Ireland (IE)
Ireland is a parliamentary republic and island nation on the western edge of Europe — the only English-speaking country in the Eurozone — celebrated for its warmly welcoming culture and legendary pub life, dramatic Wild Atlantic Way coastline and emerald green rolling countryside, a remarkable literary tradition from Joyce to Beckett, and its role as the European headquarters for the world's leading technology companies including Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and LinkedIn.
Capital: Dublin
Region: Europe
Language: English
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 80)
Emergency: 112
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Business Setup
Start a business or go freelance in Ireland.
🧑💻 Freelancer / Self-Employed Guide
Steps to register:
- 1 Register as a sole trader or set up a limited company (Ltd) with the CRO at core.ie
- 2 Obtain a PPS number if you do not already have one (via DEASP Intreo centre)
- 3 Register with Revenue as self-employed on ROS (Revenue Online Service) — register for Income Tax and USC
- 4 Register for VAT if annual turnover exceeds €37,500 (services) or €75,000 (goods). Voluntary registration below thresholds is possible
- 5 Notify your bank about self-employed status; open a business bank account
- 6 Register for PRSI Class S (self-employed) — contributions are included in your annual tax calculation
- 7 Consider joining a professional body relevant to your sector
- 8 Set up accounting software (Xero, Sage, QuickBooks) or hire an accountant
- 9 Understand preliminary tax obligations: 90% of current year liability or 100% of prior year due 31 October
Tax registration
Register with Revenue at ros.ie (Revenue Online Service) for Income Tax, USC, and PRSI Class S. Self-employed must file Form 11 annually by 31 October (or 14 November via ROS). Preliminary tax due 31 October. Consider using an accountant for first year.
VAT threshold
€37,500 for services; €75,000 for goods. Registration required within 30 days of exceeding threshold. Voluntary registration below threshold is possible and advantageous if providing services to VAT-registered businesses.
Invoicing
VAT invoices must include: your VAT number, client details, invoice date and number, description of supply, VAT rate and amount, net and gross amount. Irish VAT invoices must be in EUR. Retain records for 6 years.
Social security
Self-employed pay PRSI Class S at 4.1% of net profit. Minimum annual contribution of approximately €500. Entitles to state pension, maternity/paternity benefit, and limited illness benefit from 2023. Note: Class S does not provide Jobseeker's Benefit — only Jobseeker's Allowance (means-tested). Voluntary PRSI contributions can supplement Class S.
💡 Ireland's 12.5% corporation tax rate makes operating through a limited company attractive for higher-earning contractors. Salary/dividend mix is a common strategy to optimise personal tax. The Contractor Calculator on icontractor.ie is a useful tool. The Startup Refunds for Entrepreneurs (SURE) scheme provides income tax refunds for new business owners who were previously PAYE employees.
🏢 Business Structures
Sole Trader · Sole Trader
Self-Employed Individual
None
Min. capital
1–5 working days (online via Revenue)
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited — personal assets at risk
Setup cost: €0 (just register with Revenue)
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, tradespeople, sole practitioners just starting out. No Companies Registration Office (CRO) filing required. Tax paid via self-assessment on Form 11.
Partnership · General Partnership
Partnership
None
Min. capital
1–2 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Joint and several unlimited liability for all partners
Setup cost: €50–500 (legal partnership agreement recommended)
Best for: Two or more persons starting a business together. Register with Revenue and CRO. Partnership agreement strongly recommended to define profit-sharing, responsibilities, and exit provisions.
Private Limited Company (Ltd) · Private Company Limited by Shares
Limited Liability Company
No minimum share capital
Min. capital
3–10 working days (online at core.ie)
Setup time
Liability: Limited to share capital. Directors personally liable only in exceptional circumstances.
Setup cost: €100–300 (CRO registration fee + legal costs)
Best for: Most businesses intending to grow, attract investment, hire staff, or operate with commercial contracts. Corporation tax at 12.5% on trading income. Must have at least one EEA-resident director. Annual returns and accounts to CRO required.
Designated Activity Company (DAC) · Designated Activity Company
Special Purpose Limited Company
No minimum
Min. capital
5–10 working days
Setup time
Liability: Limited
Setup cost: €300–800 including legal
Best for: Companies with a specific, limited purpose — common in financial services, securitisation, and special purpose vehicles. Objects restricted by constitution.
Limited Partnership (LP) · Limited Partnership
Limited Partnership
None
Min. capital
2–4 weeks
Setup time
Liability: General partner: unlimited. Limited partners: limited to investment.
Setup cost: €300–600
Best for: Investment funds and financial structures. Commonly used in private equity, venture capital, and investment vehicles registered in Ireland.
Public Limited Company (PLC) · Public Limited Company
Public Company
€38,092.14 allotted share capital (25% paid up)
Min. capital
2–4 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Limited
Setup cost: €500–2,000+
Best for: Companies intending to list shares publicly on the Irish Stock Exchange (Euronext Dublin) or other markets. Significantly more regulatory requirements than private limited companies.
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