Firm registration in Ireland. Private Limited Liability Company. Service offer

The following steps are required to incorporate a limited liability company in Ireland:

• Check and reserve a company name online: a company name can be checked and reserved on the website of the Companies Registration Office. A name can be reserved for up to 28 days.

• Submit necessary documents to the Companies Registration Office (CRO): A founder may register a company at the Companies Registration Office (CRO) by three methods:

1. The CORE registration system, in which the papers for incorporation are lodged in print and electronic form. The memorandum and articles of association must be submitted in CRO preapproved format. After the documents are filed, the CORE incorporates the company within 5 working days.
2. A “Fe Phrainn” system, in which the incorporation documents are submitted to the CRO in a preapproved format. However, documents are submitted in print form only, and the CRO incorporates the company within 10 working days.
3. An alternate system in which the incorporation documents are submitted to the CRO in print form, but the memorandum and articles of association are not in a preapproved format. In this instance, the CRO incorporates the company in 2 to 4 weeks.

• Memorandum and articles of association;
• list of directors, secretaries, and subscribers;
• statement of authorised and issued share capital and consideration paid;
• notice of registered office;
• statement of the main business activities and the address where they will be carried out.

For all methods, a CRO Form A1 must be submitted with details of the company name, the first election of directors and secretary, and the subscribers to the memorandum and articles of association; the authorized and issued share capital; and the registered office and the details of the location in the state where company activities are proposed to be undertaken. The memorandum and articles of association signed by the subscribers will also be submitted to the CRO.

• Obtain a company seal – 1 day: In addition to getting a company seal, the Irish firm must make and keep the statutory registers of directors and shareholders.

• Register for corporation tax, social insurance (PAYE / PRSI) and VAT with the Revenue Commissioners. Upon entering form data into the Commissioners database, the Irish company is immediately registered for PAYE/PRSI. However, VAT registration requires an additional 5–10 working days.

A minimum of 2 directors, one being a resident of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state.

It should be noted that it is a criminal offence not to have at least one EEA-resident director of an Irish-registered company.

However, for a private limited company, it is permitted to have a single director that can also be non-resident of EEA, provided that the company lodged a bond in the amount of EUR 25 000 with validity of 2 years. This bond provides that in the event of a failure by the company to pay potential fines imposed on the company in Ireland.

Alternatively, a company may obtain a certificate under Section 140 of Companies Act 2014 to show that it has a “real and continuous link” with economic activities in Ireland, this also removes the residency requirement. In order to obtain a certificate that it has such a link, the company will have to satisfy the Revenue Commissioners that one or more of the following conditions are satisfied by the company:

• (a) the affairs of the company are managed by one or more persons from a place of business established in the Ireland and that person or those persons is or are authorised by the company to act on its behalf;
• (b) the company carries on a trade in the Ireland;
• (c) the company is a subsidiary or a holding company of a company or another body corporate that satisfies either or both of the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b);
• (d) the company is a subsidiary of a company, another subsidiary of which satisfies either or both of the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b).

Corporate directors are not permitted. Names appear on public record.

Every Irish company must have a Secretary. It may be one of the directors of the company. The Secretary can be either an individual or a body corporate.

A person must have requisite knowledge and experience to carry out the functions of secretary. The name of the first secretary must be sent to the CRO with the constitution of the company.

No requirements for their residence, can be individuals or bodies corporate. Names appear on public record. The minimum number of shareholders is 1.

For a private limited company minimum share capital is EUR 1. Company can issue any number of shares – from 1 share.

For PLC minimum share capital is EUR 25 000 and at least 25% must be paid up before incorporation (EUR 6 250).

Bearer shares and shares with no par value are not allowed.

Every Irish company is required to maintain proper books of accounts. The company must keep books of accounts for at least 6 years.

Irish companies are also required to disclose details of their accounts at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and to attach a copy of those accounts to the Annual Return filed with the CRO.

The Companies Act requires directors of all companies to lay the following accounts and reports before the company members at the AGM:

• a profit and loss account (or an income and expenditure account if the company is not trading for profit);
• a balance sheet;
• a directors' report;
• an auditor's report.

All these documents need to be annexed to the Annual Return of a company on delivery to the CRO (small and medium-sized companies have certain exemptions). In addition, there must be a certificate signed by both director and the secretary that the accounts and reports are true copies of those laid before or to be laid before the company's AGM.

Irish companies are obliged to audit their accounts. However, small companies may be exempt from audit if they meet two of the following conditions:

• balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 4 400 000;
• turnover not exceeding EUR 8 800 000;
• number of employees not exceeding 50.

Every Irish company is required to deliver an Annual Return to the CRO.

The tax return of a company is due within 9 months of the year-end of the company, but not later than on the 21st day of the 9th month after the company’s year-end.

*The fees are valid as of September 2025 and may change without prior notice

**Signing fees are charged additionally