Ireland may be a small country (population of approximately 4.2 Million) but it has become one of the Europe’s biggest success stories.

The so-called Celtic Tiger economy has powered ahead in recent years, fuelled by foreign investment, low corporate tax and a liberal approach to trade. As the most Western country in Europe, Ireland is a fully independent jurisdiction, a committed European Union member and is presently the only English speaking jurisdiction in the Eurozone monetary system.
Ireland has well-developed corporate and general law and is a common law jurisdiction. It has a very attractive Corporate Tax rate of 12.5% on Trading Profits.
This together with Ireland ’s excellent image as an excellent corporate domicile and on-shore jurisdiction makes the use of Irish companies attractive for international tax planning purposes.

The advantages of incorporating in Ireland can be summarised as follows:

• Ireland has an excellent international corporate image.
• Low corporate taxes with a universal rate of 12.5% on trading profits.
• Extensive network of Double Taxation Treaties.
• Committed European Union and Eurozone Member.
• English speaking jurisdiction.
• Europe’s premier corporate domicile for multinational inward investment.
• Excellent telecommunications infrastructure.
• Low capitalisation costs when compared with most EU jurisdictions.
• Ideal for international Joint Ventures where participants wish to incorporate in a neutral state.

PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY

- This is the most frequently incorporated entity for private, commercial businesses and ventures. This is a company limited by shares, a company having the liability of its members limited by the Memorandum to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.

- A small/medium sized company need only file abridged audited accounts, showing a limited amount of information, at the Companies Registration Office (CRO) They can also avail of the Audit Exemption if their turnover is less than €1,500,000.It is important to note than an Annual Return must be filed every year with the C.R.O. regardless of whether the company has traded or not.

- A private limited company normally consists of 1-4 shareholders but can have more, up to a maximum of fifty. When a private limited company has only a single shareholder, this is known as a Single Member Company. This single or sole member may if he or she so decides may dispense with the holding of general meetings, including Annual General Meetings.