Moores Rowland

New ACRA Contact Address Requirement for Residential Privacy Protection

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) introduces a “Contact Address” to replace the Alternate Address for directors, CEOs, and secretaries. This change, effective July 4, 2024, enhances the protection of residential addresses while maintaining accessibility for communication and official notices.

July 2024

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Introduction of Contact Address to replace Alternate Address

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) has announced significant changes to its regulations with the introduction of a “Contact Address” to replace the Alternate Address. This initiative, established under the ACRA (Registry and Corporate Services) (Amendment) Bill passed in Parliament, will take effect on July 4, 2024. The change is aimed at enhancing the privacy and security of individuals’ residential addresses while maintaining their accessibility for essential communication.

Currently, directors, CEOs, company secretaries, and other relevant personnel can file an Alternate Address that is publicly accessible in the ACRA register. However, this Alternate Address may sometimes overlap with their residential address, leaving room for privacy concerns. With the new regulation, the Alternate Address will be replaced with the “Contact Address,” which must be distinct from the individual’s residential address.

Key Features of the Contact Address Requirement:

  1. Residential Privacy Protection:
    The new Contact Address will provide an additional layer of protection for residential addresses. This ensures that private living spaces remain undisclosed in public records, addressing longstanding privacy concerns.

  2. Accessibility for Communication:
    The Contact Address must be valid, functioning, and accessible to receive mail and notices. It will be publicly available in the ACRA register, ensuring entities and individuals remain reachable for communication and service of official documents.

  3. Implementation Timeline:
    The Contact Address requirement applies to all directors, CEOs, company secretaries, and other relevant personnel who file their details with ACRA. This measure will come into effect on July 4, 2024. Individuals who have filed Alternate Addresses must transition to a Contact Address before this date.

  4. Compliance Obligations:
    Businesses and individuals are required to ensure that the Contact Address provided is accurate and kept up to date in the ACRA register. Non-compliance may lead to penalties under ACRA’s regulatory framework.

For further details, visit the ACRA website.