Address for Service of Documents
In Austria, an address capable of receiving service of documents is a genuine address located in Austria at which authorities and courts can serve documents with legal effect. In the Austrian commercial register (Firmenbuch) it is recorded as the business address relevant for service of documents, and for trade registration as the location held in the nationwide trade register GISA. A mere post office box is not sufficient.
Explanation
The term comes from Austrian rules on service of documents: service takes place at a place of delivery, and its legal effect follows the Austrian Service of Documents Act (Zustellgesetz). This also applies to RSa and RSb letters. Companies subject to registration must, under the Austrian Commercial Register Act (Firmenbuchgesetz), register a business address relevant for service of documents; it must be located in Austria and genuinely capable of receiving service, which a post office box is not. The distinction from German usage matters: in Germany, the ladungsfähige Anschrift is the address at which a party can be summoned in civil proceedings, based on the German Code of Civil Procedure and the entry in the German commercial register. Those rules do not apply to an Austrian company: what counts are the Firmenbuchgesetz and the Zustellgesetz as published in the Austrian Legal Information System (RIS).
Why does this matter?
Every company in Austria needs a registered address. Without one, neither a commercial register entry nor a trade registration is possible. For founders, freelancers and e-commerce entrepreneurs, using a professional business address is often the most practical solution to protect their private address while still meeting all legal requirements.
Legal basis
Austrian Commercial Register Act (business address relevant for service of documents), Austrian Service of Documents Act (place of delivery and legal effect of service, including RSa and RSb letters), Austrian Trade Act together with the GISA trade register (location of the trade licence), Austrian E-Commerce Act (imprint details). Current versions in the Austrian Legal Information System (RIS).
Relation to Postservice.at
Postservice.at offers registered business addresses in 1010 Vienna that are accepted for commercial register entries, trade registrations and as an imprint address. The address Seitenstettengasse 5/37 is a genuine physical address with daily incoming post.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a registered address and a post office box?
A registered address is a physical address at which post and official documents can actually be served. A post office box, by contrast, is not a registered address, as no service in the legal sense is possible there.
Can I use a rented business address as a registered address?
Yes, a rented business address is capable of receiving service of documents, provided post is actually received there. At Postservice.at, incoming post is accepted daily and you are notified promptly.
Which authorities accept a virtual office address?
All Austrian authorities accept a virtual office address as a registered business address, provided it is a genuine physical address. This includes the commercial register court, the trade authority and the tax office.
Related terms
The registered office (also seat of the company) is the address of a company ent...
Business AddressA business address is the official address of a company in Austria. It must be c...
Imprint ObligationThe imprint obligation requires operators of websites, online shops and other te...
Commercial RegisterThe commercial register is a public register in Austria in which all corporation...
Deemed Service (constructive service)Deemed service means that an official document is considered to have been served...