days, or a late fee applies.
- A registered office change lodged online takes effect 7 days after submission unless you choose a later date.
- Update the ABR separately, also within 28 days.
Registered office vs principal place of business at a glance
| Feature | Registered office | Principal place of business |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Official address for ASIC notices and service of documents | Main address where the company conducts business |
| Physical Australian address | Yes | Yes |
| PO Box allowed | No | No |
| Can be a third party’s premises | Yes, with occupier’s written consent | Only if the business is actually run from there |
| Shown on companies register | Yes | Yes |
| Notify ASIC of changes | Within 28 days (Form 484) | Within 28 days (Form 484) |
Source: ASIC – company addresses, ASIC – change a company address, ABR – update your ABN details, checked 7 October 2026.
What is a registered office?
The Corporations Act 2001 requires every company to have a registered office in Australia. ASIC says it must be a physical street address, cannot be a PO Box, and is where ASIC sends official notices. It does not need to be where the business is carried on, which is why many companies use their accountant’s office.
If the company does not occupy the premises, you must keep a record of the occupier’s written consent to use the address. Public companies also have opening hours rules for the registered office under section 145; proprietary companies do not.
What is a principal place of business?
The principal place of business is the main address where your company conducts business, such as a workshop, shop, warehouse or office. Like the registered office it must be a physical address, not a PO Box, and it is searchable on the ASIC registers. Companies can also give ASIC an optional contact address, which can be a PO Box.
Can both addresses be the same?
Yes. A café, clinic or single office often uses one address for both. Splitting them makes sense when:
- you work from home and do not want that address on the register as the company’s official address
- your premises are a site or warehouse where nobody reliably handles mail
- your team is spread out and an agent can deal with official notices
Whatever you choose, the company’s name must be displayed at its registered office and places of business under section 144 of the Act.
Do home, coworking and virtual offices work?
| Address type | As registered office | As principal place of business |
|---|---|---|
| Your home | Yes, but it appears on the register | Yes, if you run the business from home |
| Accountant or agent’s office | Yes, with written occupier consent | No, unless you trade from there |
| Coworking or serviced office | Yes, with the operator’s written consent | Yes, if that is where you work |
| Virtual office address | Yes, with written consent | Generally no, as the business is not conducted there |
| PO Box | No | No (contact address only) |
ASIC search products can include officeholders’ residential addresses. An officeholder worried about their safety can ask ASIC to hide their residential address.
How do you change a company address?
- If the new registered office belongs to someone else, get the occupier’s signed consent first.
- Log in to ASIC’s online services and lodge Form 484 with the date of change and the new address, confirming whether the company occupies the premises or naming the occupier. Your ASIC registered agent can do this for you.
- Lodge within 28 days of the change. A registered office change takes effect 7 days after you submit the form unless you specify a later date.
- Update the ABR. The ABR requires ABN details to be updated within 28 days of becoming aware of a change, and changes made online take effect immediately.
- Tell your bank, insurers, the ATO contacts you deal with, and customers.
What happens if you notify ASIC late?
ASIC says a company must tell it within 28 days of an address change or a late fee applies. Its late fees page sets one fee for lodging a change up to one month late and a higher fee for more than one month late. Check the current amounts on that page when you lodge, because ASIC fees are indexed each 1 July (the 2026-27 changes lifted the proprietary company annual review fee to $342, covered in our annual review fee guide).
The bigger risk is often missing a document. Notices sent to an old registered office still go to the address on the register.
Worked example: moving the workshop and the registered office
Bright Spark Electrical Pty Ltd moves its workshop on 3 August 2026 and decides to use its accountant’s office as the registered office from the same week.
Deadline for both changes: 3 August + 28 days = 31 August 2026.
The director gets the accountant’s signed occupier consent and lodges Form 484 on 10 August, choosing the earliest date. The registered office change takes effect 10 August + 7 days = 17 August 2026.
The director also updates the business address on the ABR the same day. Both changes are lodged 21 days before the deadline (31 – 10 = 21), so no late fee applies.
Rule of thumb: Treat any move as two jobs: Form 484 with ASIC and an ABN update with the ABR, both inside 28 days. Diarise the deadline the day you sign the lease.
Common mistakes with company addresses
- Using a PO Box for the registered office or principal place of business. Use it only as the contact address.
- No occupier consent on file for an accountant’s, agent’s or coworking address.
- Updating ASIC but not the ABR, or the other way round.
- Missing the 28-day window after a move and paying a late fee.
- Assuming the registered office must be where you trade: it does not, but the principal place of business must reflect where the company actually operates.
FAQ about registered offices and principal places of business
Can my registered office be a PO Box?
No. ASIC says the registered office must be a physical street address in Australia and cannot be a PO Box. The same applies to the principal place of business. A PO Box can only be used as the optional contact address, which is where ASIC can send correspondence if you do not want it going to the registered office.
Can my accountant’s office be my registered office?
Yes. The registered office does not have to be where the company trades. If the company does not occupy the premises, it needs the occupier’s written consent, and ASIC asks for the occupier’s name when you notify the change. Keep the signed consent with the company records in case ASIC or a court asks for it.
How long do I have to tell ASIC about a new address?
A company must tell ASIC within 28 days of any change to its registered office or principal place of business, or a late fee applies. A change of registered office lodged online takes effect 7 days after you submit it, unless you specify a later date. Update the ABR within 28 days too.
Is my home address public if I use it as the registered office?
Yes. The registered office and principal place of business appear on the companies register. Directors’ residential addresses are held separately, and ASIC lets an officeholder who is worried about their safety ask to have their residential address hidden. Using an accountant or agent as the registered office keeps your home off the register as a company address.
Do sole traders need a registered office?
No. The registered office rules come from the Corporations Act and apply to companies. A sole trader or partnership records a business address with the Australian Business Register when it applies for or updates its ABN, and must update ABN details within 28 days of becoming aware of a change.
Talk to specialist before it costs you
15-minute discovery call. No obligation, no jargon.
Talk to a registered tax agent
Nanak Accountants is an ASIC registered agent and can act as your registered office, lodge Form 484 changes and keep your ASIC and ABR details in step. See our company set-up and company secretarial services, compare ABN vs ACN and ABN vs TFN, call 1300 626 258 or book a free 15 minute consultation.
This article is general information only and is not personal tax or legal advice. Figures and rules were checked against the ASIC company addresses, change of address, late fees and personal information pages, the ABR update page, business.gov.au and the Corporations Act 2001 on 7 October 2026. Rates and thresholds change, so confirm the current position before acting.
