Your registered office address is one of the first things people see when they look your company up. It appears on the Companies Registration Office (CRO) public register, on your invoices, your website footer, and every piece of formal correspondence you send. So if that address is a spare bedroom, a family home, or somewhere that no longer reflects where your business is going — it’s worth knowing that changing it is simpler than most people expect.
This post walks you through exactly how to do it.
What is a registered office address, and why does it matter?
Every limited company in Ireland is legally required to have a registered office address. This is the official address where the CRO, Revenue, and any other state bodies will send correspondence to your company. It’s also the address that appears on the public register – which anyone can search for free at cro.ie.
Unlike your trading address (where you actually do business day to day), your registered office doesn’t need to be where you work. It just needs to be a real, physical street address in the Republic of Ireland – one where post can be delivered by An Post and where documents can be accepted in person during business hours. A PO Box won’t do.
For a lot of founders, the registered office address starts out as a home address or an accountant’s office. That’s perfectly fine at the start. But as a business grows and starts presenting itself to clients, investors, and partners, many directors decide it’s time for an upgrade.
Can you change your registered office address at any time?
Yes – there’s no limit on how many times you can change it. The practical steps are the same each time, and the process is free to complete online.
The only rule that catches people out is the 14-day deadline: once you decide to change your registered office, you must file the update with the CRO within 14 days. Miss that window and you’re technically in breach, with potential fines of up to €5,000. So once you have your new address confirmed, it’s worth moving promptly.
How to change your registered office address: step by step
Step 1: Pass a board resolution
Before you file anything, your board of directors needs to formally approve the change. This doesn’t need to be complicated – it’s a short written record confirming the decision, signed by the relevant director or company secretary. Shareholder approval isn’t required unless your company’s constitution specifically says otherwise.
Step 2: Complete Form B2 on the CORE system
The address change is filed using Form B2 (Change of Registered Office). You do this online through the CRO’s CORE system at core.ie. There’s no filing fee.
When you’re filling in the form, you’ll be asked whether you are appointing a Registered Office Agent (ROA). An ROA is a formal, CRO-registered agent whose address is placed on record and who takes on certain administrative responsibilities on your behalf.
If you’re simply moving your registered office to a new address — including a virtual office address that you’re using as your own — select “No” to this question and enter the address directly. That’s it. No agent appointment, no additional paperwork.
Step 3: File within 14 days
Submit your completed Form B2 through CORE within 14 days of the change taking effect. Processing typically takes between 3 and 10 business days once submitted.
Step 4: Notify Revenue
As well as the CRO, you should update your address with the Revenue Commissioners to make sure all tax correspondence continues to reach you. This can be done through your ROS (Revenue Online Service) account.
Step 5: Update your business materials
Once the CRO has processed your change, you’re legally required to display your new registered office address on all business stationery — invoices, letterheads, email signatures, and your website. Under Section 51 of the Companies Act 2014, continuing to display an outdated address is an offence, so it’s worth making a checklist and working through it as soon as your change is confirmed.
What address should you use?
This is where it gets interesting for a lot of business owners.
You don’t need to use your home address, your accountant’s address, or an expensive serviced office as your registered office. A virtual office address is a perfectly legitimate and increasingly popular option — and it comes with some genuine advantages.
Privacy. Your registered office address is publicly visible on the CRO register. For directors who work from home, using a virtual office address means keeping your home address out of the public domain entirely.
Credibility. The address on your company register is often the first thing a potential client, supplier, or investor looks up. A central Dublin address – especially a specific, characterful building rather than a generic business park unit – tells a story about your business before you’ve said a word.
Practicality. A good virtual office provider will handle your post on your behalf, notify you when something arrives, and give you options for what to do with it – scan it, forward it, collect it. That’s genuinely useful when your day-to-day work doesn’t happen at a fixed desk.
Using a virtual office address with the CRO: what you need to know
If you’re signing up to a virtual office service and want to use that address as your registered office, the process is exactly the same as outlined above. When completing Form B2, select “No” to the registered office agent question and enter the address as your own registered office.
One thing worth confirming with any virtual office provider: make sure their address is a real, staffed, physical location in the Republic of Ireland. The CRO is clear that a registered office must be capable of accepting post and documents in person during business hours. An unmanned mailbox or a drop-shipping address won’t meet that standard.
Changing your registered office to 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
If you’re an Office Suites Club member – or thinking about becoming one here’s specifically how it works with our address.
We’re based at 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 H364 – a protected Georgian building a few steps from St Stephen’s Green, with neighbours including Arthur Cox, Aviva, L’Oréal, and Deloitte. The building is fully staffed during business hours, which means post, couriers, and visitors are handled properly, every time.
When you complete Form B2 on CORE:
- Select “No” to the registered office agent question
- Enter 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 H364 as your registered office address
- Submit the form – there’s nothing else to it
There’s no agent appointment process, no additional paperwork, and no involvement from us on the filing side. You’re simply using a prestigious Dublin 2 address as your own registered office, which is exactly what it’s there for.
Our virtual office plans start from €216 per year for a Starter plan covering registered office and postal forwarding, with no deposit and no set-up fees. Most members are up and running within 15 minutes of signing up. Note, you’ll need to sign up before using the address. Simply click here to get your 20 Harcourt Street Virtual Office account set up.
A quick summary
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Board resolution approving the change |
| 2 | File Form B2 on core.ie (free, select “No” to ROA question) |
| 3 | File within 14 days of the change |
| 4 | Update Revenue via ROS |
| 5 | Update invoices, website, email signatures |
Changing your registered office address is one of those admin tasks that sounds more daunting than it is. Once you know the steps, the whole thing takes less than an hour – and the upgrade in how your business presents itself can last for years.
If you’d like to use 20 Harcourt Street as your registered office, you can explore our virtual office plans here and be set up the same day. If you’d like to understand more about how a virtual office works before signing up, our guide to setting up a virtual office walks you through what’s involved.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change my registered office address in Ireland?
File Form B2 online through the CRO’s CORE system at core.ie within 14 days of the change – it’s free and takes around 15 minutes. You’ll also need a board resolution approving the change before you file, and you should notify Revenue separately via your ROS account.
Do I need a solicitor or company formation agent to change my registered office address?
No. The process is straightforward enough to do yourself through the CRO’s CORE system at no cost. That said, some directors choose to use a company formation agent for convenience – it’s a personal preference rather than a legal requirement.
How long does the CRO take to process a Form B2?
Typically between 3 and 10 business days from the date of submission. Your old address remains the official registered office until the CRO confirms the change, so file promptly.
Can I use a virtual office address as my registered office in Ireland?
Yes – provided it is a real, staffed, physical location in the Republic of Ireland that is capable of receiving post and documents during business hours. A PO Box or unmanned mailbox does not meet the CRO’s requirements.
Do I need to appoint a Registered Office Agent (ROA) when using a virtual office address?
Not necessarily. An ROA is a specific, CRO-registered category of agent. If your virtual office provider is not a registered ROA, you simply select “No” to the ROA question on Form B2 and enter the address as your own registered office directly. This is how it works at Office Suites Club — members use 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 as their own registered office address with no agent appointment required.
What happens if I miss the 14-day deadline for filing a registered office change?
Missing the deadline puts the company in breach of the Companies Act 2014 and can result in fines of up to €5,000. If you’ve already passed the 14 days, file as soon as possible – prompt action is always better than delay.
Do I need to notify Revenue when I change my registered office address?
Yes. The CRO and Revenue are separate – updating one does not automatically update the other. Notify the Revenue Commissioners of your new address via your ROS (Revenue Online Service) account to ensure all tax correspondence continues to reach you.
Office Suites Club is a TCSP-authorised (Trust Company Service Provider) virtual office provider based at 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2. We’ve been in business for over 15 years. This post is for general information purposes, for advice specific to your company’s situation, speak to your accountant or company secretary.
