To set up a limited company you register it with the Companies Registration Office (CRO), record its beneficial owners with the RBO and register it for tax with Revenue. We handle the paperwork from the name check to the first-year deadlines, and help you decide whether a company suits you before you commit.
Information checked 3 October 2026 against Revenue and CRO guidance.
What's included
These rules come from the Companies Act 2014 (sections 128, 129 and 137 cover directors, the secretary and EEA residence). Most small companies are private companies limited by shares, ending in "Limited" or "Ltd".
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Record beneficial owners with the RBO | Soon after incorporation |
| Register for Corporation Tax (and VAT or PAYE if needed) | Before trading or paying staff |
| First annual return to the CRO, with no financial statements | Made up to 6 months after incorporation, filed within 56 days |
| First Corporation Tax return (CT1) | By the 23rd day of the ninth month after the first accounting period ends |
It can. Start-up company relief under section 486C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 removes up to €40,000 of Corporation Tax a year for the first five years of a new trade started on or before 31 December 2026. The relief is linked to the employer PRSI the company pays, so a company with no employees may get little or none. Budget 2027 may extend the end date; check before you rely on it.
Worked example
A new company makes a trading profit of €80,000 in its first year. Corporation Tax at 12.5% is €10,000. If it qualifies in full for start-up relief, and has paid at least that much employer PRSI, that €10,000 can be relieved. Without staff on payroll, the relief is limited, so the bill stays close to €10,000.
No. The 12.5% rate applies to profit left in the company. Salary and dividends you take out are taxed in your hands, and a close company that holds on to investment or rental income can face a surcharge. A company also brings yearly CRO filings, company accounts and directors' duties. Our guide Sole trader or limited company? compares both on real figures.
Yes. A private company limited by shares can have a single director, but it must also have a company secretary who is a different person. At least one director must be resident in the EEA, or the company must put a bond in place.
Source: Companies Act 2014 (revised), Law Reform Commission, checked 3 October 2026.
No, you can incorporate directly on the CRO's CORE system. An accountant helps with the decisions behind it: the share structure, who should be director and secretary, the Revenue registrations, and the first year's deadlines so nothing is filed late.
The first annual return is made up to the date six months after incorporation and must be filed within 56 days of that date. It does not need financial statements attached; later returns do.
Source: CRO: Filing an annual return, checked 3 October 2026.
The RBO records the people who ultimately own or control an Irish company, usually anyone holding more than 25%. Every new company files its beneficial owners with the RBO and must report changes. The register is separate from the CRO.
Next step
Book a call at a time that suits you, or ring the office.
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm · info@mawhately.ie
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