What Should a Hong Kong Company Update After Moving Address? A Guide to NR1, Business Registration, IRD, Bank Records and Company Documents

1 day ago
6 min read

Moving your company address in Hong Kong may seem like a simple admin task. However, for a limited company, an address change can affect more than just your office location.

Depending on your situation, you may need to update records with the Companies Registry, Business Registration Office, Inland Revenue Department, bank, MPF provider, insurance company, clients, suppliers and internal accounting records.

If only one record is updated, other departments or institutions may not be automatically notified. This could lead to missed government letters, tax notices, bank requests or compliance reminders.

This guide explains the key records a Hong Kong limited company should check

✨Key records to check after a company address change

Record / Organisation	When to update	Key point
Companies Registry	If the registered office address changes	NR1 is usually required
Business Registration Office / IRD	If the business address or correspondence address changes	Usually notify within 1 month
Bank	If company account address or business details change	Bank records do not update automatically
MPF / eMPF / Insurance	If employer or correspondence details change	Important for companies with employees
Company documents	If the address appears on invoices, contracts or website	Keep external records consistent

1. Understand the difference between registered office address and business address

Before updating anything, it is important to understand the difference between a registered office address and a business address.

Registered office address

This is the official address registered with the Companies Registry. A Hong Kong limited company must have a registered office address in Hong Kong. It is used for receiving statutory notices and official company communications.

If the registered office address changes, the company generally needs to file Form NR1, Notice of Change of Address of Registered Office, with the Companies Registry within 15 days of the change.

Business address

This is the place where the company actually carries on business. It may appear on the Business Registration Certificate, tax records, invoices, contracts, bank records and client documents.

For some companies, the registered office address and business address are the same. For others, the registered office may be the company secretary’s address, while the actual office, shop or workspace is somewhere else.

This distinction matters because changing one address does not always mean all other records are updated automatically.

2. If the registered office address changes, file NR1

If your company changes its registered office address, you generally need to submit:

Form NR1: Notice of Change of Address of Registered Office

This filing is made to the Companies Registry.

A common mistake is assuming that the address can simply be updated in the next Annual Return, NAR1. In practice, if the registered office address has already changed, the company should normally file NR1 within the required timeframe instead of waiting until the next annual filing.

The registered office must also be a Hong Kong address. A non-Hong Kong address, post office box or “care of” address is generally not suitable as a registered office address.

3. Check whether the Business Registration address also needs to be updated

If the company’s business address has changed, the Business Registration Office should also be considered.

In Hong Kong, changes to Business Registration particulars generally need to be reported to the Inland Revenue Department within one month of the change.

If you submit NR1 electronically through the Companies Registry, and the new registered office address is also the new business address, there may be an option to use the one-stop electronic notification service so that the Companies Registry notifies the IRD of the relevant change.

However, if your registered office address and actual business address are different, you should not assume that one form will update everything.

4. Check the IRD correspondence address

Apart from the Business Registration address, the company should also check whether its tax correspondence address is correct.

This matters because the Inland Revenue Department may send important documents such as:

Profits Tax Return
Employer’s Return
Notice of Assessment
Request for supporting documents
Business Registration documents
Tax payment notices

If the correspondence address is outdated, the company may miss important deadlines or government letters. This could create unnecessary compliance risks.

5. Update the company bank account records separately

Updating government records does not automatically update your bank records.

After moving address, a company should contact its bank to update the company account details. Different banks may have different requirements, but they may ask for documents such as:

Updated Business Registration Certificate
NR1 or address change document
Directors’ identification documents
Board resolution or company authorisation
New address proof
Updated company information

If bank records are not updated, the company may miss bank letters, statements, account review notices or KYC document requests.

This can also create extra back-and-forth if the company later applies for financing, loan renewal or account review.

6. For companies with employees, check MPF, insurance and payroll records

If your company has employees, you should also check whether employer-related records need to be updated.

These may include:

MPF or eMPF employer records
Employees’ compensation insurance
Payroll system
HR records
Employment contracts
Staff communication records

These items are easy to overlook, especially for small businesses. However, outdated employer information can cause issues when handling MPF contributions, insurance renewals, payroll records or employee documents.

7. Update external documents and internal records

A company address change is not only a government filing issue. It also affects how the company presents itself to clients, suppliers and business partners.

You should check whether the address appears on:

Invoices
Quotations
Contracts
Company website
Google Business Profile
Email signature
Letterhead
Company stamp or document templates
Supplier records
Client payment instructions
Accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks or Excel records

If different documents show different addresses, clients, banks or government departments may ask for clarification. It may also affect the company’s professional image.

Hong Kong company address change checklist

Item	Should you check it?	Notes
NR1	Yes, if registered office address changes	File with the Companies Registry
Business Registration address	Yes	Required if business address changes
IRD correspondence address	Yes	Helps avoid missing tax notices
Company bank account	Yes	Bank records need to be updated separately
MPF / eMPF	If the company has employees	Check employer records
Insurance	If the company has active policies	Especially employees’ compensation insurance
Invoices and contracts	Yes	Keep client-facing documents consistent
Website and Google Business Profile	Depends on business type	Important for local businesses
Accounting system	Yes	Update company profile and templates
Company secretary / accountant	Yes	Ensure future filings use the correct address

Frequently asked questions

1. Does a company need to file NR1 every time it moves?

If the company’s registered office address changes, NR1 is generally required. If only the business address or correspondence address changes, while the registered office remains the same, other updates may be needed instead, such as Business Registration, IRD, bank or internal records.

2. If NR1 is filed, will the Business Registration address update automatically?

Not always. If NR1 is submitted electronically and the new registered office address is also the new business address, the company may be able to use the one-stop electronic notification service. Otherwise, the Business Registration address may need to be updated separately.

3. Do I need to notify the bank after updating government records?

Yes. Government updates do not automatically update bank records. You should notify your bank separately to avoid missing bank letters, statements, KYC reviews or document requests.

4. Can a Hong Kong company use a residential address?

A Hong Kong company must have a registered office address in Hong Kong. Whether a residential address is suitable depends on the company’s arrangement, lease terms, landlord approval, privacy concerns and business nature. Many companies use a company secretary or serviced office address as their registered office.

5. Should invoices and contracts be updated after moving address?

Yes. Even if government records are updated, using an old address on invoices, contracts or client documents may cause confusion. It is better to keep all external documents consistent.

Final thoughts

When a Hong Kong company moves address, the update should not stop at changing the website or notifying clients.

A company may also need to review records with the Companies Registry, Business Registration Office, Inland Revenue Department, bank, MPF provider, insurance company, accounting system and internal documents.

The easiest way to handle this is to first identify which type of address has changed:

Registered office address
Business address
IRD correspondence address
Bank and third-party institution records
External documents and internal systems

Keeping address records consistent helps reduce the risk of missing government or bank notices. It also supports smoother compliance, tax filing and day-to-day business administration.

If you need help reviewing your company address change checklist, company records, accounting documents or compliance workflow, Everpro can help you organise the key items based on your company’s actual situation and reduce the risk of missing important updates.

Disclaimer:

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, accounting or tax advice. Requirements may vary depending on the company’s situation. Please refer to the latest official guidance from the relevant Hong Kong government departments or seek professional advice where necessary.