For any company, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records is not just a good practice but a legal requirement. A crucial part of this compliance involves informing the relevant authorities about the physical location of your financial records. Consequently, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has streamlined this process through its LEAP portal. This article explains the straightforward procedure for filing a change in the registered address for your company’s book of accounts.
Understanding the Purpose of This Filing
Firstly, it is important to distinguish this process from changing your company’s official registered office address. This specific filing solely concerns the physical location where you maintain your financial ledgers, journals, and other accounting books. The law mandates that companies keep these records at a declared address, and any relocation of these documents requires formal notification to the SECP. Therefore, this process ensures your company remains transparent and in full compliance with statutory regulations.
Initiating the Process on the LEAP Portal
To begin, the applicant, typically an authorized officer of the company, must log into their registered LEAP account. Upon logging in, they will land on their personalized dashboard. From here, the user needs to navigate to the “My Companies/LLPs” section to access the profile of the specific company needing the update. Within the company dashboard, under the “Filing Processes” menu, lies the option for “Change in Registered Address For Book Of Accounts.” Selecting this option initiates the new application.
Providing the New Location and Key Details
The application form will automatically display the company’s existing registered office address. The next step involves entering the complete new address details for the location where the financial records will now be kept. This includes selecting the country, province, district, and city, followed by providing the complete street address and postal code. Moreover, the applicant must specify the effective date of this change. Additionally, companies must provide the date on which the Board of Directors passed a resolution approving this change of location for the account books.
Finalizing the Declaration and Submission
Following the address update, the system presents an option to request a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the filed form, which incurs an additional fee. The most critical step then involves selecting a declarant for the application. This declarant can be an authorized intermediary associated with the company or an authorized officer. The chosen declarant subsequently receives a system notification. This individual must then log into their own account to review the entire application meticulously, confirm the accuracy of all information and attached documents, and finally apply their secure digital PIN to formally sign and submit the application to the SECP.
Completing Payment and Tracking Status
After successful submission, the system generates a confirmation message along with a unique application ID. The applicant or declarant must then proceed to payment within a strict seven-day window to avoid automatic cancellation of the application and potential late fees. The LEAP portal conveniently offers multiple payment channels, including credit/debit cards and 1Bill. Finally, users can easily track the status of their application directly from their LEAP dashboard homepage, providing peace of mind and a clear view of the process until SECP approval.
(For professional assistance with corporate compliance services and related legal matters, contact:
Muhammad Amin, Advocate
📞 Phone: 0313-9708019 | 0335-1990495
📧 Email: muhammadaminadvo111@gmail.com)