A Registered Agent address can be used during the account application process in some cases.
Our banking partner requires us to adhere to compliance standards—utilized by many U.S. financial institutions—that limit banking access to businesses that have a verifiable physical presence in the U.S. (whether business or personal). This impacts how Registered Agent Service addresses can be used when signing up for a Relay account.
Read on for more information.
Who can use a Registered Agent address as their business address?
Businesses that can provide a U.S. personal address for all business owners can use a Registered Agent address as their business address.
- A Registered Agent address can be used as a U.S. business address if all business owners can provide a U.S. address as a personal place of residence.
- In this case, all business owners must provide a U.S. personal address or the account application will not be processed.
- Registered Agent addresses, Post Office Boxes (PO Boxes), and mailbox rental store addresses (such as The UPS Store) cannot be used as personal addresses for business owners, and Relay may request additional documentation—like a utility bill or bank statement—to verify a personal address submitted by business owners.
Who cannot use a Registered Agent Service address as their business address?
Businesses that cannot provide a U.S. personal address for all business owners cannot use a Registered Agent address as their business address.
- A Registered Agent address can only be used as a U.S. business address if all business owners can provide a U.S. address as a personal place of residence.
- All business owners must provide a personal U.S. address or the account application will not be processed.
- Registered Agent addresses, Post Office Boxes (PO Boxes), and mailbox rental store addresses (such as The UPS Store) cannot be used as personal addresses for business owners, and Relay may request additional documentation—like a utility bill or bank statement—to verify a personal address submitted by business owners.
Businesses that use the same Registered Agent address for business and personal addresses.
- The same Registered Agent address cannot be re-used as a business address and a business owner’s personal address.
- If the same Registered Agent address is re-used, Relay will prompt you to re-enter a different personal or business address to complete the account application process.
- Registered Agent addresses, Post Office Boxes (PO Boxes), and mailbox rental store addresses (such as The UPS Store) cannot be used as personal addresses for business owners, and Relay may request additional documentation—like a utility bill or bank statement—to verify a personal address submitted by business owners.
Why is a personal address required for all business owners?
Personal addresses are required to verify the identity of the individual applying for the Relay account. This practice is an industry standard and is required by our banking partner to comply with U.S. banking laws.
What is an acceptable U.S. personal address for business owners?
U.S. personal addresses must be verifiable. In some cases, Relay will ask for supporting documentation—like a utility bill or bank statement—to verify a personal address submitted by business owners. As a result, Registered Agent addresses, Post Office Boxes (PO Boxes), mailbox rental store addresses (such as The UPS Store), and other virtual mailbox services cannot be used as personal addresses for business owners.
I live outside the U.S. but have a physical mailing address for my business in the U.S. Do I need to provide a U.S. personal address for all business owners?
No, Relay only requires U.S. personal addresses for business owners when a Registered Agent address is used as a business address.