Ireland offers a common-law, EU-member incorporation regime under the Companies Act 2014, administered by the Companies Registration Office ("CRO") through its online CORE portal. It is a leading EU base for technology, fintech, and AI companies because of the 12.5% trading tax rate, an English-speaking common-law system, and full EU market access.
Most founders use the private company limited by shares ("LTD") under the Companies Act 2014, which can have a single director (with a separate company secretary) and up to 149 shareholders. Alternatives include the designated activity company (DAC), the public limited company (PLC), and a branch of a foreign company.
There is no minimum share capital, and shareholders may be 100% non-resident, but at least one director must be resident in the European Economic Area — or the company must hold a Section 137 bond (a €25,000 (≈ $29,000) compliance bond) or obtain a real-and-continuous-link certificate. A registered office in Ireland and a company secretary are required. Registration is filed online through CORE for a CRO fee of €50 (≈ $58) and usually completes within five to ten working days; corporation-tax registration with Revenue is a separate step.
The Revenue Commissioners administer tax: corporation tax is 12.5% on trading income and 25% on non-trading/passive income, with a 15% effective top-up (via a Qualified Domestic Top-up Tax) for groups with turnover of €750 million (≈ $870 million) or more. VAT is 23%, with registration thresholds of €42,500 (≈ $49,300) for services and €85,000 (≈ $98,600) for goods. Every company files an annual return (Form B1) and financial statements with the CRO, with audit exemption for small companies, and must record beneficial owners in the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership ("RBO").