Registered Agent: US Business Address Definition
What is a Registered Agent? Learn why your US LLC needs one and why Registered Agent addresses are rejected by Stripe and Mercury for verification.
Definition
A Registered Agent (also called “Agent for Service of Process”) is an individual or business entity designated to receive official legal and tax documents on behalf of a US LLC.
The Registered Agent must:
- Have a physical street address (no P.O. Boxes) in the LLC’s formation state
- Be available during normal business hours to accept service of process
- Be designated in the Articles of Organization filing
Why Every LLC Needs One
- Legal Requirement: All 50 states require LLCs to have a Registered Agent
- State Compliance: Tax notices, annual report reminders, and legal summons go to the RA
- Privacy: RA address appears on public records instead of founder’s personal address
Registered Agent Services
Popular providers include:
- Northwest Registered Agent: $125/year, good privacy
- LegalZoom: $99/year, well-known brand
- Incfile: $70/year, budget option
- Stripe Atlas: Included in formation, but address is rejected by Stripe
The Critical Problem: RA Address Cannot Be Used for Payment Verification
As of May 2025, Stripe explicitly rejects Registered Agent addresses for account verification.
This affects:
- Stripe (all accounts)
- Mercury (bank account opening)
- Relay (bank account opening)
- Most US payment processors and banks
Why RA Addresses Are Rejected
Banks and payment processors use Google Street View and address databases to verify physical presence. Registered Agent addresses are flagged because:
- They appear in UPS Store and similar commercial mailbox databases
- They show up as “registered agent” or “service of process” addresses in legal databases
- They are explicitly categorized as “virtual office” or “mail service” in Stripe’s policy
The Solution: Use Your Actual Address
For Stripe verification, you must use:
- Your home country address (if working remotely)
- A US friend’s or co-founder’s address
- A US office lease
With proof:
- Utility bill (electricity, gas, internet) with your name and address
- Bank statement with your name and address
Note: Mercury, Relay, and Stripe use your address only for identity verification; they do not check if you physically work there.
Registered Agent vs Other Addresses
| Address Type | Can Use for Stripe? | Can Use for Banks? |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Agent | No (rejected May 2025) | No |
| Virtual Mailbox | No | No |
| P.O. Box | No | No |
| Home Country Address | Yes | Yes |
| US Friend’s Address | Yes | Yes |
| US Office Lease | Yes | Yes |
Related Terms
- LLC: The legal entity structure that mandates the appointment of a registered agent in its state of formation.
- KYC: Know Your Customer protocols used by banks to verify physical addresses and prevent identity fraud.
- Stripe: A major US payment processor that often flags registered agent addresses during the account verification process.
This is a dictionary entry. For full address guide, see Registered Agent Address vs Business Address