Can sole traders use a PO Box as a business address?

If you’re self-employed and working from home, you might be wondering whether you can use a PO Box instead of giving out your real address.

It’s a common question, especially for sole traders who want a bit more privacy – and the answer depends on what you’re using the address for.

Yes, but not for everything

You can use a PO Box for a variety of purposes – it’s a valid mailing address and is often perceived as more professional than listing your home address. But there are limits.

For example, you can:

• Put it on your invoices or business cards
• Use it for customer returns or supplier deliveries (if allowed)
• Add it to your website as your contact address

However, some organisations won’t accept a PO Box when they ask for your business address – even if you’re self-employed.

HMRC and PO Boxes

When you first register as a sole trader with HMRC, you have to give a real UK address. This is your “business address” in their system, and it needs to be a physical location – not just a PO Box.

Later on, you might be able to add a PO Box as a separate correspondence address, but the main address must still be valid and traceable.

Banks and verification checks

Most banks and financial institutions won’t let you open a business account using a PO Box alone. Even if you’re not planning to get a separate business account right away, this is worth keeping in mind for the future.

The same applies to payment processors like Stripe, SumUp, or PayPal. They often require a physical address on record to comply with anti-fraud and KYC (know your customer) regulations.

Online sellers and marketplaces

If you sell through platforms like Etsy, Amazon or eBay, you may be asked to verify your business details – and they don’t always accept a PO Box. Amazon, in particular, tends to want a full address with proof.

If you’re running a creative business, reselling clothes, or selling at local markets, this could affect how you register or what info appears to buyers.

This article is for sole traders

If you run your business as a limited company, the rules are stricter.

Companies House requires a registered office address, which must be a full UK postal address – and it’s published online.

A PO Box is only acceptable if you also include the full address and postcode of the sorting office. That’s one reason why many limited companies use a virtual office provider.

Sole traders don’t have a registered office requirement, but if you want to keep your personal address out of the public eye, a PO Box isn’t always the best option.

What are the alternatives?

If you’re looking for more privacy or a more professional image, there are other options beyond a PO Box:

Virtual office address

These provide a genuine street address (not just a box number) and are accepted by HMRC, banks, and most marketplaces. Services often forward your mail or scan it to email.

High street mailbox services

Places like Mail Boxes Etc. or similar give you a private mailbox with a real-looking address. They can also accept signed deliveries.

Use an accountant or office hub

Some accountants or shared workspaces let you use their business address for correspondence. It depends on your relationship with them, but it’s worth asking.

Are PO Boxes worth the cost?

Royal Mail charges from £45 per month (if paid by direct debit) for a PO Box. The costs are lower if you opt for the 6-month or annual option.

That includes collection from your local delivery office. If you want mail forwarded to your home, there is an additional cost.

If you only need it to look professional on paper, it might be overkill.

But if you’re regularly sending out orders, dealing with clients, or want separation between work and home, it can be worth it – at least as a temporary solution.

More info (and prices) here:
royalmail.com/business/po-boxes

When a PO Box makes sense

PO Boxes are most useful when:

• You want to receive business mail securely, without revealing your home address
• You move house regularly (e.g. renting short-term)
• You travel for work or don’t always work from one place

But they’re not a one-size-fits-all fix – and they don’t work for formal registrations.

Key point to remember

You can’t rely on a PO Box for everything. It’s useful for customer-facing materials and private mail, but won’t meet HMRC’s or your bank’s legal requirements. For that, you’ll always need a real UK address.

If privacy matters to you, a virtual business address is usually a more flexible and future-proof option – and many are designed with sole traders in mind.