Ireland Offshore Company Registration

IRELAND OFFSHORE COMPANY REGISTRATION
Book a Consultation
Slider

Ireland Offshore Company Registration with Bank Account

Ireland is a renowned jurisdiction for companies to base their operations. This is due to Ireland’s incredibly low corporate tax rate and its geographic proximity to Europe.

The island of Ireland is situated on the North Atlantic. It is detached from the rest of the United Kingdom to its east by the St George’s Channel, the Irish Sea and the North Channel. Ireland has the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest in the world
Ireland is politically separated between the Republic of Ireland (also called Ireland), which covers 83% of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, in the island’s north-east. The population of Ireland is estimated at 6.5 

million, making it Europe’s second-most popu-lous island after Great Britain. Around 4.7 million live in the Republic of Ireland while 1.8 million live in Northern Ireland.

The law regulating corporations evolved from the Irish Companies Act of 2014.

Benefits

Corporations in Ireland enjoy several benefits including:

  • One of the Best Countries to do Business: In 2013, Forbes magazine selected Ireland as the best country for doing business worldwide.
  • Over 1,000 Offshore Corporations: For being such a small country, Ireland is host to over 1,000 offshore corporations. That’s because Ireland is friendly towards foreign investors with an attractive financial status.
  • One Shareholder: Only one shareholder is required for incorporation.
  • Low Corporate Tax Rate: Compared to other European countries, Ireland has one of the lowest corporate tax rates which is only 12.5%.
  • R&D Incentives: Another incentive for businesses that invest in research and development is a 25% refundable tax credit. Also, grants exist for research and development business ac-tivities as well.
  • Holding Company Exemptions: Irish Holding companies enjoy EU tax exemptions on do-mestic and foreign income.
  • Double Tax Treaties: Ireland has entered into many double taxation treaties with other countries preventing investors from paying double taxes on the same income.

Despite Irelands tax incentives, it is not perceived as a traditional offshore company formation destination, as it is part of the European Union (EU).

Financial accounting, auditing and disclosure of information is required for Irish companies, yet individuals and corporations benefit from having the second lowest corporate tax rates in Europe, access to a number of double-taxation treaties, and numerous benefits from EU trade agreements.

Companies Act Ireland

Irish corporate legislation is regulated by the Companies Acts, enacted into law in 1963 and amended periodically through the last five decades, most recently in 2014 and effective as of June 2015.

The act consolidates all existing statues into a single statue as well as effectively implementing new reforms and procedures and will be the largest piece of legislation in the history of Ireland.

Ireland Company Registry is the authority that incorporates and grants the usage of a company name and of filing of annual returns.
There are several Irish company formation structures available, the most popular being the Resident Private Limited Company. This company structure has been widely used for private, commercial and various international business trade and holding activities.
Corporate registration documents do not use the term ‘offshore’, as offshore financial markets are currently under tight international scrutiny and can hold a number of negative associations.

In many ways, however, the Ireland Resident Private Limited Company mirrors traditional offshore companies with flexible corporate management structures and many tax benefits.

A traditional Private Limited Company is limited by shares, with the company giving limited liability to its members, limited to the amount of the amount of shares held by them.

This form of corporate arrangement is ideal for international trade and investment activities, as it draws legal and financial distinctions between the company and its members.

Advantages of Ireland as an Offshore Financial Centre

Benefits of Ireland as a Tax Haven

  • Highly reputable jurisdiction with no negative associations
  • Geographical proximity to the UK and Europe
  • Member of the European Union
  • Has a number of trades, financial, and economic advantages through EU membership?
  • English is spoken by virtually everyone in the country
  • One of the worlds lowest Corporate Tax rate which remains at 12.5%
  • Employees have the ability of holding shares
  • Ability to own property and enter into legal contracts
  • Beneficial owners can remain confidential
  • Modernized and first-rate infrastructure and transport systems
  • All small companies are exempted from audit requirements
  • Well establish company formation structures
  • A number of additional tax breaks for business activities in a number of industries
  • One of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita

Advantages of Setting up an Offshore Limited Company in Ireland

  • Highly reputable jurisdiction
  • Geographical proximity to the UK and Europe
  • Membership of the European Union
  • Has a number of trade advantages
  • Nominees Services are available
  • One of the world’s lowest Corporate Tax Rate at 12.5%
  • Employees have the ability of holding shares
  • Ability to own property and enter into legal contracts
  • Beneficial owners can remain confidential
  • No meetings required
  • Small companies exempted from audit requirements
  • Well establish company formation structures
  • Additional tax breaks for business activities in a number of industries

Key Corporate Features of an Ireland Business Company

Ireland Company Incorporation Product Package

  • Government Registration Fee (First year)
  • Registered Office Address (First year)
  • Registered Agent Services (First year)
  • Company Secretarial Maintenance
  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Memo & Articles of Association
  • Appointment of 1st Directors
  • Consent Actions of the BOD
  • Share Certificates
  • Register of Directors
  • Register of Officers
  • Register of Shareholders
  • FREE Phone and/or email consultations

Register a Company in Ireland: Incorporation Requirements

To incorporate an Ireland Resident Private Limited Company, it is required to submit the following:

  • Registration fee
  • Copy of Passport
  • Details and address of beneficial owner
  • Company Memorandum (specifying the activities the company will engage)
  • Articles of Association (specifying the internal management structure)
  • A1 Form

Ireland Tax Rates for Private Limited Companies

Ireland has the second lowest corporation tax rate in the European Union. Trading income is taxed at 12.5% and 25% on non-trading income (investment and rental income). This applies to all income generated from all operations worldwide, which provides many tax-saving opportunities for multi-national companies.

There is no withholding tax on dividends and no capital gains tax on the disposal of shareholdings in subsidiaries. Members or Directors looking for investors may be benefit from the Business Expansion Scheme (BES) that gives tax savings in investments 

related to certain industries in manufacturing, service, tourism, research, constructing etc. The government has enabled this scheme to encourage outside investment in specific Irish industries.

Anonymity, Confidentiality and Disclosure

An Irish company must disclose all details of its directors, members, financial information and all statements of accounts to the Public Registry or Companies Office all information remains open to the public. Nominee services are available that do allow companies a form of confidentiality. If corporate shareholders are used then the identity and details of the beneficial owners can remain confidential as the shareholder may act in behalf of the beneficial owners.

Company Shares

An Irish Resident Private Limited Company may have ordinary and preference shares, redeemable and registered with or without voting rights, the preferences of which is to be outlined in the Articles of Association.

Required Capital

There are no duty taxes on any authorized capital. There is a 1% capital duty payable on the issue share capital, there is no maximum authorized capital. The minimum issued capital is two shares of par value.

Managers / Directors

There is a minimum requirement that there be two (2) Directors. Corporate Directors are not allowed. The Directors may be of any nationality, but one of the musts be a resident of a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA) which include 27 member states. In the absence of having a resident director the company may enter into a surety bond for EUR25,395.

Company Secretary

A company secretary is required for a Resident Private Limited Company. A secretary can be a corporate body or an individual and does not need to be locally qualified.

Company Meetings

Company meetings are not required for an Irish company

Principal Corporate Legislation

Companies Acts 2014

Type of Law

Common Law based on English Common Law

Members / Shareholders

A private limited company has a minimum of one shareholder, normally referred to as members, with a maximum of fifty. Records of all shareholders must be set to the Government Registry. Shareholders may be corporate bodies and does not need to hold company meetings. If meetings are held, they can be held anywhere in the world.

Trading Restrictions

A Company cannot sell its shares or raise funds from the public and must engage in some form of business activities within Ireland.

Exchange Controls

There are no exchange controls in Ireland.

Powers of The Company

A Company has all the same powers as a natural person. A company has a legal existence that is separate from its members and directors. All person affiliated to the company are protected with a limited liability, that is, their liability is limited to the assets invested within the company and are not liable to any debts incurred by the company.

Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents

English

Registered Office Required

A registered office is required for an Irish Limited Company.

Financial Statements Required

All Irish Companies must submit audited accounts electronically through the Revenue on line services system (ROS). However, those companies are exempt if they have been given audit exemption status, and may submit hard copies. Every company must file returns whether or not the company has traded or not. Audited accounts are to be filed with the company’s annual returns and must be completed by an auditor that is registered with the Companies Registration Office.

Private Limited Company

A private limited company protects the personal assets of its directors and its members in such that the debts of the company cannot be transferable to the persons involved, in which the rights and of shareholders are defined and protected. An PLC be used for tax advantages for its members and directors, as well as it provides for a convenient international investment vehicle that can be used for a number of people.

Local Presence

The only local presence that is required is that a company have a registered office. No local secretary, director, or auditor is required, though one of the Directors must be a resident of the EEA. A company must also keep a company seal in its local office.

Audit Requirements

All companies must submit audited accounts to the Companies Registration Office. However, a company can apply for an audit exemption is the turnover of accounts is less than EUR7,400,000.

Annual Reporting

A small or medium sized company is allowed to submit abridged accounting records and submit an annual return every year with the Registry in Ireland no later than 28 days from the statutory annual return date.

Shelf Companies Available

No

Time Required to Form Offshore Company

5-10 Days

Name Restrictions

An Irish Company may not use any name that is similar or identical to an existing name, that is seen as being offensive or undesirable, that implies state patronage with words such as Crown, Imperial or Royal, or use of other words such as Credit Union, Society, and Standard.

Language of Name

A Private Limited Company can use any language that uses the Latin alphabet, though it may be asked by the Register to supply an English translation.

Names of Company Requiring A Special Licence or Permission

A company must first receive permission or the appropriate licence if the name of the company has the word, bank, insurance, assurance, society, cooperative, university, charity, trust management, etc.

Access to Double Tax Treaties

Ireland has access to and has signed sixty-three (63) double tax treaties that attract many multi-national corporations in Ireland due to its low corporate tax rate.

Documents required from customers for the procedures align with the incorporation of the Offshore company and Bank Account opening in the selected jurisdiction

  • Certified Passport of each shareholder/beneficial owner and director
  • Certified Proof of residential address of each director and shareholder (Must be in English or certified translation version)
  • Bank References letter for bankers for each shareholder/beneficial owner and director
  • Three proposed company names
  • The issued share capital and par value of shares
  • A brief Business plan about your proposed line of business
  • Together with Guidance Notes for applicant fully completed by the client

Conclusion

Corporations in Ireland enjoy several benefits including: only one shareholder required to incorpo-rate, low corporate tax rate, a great country to do business, great research & development incen-tives, several holding company tax exemptions, and many double taxation treaties so the same income will not be taxed twice. Total set-up fees inclusive of government fees is $11820