The California corporation change of address form you need depends on which government record you are updating. A Statement of Information updates California Secretary of State records, while the Franchise Tax Board and IRS use separate processes.
Key Takeaways
- File a Statement of Information to update a California corporation's address in Secretary of State records.
- Updating the Secretary of State does not automatically update the Franchise Tax Board, IRS, EDD, or CDTFA.
- Business entities generally use Form FTB 3533-B to report an address change to the Franchise Tax Board.
- You can file a Statement of Information online through bizfile or download the current form for mail filing.
- Officer changes require valid corporate approval before you update the public filing.
- Name changes and amendments to the Articles of Incorporation follow a different process.
California Corporation Change of Address Form: Which Filing Applies?
There is no single form that changes a corporation's address across every California and federal agency. Start by identifying the record that contains the old address.
| Record to update | Primary filing or process | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Public corporate record | Statement of Information for a stock corporation | California Secretary of State |
| California tax account | Form FTB 3533-B or an available online account update | California Franchise Tax Board |
| Federal business tax record | IRS Form 8822-B | Internal Revenue Service |
| Payroll tax account | Employer account update | California Employment Development Department |
| Seller's permit or tax-and-fee account | Online account update or the agency's current business-change process | California Department of Tax and Fee Administration |
For the Secretary of State, a California stock corporation generally reports its principal executive office, mailing address, California office if applicable, agent for service of process, and specified leadership information on its Statement of Information. This filing is commonly identified as Form SI-550, but you should use the form currently listed on the California Secretary of State forms page.
Do not use an individual address-change form for the corporation's FTB account. Form FTB 3533-B is the business-entity form. Likewise, changing an address on a Secretary of State filing does not replace the applicable IRS process. For more federal context, see this guide to an IRS business address change.
How to Update a California Statement of Information
The fastest filing path is usually the Secretary of State's bizfile Online system. Search for the corporation, select the available Statement of Information transaction, and enter the current information requested by the system. Review the entity name and California entity number carefully before submitting the filing.
- Gather the new information. Confirm the principal executive office, mailing address, California office address if applicable, agent information, and current officers or directors requested by the filing.
- Check the existing public record. Search the corporation in bizfile so you can identify every field that needs correction.
- Choose online or mail filing. File electronically through bizfile or download the current Statement of Information PDF from the Secretary of State.
- Review signing authority. Make sure an authorized person signs or submits the statement.
- Save proof of filing. Retain the submitted statement, receipt, and any filing confirmation with the corporation's records.
For a mail filing, use the mailing address and instructions printed on the current official form. Government addresses, form revisions, fees, and processing options can change, so do not rely on an old California corporation change of address form PDF. Access to the official online system and downloadable form is free, although the standard filing fee for a stock corporation's Statement of Information is $25. Optional services may cost more.
A California stock corporation files its initial Statement of Information within 90 days after filing its Articles of Incorporation and then files annually. An address change does not reset that annual cycle. File the updated information promptly and continue tracking the corporation's regular filing period.
How to Change a Business Address With the Franchise Tax Board
The Secretary of State and Franchise Tax Board maintain different records. To complete an FTB change of address for a business, use the method currently allowed for the corporation's tax account. The paper option is Form FTB 3533-B, Change of Address for Businesses, Exempt Organizations, Estates and Trusts.
Enter the corporation's identifying information, old address, and new address exactly as the form requests. An authorized representative must sign when a signature is required. Mail the completed form to the address printed in the current form instructions. Using the destination on the current PDF avoids sending sensitive tax information to an outdated address.
Do not confuse FTB 3533-B with an individual change-of-address form. The business form applies to corporations and other listed entities. There is no fee for submitting the address-change form itself, but changing an address does not resolve unpaid taxes, missing returns, or a suspended status.
If the corporation has access to an FTB online account, check whether the address can be updated there. Keep the submission confirmation or a copy of the mailed form. You should also verify that future notices and account correspondence show the new address rather than assuming that another California agency forwarded the change.
Agency-by-Agency Address Change Checklist
A business move can affect tax accounts, payroll records, permits, and local licenses. Review each agency separately, even when all records previously used the same address.
| Agency or record | What to do | Method and fee | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Secretary of State | File a current Statement of Information | bizfile or mail; standard stock corporation statement fee is $25 | File promptly and continue annual filing |
| Franchise Tax Board | Update the tax account using Form FTB 3533-B or an available online option | Online account or mail; no form filing fee | Promptly after the move |
| IRS | Submit Form 8822-B for the business mailing address or location | Mail; no filing fee | Follow the current form instructions |
| California EDD | Update the corporation's employer payroll tax account | Use e-Services for Business or the current EDD process; no separate online address-update fee | Follow current employer instructions |
| California CDTFA | Update seller's permit and other tax-and-fee accounts | Use CDTFA Online Services or its current business-change process; no separate online address-update fee | Promptly after the change |
| City or county | Update business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name records as applicable | Process and fee vary by jurisdiction | Check each local agency's rules |
Also review bank, insurance, lease, payroll, vendor, customer-contract, and postal records. If the move crosses city or county lines, you may need new local registrations rather than a simple address edit. Keep a checklist showing when each agency received the update and when the new address appeared in its records.
Which Information Is Public and Which Belongs in Corporate Records?
A Statement of Information does not replace the corporation's internal records. It reports specified current information to the state, while minutes, resolutions, consents, and employment documents establish how the corporation approved a decision.
| Information | Where to update it | Public or internal |
|---|---|---|
| Principal executive office | Statement of Information | Public filing |
| Mailing address | Statement of Information | Public filing |
| Agent for service of process | Statement of Information or other current Secretary of State process | Public filing |
| Officer information requested by the state | Statement of Information after proper corporate action | Public filing plus internal records |
| Director information requested by the state | Statement of Information after a valid election, appointment, or removal | Public filing plus internal records |
| Approval of an officer's appointment or removal | Minutes, board resolution, or written consent | Internal corporate record |
A street address is generally required where the filing asks for a physical location. A mailing address may be different and may permit a post office box. An individual serving as agent for service of process must have a California street address. If a registered corporate agent serves instead, follow the form's instructions rather than entering an address that the filing does not request.
Corporate roles also differ. Directors oversee major corporate decisions and appoint officers, while officers manage operations under the authority given by the board and governing documents. See officer versus director responsibilities for a closer comparison.
Declaration of Directors and Officers in California
The phrase declaration of directors and officers can refer to different records, so first identify what the requesting party needs. A California Statement of Information is a public filing that reports specified corporate information. It is not the same as minutes, a board resolution, or unanimous written consent documenting the corporate action.
For an officer change, follow this sequence:
- Review the Articles and bylaws. Confirm who has authority to appoint or remove the officer and what notice, quorum, and voting rules apply.
- Obtain the required approval. The board generally appoints officers and may act at a properly called meeting or through valid written consent when permitted.
- Document the action. Prepare accurate minutes, resolutions, or consents showing the decision and effective date.
- Update the corporate records. Revise officer lists, signing authorities, banking records, and employment records as necessary.
- Update the state filing. File a Statement of Information when the public record needs to reflect current reportable information.
California Corporations Code Section 312 provides for a chairperson of the board or president, a secretary, and a chief financial officer, along with other officers provided by the bylaws or determined by the board. Subject to the Articles or bylaws, one person may hold more than one office.
If an officer's removal is disputed, board authority is unclear, or the change accompanies an amendment, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. A lawyer can review the Articles and bylaws, confirm who may act, prepare resolutions or written consents, and identify the correct state filings. Responses typically arrive within a day.
Name, Registered Agent, and LLC Changes Follow Different Paths
An address update does not change the corporation's legal name. To understand how to change a corporation name in California, start with the Articles of Incorporation and the Secretary of State's current amendment procedure. A name change generally requires corporate approval and a Certificate of Amendment rather than a Statement of Information alone.
A California Secretary of State amendment to Articles of Incorporation may also be needed when the corporation changes another provision contained in its Articles. Follow the current Secretary of State form and instructions, including any certification, approval, and filing requirements. After the state accepts a legal name change, update tax, banking, contract, license, payroll, and insurance records. Federal name records may require a separate process, as explained in this guide to an IRS business name change.
A statement of change of registered agent in California is also distinct from merely moving an office. If the corporation appoints a different agent, report the new agent through the Secretary of State's current process. An individual agent must provide an eligible California street address and consent to serve. A registered corporate agent must be authorized to act in California.
Finally, do not use the corporate filing process for an LLC change of address in California. LLCs use their own Statement of Information process and reporting cycle. See the separate guides to a California LLC address change and the LLC-12 Statement of Information.
What to Do After Filing a Corporation Change
Save a complete copy of every filing and confirmation. For an online Statement of Information, retain the receipt and accepted filing. For a mailed form, keep a copy of the signed submission and evidence of mailing. Then check the agency's records to confirm that the change was processed correctly.
Review all places where the corporation's former address or officer information appears. Common examples include payroll accounts, seller's permits, local licenses, bank signature cards, insurance policies, leases, financing documents, vendor accounts, customer contracts, and the corporation's website. Update the agent for service of process separately if that person's address or identity changed.
A rejected filing does not update the public record. Correct the problem using the rejection notice and current agency instructions. Common preventable issues include using an outdated form, entering the wrong entity number, omitting required information, or treating an internal corporate decision as though it automatically changed the state record.
Finally, place the accepted filing with the corporation's minute book or other central records. Keep the underlying board minutes, resolutions, or written consents with it when leadership changed. This creates a clear record of both the corporate authorization and the government filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Change a Corporation Name in California?
You generally change a California corporation's legal name by obtaining the required corporate approval and filing a Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State. Before filing, check name availability and review the Articles and bylaws. A new name can also require updates to contracts, licenses, tax accounts, banking records, and intellectual property documents.
How Do You Update a Statement of Information in California?
You can update a Statement of Information through the Secretary of State's bizfile system or by submitting the current paper form. Use the corporation's exact legal name and entity number, complete every required field, and retain the filing confirmation. If the system restricts a transaction, follow the current Secretary of State instructions for corrections or special filings.
How Do You Add an Officer to a Corporation in California?
You add an officer by following the appointment procedure in the corporation's bylaws and documenting the board's decision. The appointment may also require updates to payroll, banking authority, insurance, contracts, and state records. Confirm whether an employment agreement, confidentiality agreement, indemnification arrangement, or conflict-of-interest disclosure is appropriate for the role.
How Do You Change Your Registered Agent in California?
You change a corporation's registered agent by reporting the replacement through the Secretary of State's current filing process. Obtain the new agent's consent before naming that person or company. Confirm that an individual agent has an eligible California street address or that a corporate agent is properly registered to provide agent services in the state.
Where Do You Send California Form FTB 3533-B?
You should send Form FTB 3533-B to the mailing address printed on the current official form. Download a fresh copy from the Franchise Tax Board before mailing because form revisions and processing addresses can change. Keep a copy of the signed form and consider using a mailing method that provides delivery records.
How Do You Change a Corporate Address With the IRS?
You generally report a corporate address change to the IRS on Form 8822-B. Complete the business identity, old address, new address, and signature sections required by the current instructions, then mail the form to the listed IRS address. A responsible-party change has its own reporting requirement, so review that section if ownership or control also changed.
