Updated 13.08.2026
Company registration · Ireland
Company registration in Ireland 12.5%on trading income inside the EU
An English-speaking country in the European Union with a low rate on trading income and a deep technology ecosystem. The standard European base for software and services companies.
Launch package
What the base package covers
- 01Name check and preparation of the constitution
- 02Incorporation with the registry
- 03Registered office and company secretary for the first year
- 04Full set of corporate documents
- 05Corporation tax registration
- 06A calendar of obligations for the year ahead
and 3 more documents
The actual timing, cost and tax treatment depend on the corporate form, the activity and the structure of the company. Government fees are paid separately at the official tariffs.
Quick selection
Find the right structure
Where will the clients be?
What will the company do?
What do you need?
How many owners?
Reply within one business day
Fit
Who Ireland suits
- Software and SaaS companies with EU customers
- Technology groups placing their European entity
- Services and consulting billing across the Union
- E-commerce businesses selling into Europe
- Structures that need EU VAT and English-language documents
- There is no EEA-resident director and no willingness to arrange one
- The business is purely passive: the low rate applies to trading income
- You are counting on anonymity: the registry is public
- There is no budget for real accounting and filings
Company types
What company you can open in Ireland
The private company limited by shares is the working form for nearly every case.
A company with limited liability that may have a single director.
- For whom
- IT, services, trading, holdings.
- Advantage
- Fast incorporation, EU jurisdiction, English documentation.
- Limit
- A company secretary is required, and a second person where there is only one director.
A company with a defined objects clause.
- For whom
- Regulated activities and joint ventures.
- Advantage
- A clearly bounded scope of activity.
- Limit
- At least two directors are required.
Registration of a foreign company presence.
- For whom
- An existing group entering the EU market.
- Advantage
- No new legal entity is required.
- Limit
- The parent company carries the liability.
At least one director must be resident in the European Economic Area. Where none is, a statutory bond is required instead.
Comparison
Ireland or the Netherlands
Two popular European bases for technology groups.
| Ireland | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 12.5% on trading income | a two-band rate on profit |
| Language of business | English | Dutch and English |
| Holding regime | available, with conditions | strong participation exemption |
| Incorporation time | 3-7 days | 1-2 weeks |
| Director requirement | an EEA-resident director or a bond | no residency requirement |
| Upkeep cost | medium | medium to high |
| Who it suits better | operating technology companies | holding structures and logistics |
Ireland is stronger for trading technology businesses, the Netherlands for holding structures and treaty planning.
Where to register
What shapes the structure in Ireland
The low rate applies to trading income, so the nature of the income matters most.
What we check
- Whether the income is trading income or passive income
- Who will act as the EEA-resident director
- Whether a VAT number is required and for which supplies
- Whether staff will be employed in the country
- Where the customers are and how they are invoiced
- Whether intellectual property will be held by the company
- Which bank is prepared to work with the profile
- Whether research and development reliefs apply
- How the source of capital is evidenced
- The upkeep budget for the next three years
Passive income is taxed at a higher rate than trading income. Whether your activity qualifies is assessed before incorporation, not after the first return.
Licensing
Activities and licences
Technology and services need no licence; finance is regulated.
No licence required.
Possible; VAT registration and EU distance selling rules apply.
Authorised by the central bank.
Requires authorisation as a payment or e-money institution.
A major European fund domicile with several regulated vehicles.
A developed sector with dedicated structures.
What sets the licence
- Whether authorisation is required
- Whether the income qualifies as trading income
- Whether a VAT number is needed
- Whether staff will be employed
- Planned turnover
- Who acts as EEA-resident director
Prices
Three ways to launch
The scope is built from real scenarios. The amount depends on the director arrangement and on VAT.
from $2 200
An EU entity for contracts and invoicing
1-2 weeks
Included
- Name check and preparation of the constitution
- Incorporation with the registry
- Registered office and company secretary for the first year
- Full set of corporate documents
- Corporation tax registration
- A calendar of obligations for the year ahead
Government fees, paid separately
- Registry fees
Not included
- VAT registration
- The bank account — handled as a separate stage
from $4 600
An operating business with EU settlements
4-10 weeks
Included
- Everything in the Company package
- VAT registration with substantiation of the business model
- Bank or payment institution profile and submission
- Accounting set-up and a reporting schedule
- Support with correspondence with the revenue authority
Government fees, paid separately
- Bank tariffs
Not included
- A guarantee that the account opens — the institution decides
by project
A company with staff and a real presence
from 6 weeks
Included
- Everything in the Company, VAT and account package
- EEA-resident director or the statutory bond
- Office and hiring support
- Payroll registration and administration
- Bookkeeping, annual accounts and the tax return
- Annual support of the structure
Government fees, paid separately
- Office rent
- Employer contributions
- Bond premium
Registry fees, the director bond and employer contributions appear as separate lines in the quote.
Estimate
Preliminary quote
Seven questions about the activity, the director, VAT and banking. A preliminary budget in return.
The range is indicative: projects with staff are priced individually.
Add-ons
Add-ons for any package
Switched on as the task requires.
Arranged where none of the founders qualifies.
The alternative to an EEA-resident director.
Application, substantiation and periodic returns.
Employer registration and monthly filings.
Monthly accounting and the annual accounts.
Assessment and claim preparation.
Selection of a bank or a payment institution.
Proper closure of the company.
Banking
The bank account after incorporation
Irish banks want a local connection; payment institutions are faster for cross-border businesses.
The activity, the customers, expected turnover, the presence in the country and the source of funds.
The corporate set, director identification, contracts and a description of the business.
With Irish banks where there is a presence, otherwise with European payment institutions.
We prepare the file, choose the institution and run the submission through to the result.
A local bank usually wants a resident director and an actual office. Without them the realistic route is a payment institution, and we say so before incorporation.
Tax
Taxes in Ireland
The famous 12.5% applies to trading income; other income is taxed at a higher rate.
Taxed at 12.5%.
Taxed at a higher rate, including rental and certain investment income.
Taxed separately at the capital gains rate.
The standard rate is 23%, with reduced rates for certain supplies.
A credit is available for qualifying development expenditure.
Owning a foreign company creates obligations in the beneficiary country of residence.
Verified on 13 August 2026. This is not tax advice: whether income qualifies as trading income is assessed case by case.
Documents
What we need from you
The set is collected remotely; documents are in English.
- 01Passport with a certified copy
- 02Proof of residential address
- 03Description of the planned activity
- 04Details of customers and contracts
- 05Evidence of the source of funds
VAT registration requires evidence of a genuine link to Ireland; the stronger the evidence, the faster the number is issued.
Annual administration
What we handle every year
Upkeep is moderate, and the filing deadlines are enforced strictly.
Filed with the registry on a fixed date.
Prepared and filed with the annual return.
Filed after the end of the accounting period.
Filed periodically where the company is registered.
Submitted in real time where staff are employed.
Mandatory requirements, renewed annually.
Renewed where no EEA-resident director is appointed.
Periodic requests from the institution.
Cost of ownership
The cost of the company over three years
A company is not a one-off payment for incorporation: the annual items below repeat every year. We count ownership, not entry.
- Registration and corporate documents
- Annual return
- Financial statements
- Corporation tax return
- VAT returns
- Payroll filings
- Registered office and secretary
- Director bond
- Bank compliance
- Annual return
- Financial statements
- Corporation tax return
- VAT returns
- Payroll filings
- Registered office and secretary
- Director bond
- Bank compliance
- Annual return
- Financial statements
- Corporation tax return
- VAT returns
- Payroll filings
- Registered office and secretary
- Director bond
- Bank compliance
What falls into each year depends on the corporate form, the activity and the requirements of the bank and the regulator. The three-year calculation comes together with the incorporation quote — before the engagement.
Process
How the work runs
Timelines are split by who is responsible.
Activity, trading test, director, VAT, banking.
One meetingWe fix the scope of work and the amount.
1-2 daysVerification and collection of the set.
3-7 daysFiling with the registry and issue of the certificate.
3-7 daysApplication with substantiation and issue of the number.
2-8 weeksBank file, submission and account opening.
The institution sets the timingThe outcome is an EU company with English-language documents, a VAT number where needed, an account and accounting in place.
Scenarios
A company for a specific task
The structure follows the client task and the banking model, not the name of the jurisdiction.
BusinessThe customers are EU companies; an EU counterparty and VAT are required.
DirectionAn operating company in the EU with a VAT number and reporting.
BankingAn EU bank looks at contracts, turnover and presence.
BusinessDevelopment, consulting and digital work for European clients.
DirectionA company with the relevant activity and local accounting.
BankingCustomer contracts and payment providers are required.
BusinessSupplies of goods between EU countries.
DirectionA company with VAT and VIES registration.
BankingThe bank checks the supply chain and the counterparties.
BusinessHolding shares in EU companies and distributing profit.
DirectionA holding structure set up with the directives and tax treaties in mind.
BankingAn account for dividends and intra-group settlements.
A scenario does not assign a corporate form automatically: the actual form, licence and bank are checked against the current requirements for your activity.
Why BRIDGES
Who runs the incorporation and what we answer for
The difference shows in how the work is run, not in the promises.
12.5% applies to trading income. We confirm your activity qualifies before promising the rate.
An EEA-resident director or the bond — both routes priced honestly.
The revenue authority asks for substantiation. We prepare it in advance.
We say where the account will open and where it will not.
Secretary, accounting, VAT and payroll — three years ahead.
Accounts, returns and changes stay with us.
FAQ
Questions and answers
12.5% on trading income. Passive income is taxed at a higher rate.
At least one director must be resident in the European Economic Area. Where none is, a statutory bond is required.
3-7 days with the registry once the documents are ready.
Two to eight weeks; the revenue authority asks for evidence of a genuine link to Ireland.
A local bank wants a presence; payment institutions work with cross-border companies remotely.
Only above the statutory size thresholds; small companies can claim exemption.
Yes, directors and shareholders are visible.
Yes, and development expenditure may qualify for relief. The structure is planned in advance.
Calculation
Get the structure and a full quote before incorporation
Tell us what the company will do and where its customers are. We will confirm the trading position, solve the director requirement and prepare the launch and upkeep budget.
The structure, budget and scope are fixed after the business and the owners are reviewed. Account opening and registration decisions are taken by banks and state authorities.