Set Up Your Irish Company from the UK
Irish company formation with the Section 137 bond included, from €2,450 + VAT. Based in the UK, in Ireland, or both? One team looks after both sides: your accounts, cross-border tax questions and company closure.
- Section 137 bond included
- Fixed fees, no hidden costs
- Ireland and the UK looked after
- Can a UK resident own an Irish company?
- Yes. Without a director resident in the EEA, the company needs a Section 137 bond.
- What is the Section 137 bond?
- A €25,000 insurance bond that runs for two years. It is included in our formation packages.
- Is Irish tax the only tax?
- Not always. A company run from the UK may be UK tax resident as well.
- Who is Forti?
- An accountancy firm based in Sandyford, Dublin 18, working in Irish company law and tax.
Irish Company Formation for UK Residents
We form your Irish private limited company (LTD), arrange the bond that Irish law requires of non-EEA directors, and hand you a company that is ready to operate.
Why UK directors need a bond
Under Section 137 of the Companies Act 2014, an Irish company must have at least one director resident in the European Economic Area (EEA). Since Brexit, a UK-resident director does not meet that test. There are three ways to comply:
- A Section 137 bond. The route most UK founders take, and the one in our packages.
- An EEA-resident director. A real appointment with full director duties, not a formality.
- A Section 140 certificate. Issued by the CRO on a statement from Revenue that the company has a real and continuous link with economic activity in Ireland. Rarely practical for a new company.
Know this before you incorporate
- The bond lasts two years. Budget for a new bond or another qualifying route when it expires.
- Revenue registrations (corporation tax, VAT and Employer PAYE) and the first annual return are quoted separately. The first B1 falls due six months after incorporation and normally needs no financial statements.
- VAT registration is not automatic. Revenue will usually ask for evidence of real trading activity connected with Ireland.
- Opening a bank account is the bank's decision. No adviser can guarantee one.
Already Have an Irish Company? Switch to Forti
If your accountant has gone quiet, or the company was formed online and nobody has looked after it since, we take it over and bring it up to date. See our limited company accounting service.
What we handle
- Handover from your previous accountant, including professional clearance
- Bookkeeping and management accounts
- Annual financial statements
- Corporation tax return (Form CT1)
- CRO annual return (Form B1)
- Irish VAT returns
- A compliance review where returns or accounts are overdue
An Irish company has obligations from the day it is incorporated, whether or not it has traded. Late annual returns bring penalties and can put the company's audit exemption at risk, so overdue filings are better dealt with sooner. Catch-up work for earlier years is quoted once we have reviewed the records.
UK–Ireland Cross-Border Tax Consultation
Find out what Ireland expects of your business, and what to ask a UK adviser, before it becomes an expensive problem.
A company incorporated in Ireland is generally treated as tax resident in Ireland. If its directors make the real decisions from the UK, it may also be treated as resident in the UK under UK rules. Where both countries have a claim, the Ireland–UK double taxation treaty leaves the question to be settled between the two tax authorities. It is not resolved automatically.
Who it is for
- An Irish company managed by UK-resident directors
- A UK company with customers, staff or stock in Ireland
- Questions about Irish VAT on cross-border sales
- Unclear registration and reporting obligations in Ireland
The consultation covers the Irish position. It is not UK tax advice, and it does not give a final ruling on dual residence, treaty relief or permanent establishment.
Close Your Irish Company from the UK
Voluntary strike-off is the clean, low-cost way to close a company that qualifies, and it is handled entirely by filing.
A company that is simply abandoned does not disappear. Returns keep falling due, penalties build, and the CRO can strike the company off involuntarily, which can have consequences for its directors.
To apply, the company must
- Have ceased trading, or never have traded
- Have assets of no more than €150 and liabilities of no more than €150
- Be up to date with its CRO annual returns
- Hold a letter of no objection from Revenue
- Pass a special resolution and advertise its intention to apply
If the company has debts it cannot pay or assets to distribute, a liquidation may be needed instead. We tell you that at the start. Our guide to voluntary strike-off versus liquidation explains the difference.
UK, Ireland or Both? We Look After Both Sides
Whether you live in the UK and own an Irish company, run an Irish business with a UK arm, or operate in both countries, you deal with one team and have one conversation. We make sure nothing falls between the two systems.
In Ireland
Handled directly by Forti
- Company formation and CRO filings
- Bookkeeping and annual accounts
- Corporation tax and VAT returns with Revenue
- Payroll for Irish employees
- Company secretary and business address
- Strike-off and closure
In the UK
Handled by UK professionals in our network
- UK company formation
- UK statutory accounts
- Corporation tax returns (CT600)
- UK VAT and payroll
- Companies House filings
- UK tax advice on cross-border questions
You keep one point of contact at Forti for both. Forti Ltd. does not itself provide UK tax advice or UK statutory services; we can introduce you to UK professionals in our network who provide these services. They engage with you and invoice you directly for the UK work.
Trading Across the Border from Northern Ireland?
Under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland continues to follow EU VAT rules for goods, but not for services. Trading with the Republic does not by itself mean you need an Irish company, and we will tell you plainly if incorporation would add cost without adding benefit.
Our cross-border consultation works as a Northern Ireland and Ireland VAT and compliance assessment, with your Irish obligations set out in writing.
Questions we answer
- When an XI-prefixed VAT number is needed for goods moving between Northern Ireland and the EU
- Whether sales to customers in the Republic create an Irish VAT registration obligation
- What changes when you take on staff who live or work south of the border
- Whether an Irish company is needed at all
Fixed Fees, Published Up Front
All fees exclude VAT. Statutory and third-party costs are passed on at cost and listed separately on your quote. We confirm the final figure in writing once we understand your company. See all Forti pricing.
| Service | Fee (ex. VAT) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Non-Resident formation | €2,450 | Formation with CRO fee, two-year Section 137 bond, RBO filing, VIF guidance and AML onboarding |
| Non-Resident Plus formation | €3,250 | Everything in Essential, plus an Irish business address for 12 months and company secretary service |
| Section 137 bond service | €1,800 | For companies already incorporated: bond application and documentation, CRO submission and bond-expiry tracking |
| Revenue registrations | Quoted separately | Corporation tax, VAT and Employer PAYE registration, where the business requires them |
| First annual return (Form B1) | €350 | Preparation and filing of the first CRO annual return, due six months after incorporation |
| Limited company accounting plan | €195 per month | Bookkeeping, annual statutory accounts, CT1, CRO annual return (B1) and Irish VAT returns, with up to 20 bank transactions a month |
| Payroll | From €30 per employee per month | Monthly payroll with digital payslips |
| Business address | €450 per year | Renewal of the Irish business address after the first 12 months |
| Company secretary | €450 per year | Company secretary appointment and statutory records |
| Cross-border tax consultation | Get a quote | Consultation plus a written summary of your Irish obligations, priced on the complexity of your case |
| Voluntary strike-off | From €750 | Application for a compliant company that meets the CRO conditions. CRO fees and advertisement extra |
Our Streamlined Process
- Tell us what you needWhere you are based, what the company does and what you want done.
- Get a written quoteYou see the fee, what it covers and what it does not, before you commit.
- Complete onboardingIrish anti-money laundering law requires us to verify directors and beneficial owners first.
- We do the workOne named contact throughout, and we track the company's filing dates afterwards.
Timelines depend on CRO and Revenue processing and on how quickly identity documents reach us. We give a realistic estimate with your quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a UK resident be a director of an Irish company?
Yes. There is no nationality or residence bar on being a director of an Irish company. The requirement is that at least one director is resident in the European Economic Area (EEA). If none is, the company needs a Section 137 bond or a Section 140 certificate. The UK has been outside the EEA since Brexit, so a UK-resident director does not meet the test.
How much does it cost to set up an Irish company from the UK?
Forti's Essential Non-Resident package is €2,450 + VAT and the Non-Resident Plus package is €3,250 + VAT. Both include company formation, the CRO fee and a two-year Section 137 bond. Non-Resident Plus adds an Irish business address for 12 months and a company secretary service. Revenue registrations and the first annual return are quoted separately.
What is a Section 137 bond and how much does it cost?
A Section 137 bond is an insurance bond of €25,000 that covers certain fines and penalties under Irish company and tax law if the company fails to pay them. It runs for two years and must then be renewed or replaced. A two-year bond is included in both of Forti's non-resident formation packages. For a company that is already incorporated, Forti's Section 137 bond service is €1,800 + VAT.
Do I need an Irish address to set up an Irish company?
The company needs a registered office in Ireland. You can supply your own or use Forti's. A registered office is a legal address for official post. It does not by itself make the company tax resident in Ireland or prove that it trades there.
What does an accountant for an Irish limited company cost?
Forti's limited company plan is €195 + VAT a month. It covers monthly bookkeeping, annual statutory accounts, the corporation tax return (CT1), the CRO annual return (B1) and Irish VAT returns, with up to 20 bank transactions a month.
Can I switch accountant if my Irish company's filings are overdue?
Yes, and it is better done sooner. Forti reviews what is outstanding with the CRO and Revenue, quotes for the catch-up work and then moves the company onto a monthly plan. Late annual returns bring penalties and can put the company's audit exemption at risk.
Will my Irish company pay Irish corporation tax if I run it from the UK?
Not necessarily only Irish tax. A company incorporated in Ireland is generally Irish tax resident, but if it is managed and controlled from the UK it may be treated as UK resident as well. The Ireland–UK double taxation treaty then leaves the position to be settled between the two tax authorities. Forti does not recommend forming an Irish company for its tax rate alone. Good reasons are commercial: EU customers, EU suppliers, Irish staff or an Irish operation.
How do I close an Irish company from the UK?
If the company has stopped trading, has assets and liabilities of no more than €150 each, is up to date with its CRO annual returns and has a letter of no objection from Revenue, it can apply for voluntary strike-off. The process runs on filings and signed documents, so you do not need to travel to Ireland. Forti's voluntary strike-off service is from €750 + VAT.
Does a Northern Ireland business need an Irish company to sell in the Republic?
Often not. Many Northern Ireland businesses sell to customers in the Republic without an Irish company, although an Irish VAT registration may still be needed. It depends on what you sell, where your customers are and how the goods move.
Can Forti look after both my UK and Irish obligations?
Yes. Forti handles the Irish side directly: company formation, accounts, tax returns and CRO filings. UK accounts, corporation tax returns and Companies House filings are carried out by UK professionals in Forti's network, who engage with you and bill you directly for that work. You keep one point of contact at Forti for both.
Do you guarantee an Irish business bank account?
No. Banks make their own decisions and apply their own checks. Forti provides the company documents and confirmations that banks normally ask for.
Ready to Start?
Tell us where you are based and what you need. We reply with a clear scope and a written quote. +353 1 906 5862 or info@forti.ie.