Your Complete Guide To Irish Company Registration

Ireland - The new hub for Global Companies

If you're looking for a country with access to the EU market, a low corporate tax rate, and an educated workforce, registering your company in Ireland is an ideal choice. Ireland offers a corporate tax rate of just 12.5%, making it one of Europe's most attractive destinations for international trade in goods and services. Ireland continues to be the top destination for US tech firms and attracts more global companies each year through Irish company registration. Ireland is also home to a large number of multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Whether you’re an overseas entrepreneur, a growing startup, a small business looking to expand globally, or an international enterprise, there are many reasons to expand your business to Ireland. Ireland’s 3.4% GDP growth has significantly outpaced other European nations, many of which contracted by an average of 7% during the COVID-19 period.

The advantages don’t stop there! Some other benefits of company formation in Ireland include:

1. EU Membership
   Registering an Irish company provides access to the EU market, with over 500 million consumers.

2. Only English-Speaking Country
   Ireland stands as the only EU country where English is the primary language, a major advantage for international business.

3. Double Taxation Treaties
   Ireland has established Double Taxation Treaties with over 70 countries, including all EU countries and the United States, making Irish company registration attractive for companies with global reach.

4. Highly Skilled Workforce
   Ireland’s skilled and educated workforce includes pools of talent developed by its many tech and pharmaceutical multinationals, ensuring that companies registering in Ireland can access top talent.

5. Additional Benefits

   • Ireland’s diverse, educated, and skilled population includes a mix of cultures and perspectives.

   • Irish business culture is known for being open and supportive, making it easy to navigate business needs.

   • The Irish banking system provides many advantages for entrepreneurs, including well-capitalized banks with straightforward account setup and management.

In this guide, we’re helping business owners learn the legal requirements, business structures, and steps to setting up a company in Ireland.

Key steps involved in Irish Company Registration

Registering a new company in Ireland can be stressful if you are unaware of the key steps. Here are some important things outlined below to keep in mind:

1. Register a company name in Ireland

2. Choose your Irish company structure

3. Appoint at least one Irish Director 

4. Appoint a company secretary

5. Get a registered address or office in Dublin or Cork

6. Shareholder appointment and issue company shares

1. Register A Company Name in Ireland

The company name is an important aspect of any business and it's something that should be considered early on. The CRO has restrictions on certain company names and may refuse a name if:

•    it is identical to or too similar to a name already appearing on the register of companies
•    it is offensive
•    it would suggest state sponsorship

The CRO recommends including additional words to distinguish the proposed new name from other company names currently in existence. 

Place names are not considered to be sufficiently distinguishing, and neither are certainly other words and their abbreviations or punctuation marks. Examples of such are “company”, “co”, “corporation”, “and”, “&”, “service”, “services”, “limited”, etc. Words such as “holding”, “group”, “systems”, “consulting”, “trading”, “services”, “international” and numbers are not regarded as a sufficient distinction between company names.

Company names can be checked for free using the Company Search Facility.

2. Choose Your Company Structure

In Ireland, a Private Limited Company (LTD) is the most selected form for company incorporation. Although registering yourself as a Sole Trader is easier than setting up a Limited Company, it doesn’t have the limited liability benefits that come with a Limited Company or the tax advantages. 

This structure offers several advantages that make it attractive to a wide range of businesses:

• Limited liability protection for shareholders

• Separate legal entity status

• Potential tax advantages

• Enhanced credibility in the market

• Flexible management structure

• Ability to raise capital through shares

Operating as a sole trader in Ireland provides simplicity and direct control over your business, but it comes with personal liability for business debts. This structure is often chosen by individuals starting small businesses or freelancing. Key features include:

• Simple setup and operation

• Direct control over business decisions

• Less regulatory requirements

• Lower setup and compliance costs

• Easy to change business structure later if needed

To understand more, read the advantages and disadvantages of a Limited Company (LTD) and a Sole Trader.

If you are setting up a non-profit organisation or a charity, the most commonly used structure in Ireland is a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG).

This structure is particularly suitable for entities focused on public benefit rather than profit. Key features include:

• No share capital required

• Limited liability for members (usually up to a nominal amount)

• Enhanced credibility for charitable purposes

• Can still engage in trading activities

• Suitable for organizations with a focus on public benefit

If a company wishes to offer shares of stock to the general public, a Public Limited Company (PLC) is required.

A public limited company in Ireland can raise capital by offering shares to the public, making it suitable for large-scale enterprises with ambitious growth plans. Key features of a PLC include:

• Ability to offer shares to the general public

• Potential for significant capital raising

• Enhanced prestige and credibility

• Suitable for large-scale operations

• No limit on the number of shareholders

However, PLCs face more stringent regulatory requirements, including a minimum share capital of €25,000 and more extensive public disclosure obligations. They’re typically chosen by large corporations or companies planning to list on stock exchanges.

To learn more about which company structure best suits your business goals, reach out to our team of experts for personalised guidance. Let us help you navigate the process and set up the ideal structure for your needs in Ireland.

3. Appoint At Least One Company Director

All Irish companies are required to have at least one director. The Companies Act 2014 under section 137, states that there is a requirement for at least one Director of an Irish company to be a resident in a Member State of the EEA. If this condition is not fulfilled, then a bond must be required. This also applies if there are UK citizens serving on your board. This surety bond or insurance bond is referred to as the Section 137 Non-Resident Directors Bond. 

If you are a Non-Resident Director, check out our post on Non-Resident Director looking to open an Irish Company. 

4. Appoint A Company Secretary

The Company Secretary is an officer of the company and one of their primary roles is corporate governance. They provide advice to members of the board and ensure the company remains legally compliant. All Irish Private Limited Companies must have a Company Secretary who is responsible for ensuring that statutory obligations are met, such as maintaining the books of the company, and ensuring Annual Returns are filed on time. 

For companies with one Director, it is necessary to appoint a Company Secretary. This position can be held by any one of the Directors, an individual, or a corporate entity. The director must appoint someone qualified and skilled in this role, so as to ensure proper execution of duties.

Can anyone act as a Company Secretary? Technically, yes, once they are 18 years of age or over. The director should appoint someone qualified and skilled in this role, so as to ensure proper execution of duties.

A Company Secretary helps minimise risk by ensuring everything conducted within your company complies fully with the law. They provide comprehensive legal and administrative support to directors, executing important documentation on behalf of the company.

It is common for company directors to employ the services of a professional company secretarial firm. Nathan Trust offers the service of a professional nominee Company Secretary.

5. Get A Registered Address or Office

Your company's registered office is the official address where you will receive all official correspondence from government agencies, other businesses, and organisations. In order to ensure that your company is compliant with Irish laws, the registered office address must be located in the Republic of Ireland, P.O box addresses are not permitted. The trading address of the Company may be different from its registered office. 

Many business owners wonder about the difference between a registered office and a trading address. Your registered office is your company’s official address for legal and administrative purposes, while your trading address is where you conduct day-to-day business operations. These addresses can be different, offering flexibility in how you structure your business presence.

For example, you might have:

• A registered office in Dublin’s business district for official correspondence

• A trading address in a retail location where you serve customers

• Multiple trading addresses across different locations while maintaining one registered office

Your registered office must have systems in place to handle official correspondence effectively. This includes:

• Regular collection and processing of mail

• Proper documentation of received communications

• Secure storage of important documents

• Prompt forwarding of time-sensitive materials

The Companies Act requires companies to maintain various statutory registers and documents at their registered office, including:

• Register of members

• Register of directors and secretaries

• Minutes of board meetings

• Annual financial statements

Nathan Trust can provide your new Irish company with a registered address in Dublin or Cork.

Our service ensures your company maintains full compliance with Irish law while providing:

• A prestigious business address in key Irish business centers

• Professional handling of all official correspondence

• Prompt notification of important communications

• Secure document management and storage

• Regular compliance updates and support

6. Shareholder Appointment and Issue Company Shares 

A shareholder can be an individual or a company that legally owns one or more shares of stock. The company's shareholders collectively own the company.

How to issue company shares? The number of shares issued should be divided in a manner that reflects the proportionate ownership of the company. You can also issue more shares or transfer shares once the company has been registered. The team at Nathan Trust will ensure that your shares are allocated correctly. 

Generally, there are two types of shares required for opening an Irish Limited Company:

Authorised Shares: Every company that issues stock for trading has authorised, issued, and outstanding shares. Authorised shares are units of ownership in the company available to be issued to shareholders. The number of shares authorised is usually established when the company first incorporates; however, the number may increase over time. It is advisable to authorise 100,000 shares of €1 value each. 

Issued Shares: Issued shares are the units of ownership already issued to shareholders. We recommend issuing 100 shares of €1 value each. The 100 shares are divided between the shareholders to reflect the ownership of the company. One person or company can hold all the shares. For instance, if a certain shareholder is issued 100% of the total issued shares, then he completely owns the company. This is known as a single-member company.

If you are confused about planning your share structure, we can help. Our team at Nathan Trust has specialised knowledge in Share capital transactions and transfers.

Identity Documents

Before a company registration can be completed with Nathan Trust, you will need to provide us with certified proof of identity (preferably passport) and a certified document showing proof of address (e.g. bank statements, utility bills, tax documents) for the directors and shareholders of the new company in Ireland.

This is all part of the AMLD5 Directive from the EU.

Click here to view examples of the documents required.

What Is The CRO in Ireland?

The Companies Registration Office (CRO) is the central repository of public statutory information on Irish companies and business names.

The CRO has a number of functions including the incorporation of companies and the registration of business names, the receipt and registration of post-incorporation documents, and the enforcement of the Companies Act in relation to the filing obligations.

The CRO also makes information available to the public by providing an Irish company registration search option on its website. If you are searching for an Irish company name, whether you're looking to see if it's available, or you are looking for contact details, the CRO website allows you to search its register of Irish incorporated companies. 

Once your company has been incorporated with the CRO you will need to register it for corporation tax with Revenue.

How To Register Your Company With Revenue

To register for tax, you must have a Companies Registration Office (CRO) number issued by the CRO. When you start a new company, you or your tax agent must inform Revenue. 

When you start a new company, you or your tax agent must inform Revenue.

If your company is represented by a tax agent, they must submit an online registration application on your behalf through Revenue Online Service (ROS).

If your company is not represented by a tax agent, you must submit a:

- Form TR2 for Irish resident companies
- Form TR2 (FT) for foreign companies

When registering your company for corporation tax and VAT with the Revenue, it is best practice to use the services of a qualified accountant to act as your tax agent.

Nathan Trust has a full-service accounting team who are ready to assist you with registering your company with Revenue.

Get Started With Irish Company Planning - Contact Nathan Trust

If it's your first time setting up a company it can be overwhelming. But don't panic, this is why you have experts like us to help you in every step. If you require assistance in planning or need help registering a company in Ireland you can contact us below.

 

Alternatively, you can also check our top FAQs for setting up a company in Ireland commonly asked by our new and existing clients.

Things to look at after your Irish Company registration

Once your company is registered our team of experts can assist you with the following:

• Tax and VAT Registration 

• Corporate bank account opening 

• Filing Annual Returns and Compliance 

• Bookkeeping services 

• Corporate tax services 

• Fully outsourced payroll services

• Apply for a Non-EEA Directors bond 

• Human Resources (HR) Services

To learn more about our other services, check here.

What are the tax benefits of registering a company in Ireland?

Ireland offers a 12.5% corporate tax rate, R&D tax credits, and double taxation agreements with over 70 countries, making it highly tax-efficient for businesses.

How long does the registration process take?

Typically, the company formation process takes 5-10 working days, provided all documents are correctly submitted.

Are there any grants or supports available for startups?

Yes. Startups can apply for funding from Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices, and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI).