Guide · setting up a company

Ireland vs UK: setting up a company

Costs, registration time, destination taxes and yearly duties side by side, from the same official data as the setup cost calculator.

Ireland and the United Kingdom both offer the private company limited by shares, and both registers accept online applications. Ireland uses the euro and the UK uses the pound. For a founder from abroad, the main differences are the people the company must appoint, the fees and firms’ prices, the time to register, corporate tax and the yearly filings.

The facts below come from official sources, each with the date it was read, and the page does not rank the two countries. Your residence, the place the company is managed from, its customers and its income all shape which one fits. Keep in mind that the country you live in can tax the dividends you take out. Some countries also have controlled foreign company rules that can tax the profits a company abroad makes, if its residents control it.

At a glance

IrelandUnited Kingdom
Company typePrivate company limited by shares (LTD)Private company limited by shares (Ltd)
Official fees at setupEUR 50GBP 100
Official fees every yearEUR 20GBP 50
Company formation by a firmEUR 197 to EUR 325 one-offGBP 78 to GBP 188 one-off
Accounting and annual accountsEUR 1,500 to EUR 2,700 per yearGBP 564 to GBP 1,410 per year
Registration time7 to 14 daysAbout 1 day
Minimum share capitalNo minimum amount for an LTD: each subscriber takes at least one share of a fixed amountAt least one shareholder taking at least one share; a share can have any value, for example GBP 1
Corporate tax12.5% on trading income, 25% on non-trading income19% up to GBP 50,000 of profit, 25% above GBP 250,000, Marginal Relief in between
Tax on dividends to a non-resident individual25% Dividend Withholding Tax, with an exemption on Form V2A for residents of EU or EEA states and treaty countriesNo tax deducted from dividends
VAT23%; registration above EUR 42,500 for services or EUR 85,000 for goods20%; registration above GBP 90,000 of taxable turnover, or from the first supply for a business based outside the UK

Firms' figures are starting prices published by firms on Accountanty (the lower to the upper quartile with at least 8 firms; "from" with 5 to 7; on request below 5). Tax lines are summaries: the full rules and sources are further down.

Cost to set up and run the company

The calculator's estimate for each company type with its default services: company formation, accounting and the services the law requires.

Ireland

Setup cost EUR 247 to 375
Every year EUR 2,020 to 3,370 + firms' fees on request for resident director
Open the calculator for Ireland

United Kingdom

Setup cost GBP 178 to 288 about EUR 212 to 344
Every year GBP 656 to 1,630 about EUR 783 to 1,950
Open the calculator for United Kingdom

Taxes on the destination side

Your country of residence may tax the dividends you receive, and it may also tax the company's profits under its rules on foreign companies controlled by its residents. A company managed from your country may be treated as resident there. This is general information, not tax advice.

Ireland

Corporate tax

  • Corporation tax is 12.5% on trading income and 25% on non-trading income, such as rental and investment income, and on income from an excepted trade. revenue.ie
  • Pillar Two: groups with revenue over EUR 750 million in two of the previous four fiscal years pay a minimum of 15% on profits. revenue.ie

Tax on dividends paid abroad

  • Irish resident companies withhold Dividend Withholding Tax at 25% on distributions. revenue.ie
  • Non-resident individuals who are tax resident in another EU or EEA state or a treaty country can claim exemption on Form V2A, certified by the tax authority of their country; the exemption is not automatic. revenue.ie

VAT

  • VAT standard rate 23%, reduced rates 13.5% and 9%. revenue.ie
  • Registration thresholds: EUR 42,500 for businesses supplying services only, EUR 85,000 for businesses supplying goods. revenue.ie

Example: profit of EUR 100,000, all paid out

Trading income (12.5%)
Corporate taxEUR 12,500 (12.5%)
Tax withheld on the dividendEUR 21,875
Dividend received, before any tax in your countryEUR 65,625

United Kingdom

Corporate tax

  • For the financial year starting 1 April 2026: small profits rate 19% for profits up to GBP 50,000, main rate 25% for profits over GBP 250,000, Marginal Relief in between with a standard fraction of 3/200. gov.uk
  • Marginal Relief reduces the tax by the standard fraction applied to the difference between the upper limit and the company's augmented profits (Corporation Tax Act 2010, section 18B). legislation.gov.uk
  • The GBP 50,000 and GBP 250,000 limits are divided by one plus the number of associated companies, and reduced for accounting periods shorter than 12 months. gov.uk

Tax on dividends paid abroad

  • UK companies do not deduct income tax from the dividends they pay. gov.uk
  • From 2026-27, UK dividend income is not taxable for most non-UK residents, except individuals who also have other taxable UK income. gov.uk

VAT

  • VAT standard rate 20%, reduced rate 5%, zero rate 0%. gov.uk
  • Registration is required when taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over GBP 90,000, or is expected to in the next 30 days. gov.uk
  • A business based outside the UK that supplies goods or services to the UK must register for VAT whatever its turnover. gov.uk

Example: profit of GBP 83,770, all paid out

Corporation Tax
Corporate taxGBP 18,449 (22%)
Tax withheld on the dividendGBP 0
Dividend received, before any tax in your countryGBP 65,321

Destination taxes only, before tax treaties and before any tax in your country of residence. Assumption: one shareholder, an individual not resident in the destination, holding 100% of the company; EUR 100,000 converted at the ECB rate. Try your own figure in the calculator.

Registration: steps and time

Ireland

7 to 14 days. The CRO aims to issue the certificate within ten working days of complete documents; five working days under the Fás Phráinn scheme with a CRO-approved standard constitution.

  1. Choose the company name and, if wanted, reserve it for 28 days cro.ie
  2. Classify the principal activity with a NACE code and confirm the activity will be carried on in the State cro.ie
  3. Arrange an EEA-resident director or a EUR 25,000 bond effective at the date of incorporation cro.ie
  4. Submit Form A1 and the constitution on CORE cro.ie
  5. Register for tax with Revenue using the CRO number (Form TR2, or TR2 (FT) for foreign companies, or through a tax agent on ROS) revenue.ie
  6. File the beneficial owners with the RBO within 5 months of incorporation irishstatutebook.ie

United Kingdom

About 1 day. Online registration is usually done within 24 hours; postal applications take 8 to 10 days.

  1. Choose a company name, a SIC code and the shareholders, directors and people with significant control gov.uk
  2. Each director and person with significant control verifies their identity and gets a Companies House personal code gov.uk
  3. Arrange a UK registered office address and a registered email address gov.uk
  4. Register the company with Companies House online and pay the GBP 100 fee gov.uk
  5. Receive the 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference and add Corporation Tax to the business tax account gov.uk
  6. Tell HMRC the company is active within 3 months of starting its tax accounting period gov.uk

Every year after registration

Ireland

  • First annual return date 6 months after incorporation, then each anniversary revisedacts.lawreform.ie
  • Annual return (Form B1) delivered within 56 days after the annual return date revisedacts.lawreform.ie
  • Late annual return: EUR 120 plus EUR 3 a day, up to EUR 1,220 per return irishstatutebook.ie
  • Audit exemption for a small company: 2 of turnover up to EUR 15 million, balance sheet up to EUR 7.5 million, 50 employees or fewer revisedacts.lawreform.ie
  • Changes to directors and secretary filed on Form B10 within 14 days cro.ie

United Kingdom

  • At least one confirmation statement every 12 months, filed up to 14 days after the review period ends gov.uk
  • First accounts due 21 months after registration; later accounts 9 months after the financial year ends gov.uk
  • Company Tax Return due 12 months after the accounting period ends; Corporation Tax paid 9 months and 1 day after it ends gov.uk
  • Audit exemption possible with at least 2 of: turnover up to GBP 15 million, assets up to GBP 7.5 million, 50 or fewer employees gov.uk
  • Late accounts penalties for a private company: GBP 150 up to 1 month late, rising to GBP 1,500 after 6 months gov.uk

Documents and requirements

Ireland

  • Form A1: name, registered office, secretary and directors with their consent, subscribers and their shares, and the activity declaration cro.ie
  • Constitution: for an LTD, a one-document constitution consisting of the articles of association cro.ie
  • Where no director is EEA-resident: a certified copy of the section 137 bond, submitted with Form A1 cro.ie
  • At least one director, aged 18 or over and not a body corporate cro.ie
  • One director must be resident in the EEA, unless the company holds a EUR 25,000 bond valid for at least two years cro.ie
  • An LTD with a single director must have a separate person registered as secretary cro.ie
  • Every company must maintain a registered office in the State at a physical location, not a post office box cro.ie
  • The company must carry on an activity in the State to be registered cro.ie

United Kingdom

  • Memorandum of association gov.uk
  • Articles of association gov.uk
  • Statement of capital gov.uk
  • Details of people with significant control, which cannot be left blank gov.uk
  • At least one director aged 16 or over; directors do not have to live in the UK gov.uk
  • The company must have a UK registered office: a physical address in the UK, not a Royal Mail PO Box gov.uk
  • A company secretary is not needed for a private limited company gov.uk
  • Identity verification of directors and people with significant control is a legal requirement since 18 November 2025 gov.uk
  • Directors must give a service address, which is publicly available gov.uk

What to weigh between Ireland and the UK

Formation. The CRO registration fee in Ireland is EUR 50 for an electronic Form A1, and the CRO aims to issue the certificate within ten working days of complete documents. That drops to five working days under the Fás Phráinn scheme with a CRO-approved standard constitution. In the UK the Companies House fee is GBP 100 online, and online registration is usually done within 24 hours. Neither sets a minimum share capital; a UK share can have any value, for example GBP 1.

People. Ireland needs one director resident in the EEA, unless the company holds a EUR 25,000 bond valid for at least two years. An Irish LTD with a single director also needs a separate person as secretary. In the UK directors must be 16 or over and do not have to live in the UK, and a private company needs no secretary. Since 18 November 2025 each UK director and person with significant control must verify their identity.

Firms’ prices. On Accountanty, 19 firms publish formation prices in Ireland, from EUR 197 to EUR 325, and 38 firms in the UK, from GBP 78 to GBP 188. Small company accounting runs from EUR 1,500 to EUR 2,700 a year in Ireland and GBP 564 to GBP 1,410 in the UK. A resident director service in Ireland is priced on request.

Taxes inside the company. Ireland charges 12.5% on trading income and 25% on non-trading income. The UK charges 19% on profits up to GBP 50,000 and 25% above GBP 250,000, with Marginal Relief in between. Irish companies withhold 25% on dividends, and residents of EU, EEA or treaty countries can claim exemption on Form V2A; the exemption is not automatic. UK companies deduct no income tax from dividends.

Every year. Ireland asks for an annual return on Form B1, EUR 20 online, within 56 days after the annual return date. The UK asks for a confirmation statement every 12 months, GBP 50 online, and accounts 9 months after the year end. Both exempt a small company from audit when it meets 2 of 3 limits: turnover up to 15 million, balance sheet or assets up to 7.5 million, and 50 employees or fewer.

Next steps

Ireland

Get quotes from firms in Ireland

United Kingdom

Get quotes from firms in the United Kingdom

Ireland vs UK: questions and answers

Do I need a resident director in Ireland or the UK?

In Ireland one director must be resident in the EEA, unless the company holds a EUR 25,000 bond valid for at least two years. In the UK a company needs at least one director aged 16 or over, and directors do not have to live in the UK. Where the company is run from can matter for tax, so check with a firm first.

How long does it take to register a company in Ireland and in the UK?

The CRO in Ireland aims to issue the certificate within ten working days of complete documents, or five working days under the Fás Phráinn scheme with a CRO-approved standard constitution. In the UK online registration is usually done within 24 hours, and postal applications take 8 to 10 days.

What corporate tax does a company pay in Ireland and in the UK?

Ireland charges 12.5% on trading income and 25% on non-trading income, such as rental and investment income. In the UK, for the financial year starting 1 April 2026, the small profits rate is 19% up to GBP 50,000 and the main rate is 25% over GBP 250,000, with Marginal Relief in between. Your home country may also tax the dividends or the profits.

Is tax withheld on dividends paid to a non-resident?

Irish resident companies withhold Dividend Withholding Tax at 25%. Individuals tax resident in another EU or EEA state or a treaty country can claim exemption on Form V2A, certified by their own tax authority; it is not automatic. UK companies do not deduct income tax from the dividends they pay.

Which is better for my company, Ireland or the UK?

There is no ranking on this page. It depends on your residence, where the company is managed, where its customers are and the kind of income it earns. Weigh the facts above, run your own numbers in the calculator for both countries, and ask firms in Ireland and the UK for a quote and an assessment.

Sources and notes

  1. cro.ie read 2026-10-13
  2. revisedacts.lawreform.ie read 2026-10-23
  3. irishstatutebook.ie read 2026-10-23
  4. cro.ie read 2026-10-13
  5. cro.ie read 2026-10-13
  6. revenue.ie read 2026-10-13
  7. irishstatutebook.ie read 2026-10-13
  8. cro.ie read 2026-10-13
  9. cro.ie read 2026-10-13
  10. revisedacts.lawreform.ie read 2026-10-23
  11. revenue.ie read 2026-10-23
  12. revenue.ie read 2026-10-23
  13. revenue.ie read 2026-10-23
  14. revenue.ie read 2026-10-23
  15. revenue.ie read 2026-10-23
  16. revenue.ie read 2026-10-23
  17. gov.uk read 2026-10-13
  18. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  19. gov.uk read 2026-10-13
  20. gov.uk read 2026-10-13
  21. gov.uk read 2026-10-13
  22. gov.uk read 2026-10-13
  23. gov.uk read 2026-10-13
  24. gov.uk read 2026-10-13
  25. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  26. gov.uk read 2026-10-13
  27. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  28. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  29. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  30. legislation.gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  31. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  32. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  33. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  34. gov.uk read 2026-10-23
  35. gov.uk read 2026-10-23

Official figures checked up to 2026-10-23. General information, not legal or tax advice: check the official sources and confirm costs with a firm before you act.