A minor revolution in the commercial register: your personal addresses are no longer necessarily public.
Since 24 August 2025, a significant advance in the protection of directors' privacy has entered into force with the Decree No. 2025-840 of 22 August 2025.
This text now allows company directors to request that their personal address be concealed in the trade and companies register.
This applies to:
“...shereholders who are indefinitely or jointly and severally liable for company debts...”
Such as shareholders in general partnerships (SNC), shareholders in civil companies (e.g. SCI, SCP, SCM, etc.) and, more generally, shareholders in any company where liability is not limited to contributions.
“...directors, chairpersons, chief executive officers, deputy chief executive officers, members of the executive board, chairpersons of the executive board or, where applicable, sole chief executive officers, shareholders and third parties with the power to habitually direct, manage or commit the company...’ ‘...directors, chairpersons of the board of directors, chairpersons of the supervisory board, members of the supervisory board and auditors...”
This includes: directors of limited liability companies (SARL) and single-member limited liability companies (EURL), chairpersons, chief executive officers and deputy chief executive officers of simplified joint stock companies (SAS) and public limited companies (SA), ; members and chair of the executive board, directors and chair of the board of directors, chair and members of the supervisory board, as well as directors of civil companies (including directors of SCI) and auditors (who have the option of declaring their business address).
The request is made directly via the INPI's one-stop shop and is processed by the registrar of the commercial court within a maximum of five working days. It can be made at any time, independently of any other formality, or be attached to a registration, modification or deregistration.
In practical terms, the personal address disappears from the Kbis extracts accessible to the public and the documents filed can be replaced by a “redacted” version, while the original is kept for verification purposes.
Redaction is free of charge when it accompanies a formality at the RCS. When requested separately, it is charged at £53.38 including VAT for the address appearing on the Kbis and £7.63 including VAT per document replaced.
It should be noted, however, that in the national business register (RNE), only the municipality of residence continues to be published. Sole traders may also exercise a right of objection when the address of their main establishment corresponds to their personal residence, by submitting a request to INSEE.
This reform aims to better protect directors against the risks of harassment, assault or cyberattacks, while preserving economic transparency. Judicial and administrative authorities and certain regulated professions will continue to have access to personal addresses when necessary.
In practice, this is a significant step forward that reconciles two requirements: protecting the privacy of directors and maintaining confidence in the economy.