Company Address Change

What you need to know about Business Address Changes

Your company`s registered address is its official physical location for day-to-day business. For many startups, this is often a director`s home address. It`s vital to inform CIPC of any company address change promptly. Why? Because this is where all legal and official notices, including government communications, will be sent. Staying up-to-date with your business address change ensures you don`t miss crucial information. Don`t forget to change business address with CIPC whenever necessary!

To change a company`s registered address in South Africa, you must submit a notification to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). This involves completing an application form and paying a fee. SwiftReg can help you through this process or it can be done online through the CIPC portal or by visiting a SARS branch. 

Good to know

The registered address is the address at which all government and legal notices are served. 

Price :  R390
How long does it take?   15 Days

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Required to change your Company Address?

New Physical Address: This is the primary requirement. It must be a physical address in South Africa where your company conducts its general administration. A P.O. Box is generally not acceptable as a registered address.

Enterprise Number: Your company or close corporation`s registration number.

Director/Member Authority: The change must be authorised by the company`s directors or members. While a formal resolution might be required for internal records, for CIPC online submissions, the individual logging in usually needs to be an authorised person (e.g., a director, member, or company secretary). Effective Date: For companies, the effective date of the change must be at least five business days after the date you lodge the notice. For close corporations, the change can be immediate. Email Address: A compulsory field when updating the address.

What are the Main Reasons for Updating your Company Address?

1. Legal Compliance with the Companies Act:
• The Companies Act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008) explicitly requires every company and external company to continuously maintain at least one office in South Africa and to register the address of its office with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
• If a company has more than one office, it must register the address of its principal office with CIPC. The "principal office" is generally interpreted as the place where the company`s general administration is centered or where its main administrative work is conducted.
• Failure to comply with these provisions can lead to penalties, fines, or even prosecution of the company and/or its directors.
2. Receipt of Legal and Official Notices
• The registered address is the official place where all government notices, legal documents, summonses, and other official correspondence are served. This includes communications from CIPC, SARS (South African Revenue Service), the Sheriff of the Court, and other regulatory bodies.


• If the address is outdated, you risk missing crucial legal proceedings, tax assessments, annual return reminders, and other important official communications. This can lead to default judgments, penalties, deregistration of the company, or other severe legal and financial consequences.


3. Jurisdiction for Legal Proceedings
• The location of your company`s registered office determines which High Court division has jurisdiction over proceedings involving the company, particularly in matters affecting its status, such as liquidation, business rescue proceedings, or other legal disputes. An outdated address can complicate legal processes and potentially lead to cases being heard in an inconvenient or incorrect jurisdiction.
4. Maintaining Accessible Company Records
• The Companies Act requires companies to keep various statutory records (e.g., Memorandum of Incorporation, director details, minutes of meetings, share register, financial statements) at their registered office or at a designated location that has been filed with CIPC.
• These records must be accessible for inspection. An updated address ensures that these records are maintained and available at the declared location, facilitating compliance and transparency.
5. Credibility and Business Operations
• An accurate registered address contributes to your company`s professional image and credibility. It assures stakeholders (banks, clients, suppliers, investors) that your business is legitimate and operating from a verifiable location.
• Ensuring all correspondence reaches the correct physical location avoids delays in receiving critical business mail, invoices, contracts, and other operational documents.

Important Considerations When Updating you company Address

While CIPC`s online process for address changes generally doesn`t require immediate submission of proof of address, they do randomly sample address changes to ensure correctness. It`s always advisable to have documentation (e.g., a municipal account, utility bill) reflecting the new address in case CIPC requests it. Remember to also update your business address with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) via eFiling once the CIPC update is complete. This is a separate process but equally important for tax compliance. Inform banks, suppliers, customers, and any other relevant parties about your business address change.