Forti · Founder Knowledge Hub
Practical answers to the tax, bShort, general answers for common founder questions. For real client enquiries in depth, see Browse All Questions above.ookkeeping and compliance challenges Irish and international founders face every week.
Updated by the Forti team as new enquiries arrive.
Featured Insights
Will VAT registration be needed if I keep goods in Ireland?
Read Full Answer →How US companies set up an Irish subsidiary to expand operations in Europe.
Read Full Answer →What it is, when you need it, and how it protects your Irish company.
Read Full Answer →When it applies and how Irish companies account for it.
Read Full Answer →Members' Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) and when it's the right route.
Read Full Answer →Ask Forti AI
Ask a question and get a clear, practical answer in seconds.
The Escalation Timeline
Quick Answers
Short, general answers for common founder questions. For real client enquiries in depth, see Browse All Questions above.
A sole trader is taxed personally and has no separation between business and personal liability. A limited company is a separate legal entity, offering limited liability but with more filing obligations (CRO, CT1, statutory accounts).
CRO incorporation typically takes 3–5 working days once the application is filed correctly. Revenue registrations (CT, VAT, PAYE) can add another 1–2 weeks on top.
No, but the company must have at least one EEA-resident director, or a Section 137 bond in place if none is available.
Registration depends on projected turnover and whether you're supplying goods or services — thresholds differ for each, and non-established businesses (e.g. holding stock in Ireland) may need to register regardless of turnover.
A late filing fee applies immediately and accrues daily up to a cap, and audit exemption is lost for the following two filing cycles. Use the calculator above to estimate your exposure.
Yes — there's no nationality or residency requirement to be a shareholder, and directorship is possible subject to the EEA-resident-director rule above.
Founder Journey
Four stages every Irish company moves through — each step links straight to the service that handles it.
Free Founder Compliance Toolkit
Board minutes, compliance calendars, expense trackers and more — 17 practical documents every Irish company needs at some point, free to download and adapt for your own business.
All 17 templates, organised by category — free to download individually, no sign-up pressure, no sales calls.
Why Forti
Start your company quickly with our proven process.
We help you stay compliant and avoid costly penalties.
Trusted by UK, EU and US founders every day.
Formation, bookkeeping, tax and compliance under one roof.
Founder Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms that come up most in founder enquiries.
Testimonials
"Forti made our Irish company setup straightforward and hassle-free from registration to filing."
"Their knowledge hub is gold. Practical answers I actually understood."
"Professional, responsive and always ahead of compliance changes."
Speak to Forti's accountants and compliance specialists for tailored guidance.
If your company structure changes, we handle all required CRO filings and statutory updates.
Includes:
We ensure your company records remain accurate and legally compliant.
If you decide to close your company, we manage the full voluntary strike-off process, including compliance review, documentation, and filing with the Companies Registration Office (CRO), ensuring the company is properly and safely dissolved.
Director changes, share transfers, share allotments, company name changes or other statutory updates.
Required whenever shareholders or beneficial ownership changes (25%+).
We prepare and submit the update to the Central Register to keep your company compliant
Secure and reliable registered office solution to improve your business reputation. This add-on service provides an official business address for company registration and ensures important business correspondence is handled professionally. Includes:
Our full company secretary service ensures your company adheres to corporate governance standards. This includes maintaining statutory registers, filing annual returns, handling board resolutions, and advising on legal compliance. By outsourcing this service, you can reduce administrative workload and ensure your company avoids compliance-related risks.
Every Irish company must file and maintain accurate beneficial ownership details with the Central Register of Beneficial Owners (RBO). Our service includes:
Required within 5 months of incorporation and whenever shareholding changes.
Failure to file can result in significant penalties — we ensure your company remains fully compliant.
If you need to close your company — whether within the first year or later — we manage the entire voluntary strike-off process professionally and compliantly. Our team handles:
We ensure your company is properly wound down to avoid delays, penalties, or future compliance issues.
Please note: CRO filing fee and required newspaper advertisement costs are separate.
Reaching your audience effectively is key to growth. This free consultation introduces startups and small businesses to digital marketing strategies, including social media management, search engine optimisation (SEO), and online advertising, tailored to your industry and goals.
Building a strong online presence is vital for any business. This free service connects you with experienced website development companies, offering startups and small businesses tailored consultations to help establish or upgrade their online platforms.
Modern businesses thrive on effective communication. This service provides VoIP phone solutions and professional call answering with calendar management and call forwarding. It ensures no business opportunities are missed while projecting a professional image to clients and partners.
Filing the first Annual Return (B1) is an important requirement to keep your company compliant and in good standing. This service includes the preparation, filing, and management of all required documents for the year, such as financial statements, shareholder reports, and any necessary changes to the company structure. It allows you to focus on growing your business while ensuring your obligations are met. Includes:
This filing is required even if no financial statements are due.
Annual returns are essential for keeping your company information up-to-date with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). This service ensures that all required information, such as directors, shareholders, and company financials, is filed accurately and on time, avoiding late penalties and maintaining good standing.
Annual compliance is critical for avoiding fines and maintaining good standing with regulatory authorities. This service includes the preparation, filing, and management of all required documents for the year, such as financial statements, shareholder reports, and any necessary changes to the company structure. It allows you to focus on growing your business while ensuring your obligations are met. Includes:
Ideal for directors who want ongoing professional oversight.
Preparation and filing of yearly CRO Annual Return (after year one).
Helps maintain good standing and avoid late filing penalties.
Our full company secretary service ensures your company adheres to corporate governance standards. This includes maintaining statutory registers, filing annual returns, handling board resolutions, and advising on legal compliance. By outsourcing this service, you can reduce administrative workload and ensure your company avoids compliance-related risks.
Historical filing and bookkeeping services are for businesses that have gaps in their financial year filings. We will require this information for compliance and reporting purposes, regardless of the gap duration.
Traditional phone systems are transformed by VoIP (vocal over Internet Protocol) technology, which facilitates vocal communication over the internet. This technology is extensively employed in cloud-based phone services. The latest technology provides businesses with substantial advantages, such as seamless integration with a variety of digital tools and increased flexibility. Our call answering services ensure that you never miss an important call. We ensure that your business’s communication is both efficient and effective by managing your diary, receiving inquiries, and forwarding them to you.
Our Business Address Service will improve your company’s corporate image by providing a prestigious address for your correspondence. We will forward your business correspondence to an alternative address of your choosing via post for a nominal fee of €55 per month. This service is renewable annually, with an additional fee for forwarding general business correspondence.
If you need cloud based phone services, enquire now.
Includes CRO Filing Fee for Private Limited Company or DAC.