Company registration · Ireland
Company registration in Ireland 12.5% on trading income inside the EU
- Support
- from €1 900
- Registration time
- 12.5%
- Corporation tax on trading income
- 12.5%
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.
Registration
from €1 900
Turnkey work by BRIDGES. Government fees and duties appear as a separate line in the estimate at actual rates.
See packages12.5%
Corporation tax on trading income
3-7 days
Incorporation with the registry
EU and English
Single market with English-language law
Who it suitsIreland
Who Ireland suits
Working on the company structure- 01Software and SaaS companies with EU customers
- 02Technology groups placing their European entity
- 03Services and consulting billing across the Union
- 04E-commerce businesses selling into Europe
- 05Structures that need EU VAT and English-language documents
Does not suit
- 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 forms4
Which company to open
The private company limited by shares is the working form for nearly every case.
- 01Private Company Limited by Shares · LTD — the main form
IT, services, trading, holdings.
Fast incorporation, EU jurisdiction, English documentation.
A company secretary is required, and a second person where there is only one director.
- 02Designated Activity Company · DAC
Regulated activities and joint ventures.
A clearly bounded scope of activity.
At least two directors are required.
- 03Branch · branch of a foreign company
An existing group entering the EU market.
No new legal entity is required.
The parent company carries the liability.
- 04Unlimited Company · ULC
Group structures with specific reporting objectives.
Lighter public filing in certain cases.
Unlimited liability for the members.
Packagesfrom €1 900
Three ways to launch
The scope is built from real scenarios. The amount depends on the director arrangement and on VAT.
01 · 1-2 weeks
Company
from $2 200
An EU entity for contracts and invoicing
- 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
02 · 4-10 weeks
Company, VAT and account
from $4 600
An operating business with EU settlements
- 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
03 · from 6 weeks
Turnkey with substance
by project
A company with staff and a real presence
- 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
Registry fees, the director bond and employer contributions appear as separate lines in the quote.
TaxesIreland
Taxes in Ireland
The famous 12.5% applies to trading income; other income is taxed at a higher rate.
Taxes in Ireland
Ireland
- 12.5%
- Corporation tax on trading income
- from $2 200
- BRIDGES fee
- 3-7 days
- Incorporation with the registry
- EU and English
- Single market with English-language law
- Trading income
- Taxed at 12.5%.
- Passive income
- Taxed at a higher rate, including rental and certain investment income.
- Capital gains
- Taxed separately at the capital gains rate.
- VAT
- The standard rate is 23%, with reduced rates for certain supplies.
- Research and development relief
- A credit is available for qualifying development expenditure.
- Obligations at home
- Owning a foreign company creates obligations in the beneficiary country of residence.
Annual upkeep
- Annual return
- Financial statements
- Corporation tax return
- VAT returns
- Payroll filings
- Registered office and secretary
- Director bond
- Bank compliance
Registry fees, the director bond and employer contributions appear as separate lines in the quote.
Bank
The bank account after incorporation
Irish banks want a local connection; payment institutions are faster for cross-border businesses.
- 01What the bank looks at
The activity, the customers, expected turnover, the presence in the country and the source of funds.
- 02Which documents are needed
The corporate set, director identification, contracts and a description of the business.
- 03Where the account is opened
With Irish banks where there is a presence, otherwise with European payment institutions.
- 04What we do
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.
Stages1-2 weeks
How the work runs
Timelines are split by who is responsible.
- 01Consultation and structure
Activity, trading test, director, VAT, banking.
One meeting - 02Quote and contract
We fix the scope of work and the amount.
1-2 days - 03Compliance and documents
Verification and collection of the set.
3-7 days - 04Incorporation
Filing with the registry and issue of the certificate.
3-7 days - 05VAT registration
Application with substantiation and issue of the number.
2-8 weeks - 06Account and launch
Bank file, submission and account opening.
The institution sets the timing
Result: The outcome is an EU company with English-language documents, a VAT number where needed, an account and accounting in place.
ComparisonIreland
Ireland or the Netherlands
| 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.
TeamBRIDGES
Company team
Questions
Registration questions
What is the corporation tax rate?+
12.5% on trading income. Passive income is taxed at a higher rate.
Do I need an Irish director?+
At least one director must be resident in the European Economic Area. Where none is, a statutory bond is required.
How long does incorporation take?+
3-7 days with the registry once the documents are ready.
How quickly can I get a VAT number?+
Two to eight weeks; the revenue authority asks for evidence of a genuine link to Ireland.
How hard is it to open a bank account?+
A local bank wants a presence; payment institutions work with cross-border companies remotely.
Is an audit mandatory?+
Only above the statutory size thresholds; small companies can claim exemption.
Is the registry public?+
Yes, directors and shareholders are visible.
Can I hold intellectual property in the company?+
Yes, and development expenditure may qualify for relief. The structure is planned in advance.
Is Ireland good for a holding company?+
It can be, but the low rate applies to trading income. For pure holding structures other jurisdictions are often better.
Do I have to declare the company at home?+
As a rule yes: owning a foreign company creates obligations in your country of residence.
What does upkeep cost?+
Secretary, registered office, accounting, the annual return and VAT. We set it out three years ahead.
Ireland or the United Kingdom?+
Ireland for EU market access and EU VAT, the UK for the British market and faster, cheaper set-up.
A company for your task
Tell us what the company will do: we will check whether the country fits and show the launch and upkeep budget before the contract.
- Other jurisdictionsA comparison of countries for company registration.
- A company in the NetherlandsThe alternative for holding structures.
- Corporate accountsHow an account is opened and what the bank checks.
- BulgariaRegistration: 3-10 days · from €1 100
- CzechiaRegistration: 5-14 days · from €1 300
- HungaryRegistration: 3-7 days · from €1 400
Company registration
Want a company in Ireland?
Write to us, we will set it up. We will choose the form, calculate the launch and the annual upkeep, register the company and help open the account.
