How do I change the registered office address for my Ontario corporation?
An Ontario corporation can change its registered office address by passing a resolution of the directors authorizing the change, and then filing a notice of change with the Ontario government. The notice must be filed within fifteen days of the change taking effect. You file through ServiceOntario or a corporate service provider, and there is a nominal filing fee.
The new registered office must be a physical address in Ontario — you cannot use a P.O. box as the registered office. The address is where the corporation receives official government notices, including anything from the CRA, the Ministry of Finance, or courts. Using a reliable address that someone monitors regularly is important.
Your corporate minute book should also be updated to reflect the resolution authorizing the change, and any relevant documents such as the corporate profile report should be reviewed after the filing to confirm the update appears correctly. If your corporation's name appears on signage or letterhead tied to the old address, update those as well to stay consistent.
Key takeaways
- Director resolution plus a government notice of change are both required.
- File within fifteen days of the address change.
- The registered office must be a physical Ontario address, not a P.O. box.
- Update the minute book and verify the province's records after filing.