Brexit Company Formation in Ireland Your EU Base, Built the Right Way

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Why Ireland Is the Obvious Choice for UK Businesses After Brexit

When the UK left the EU, businesses that traded across borders suddenly found themselves dealing with customs declarations, tariff changes, VAT complications, and loss of passporting rights. For many, it was a significant operational disruption.

Ireland solves most of those problems in a single step.

By forming an Irish company, you create a legal entity that sits inside the European Union. That entity can trade freely across all 27 EU member states, bid for EU contracts, access EU funding, and operate under EU regulatory frameworks all without any of the friction that now comes with doing business from a UK base.

And unlike forming a company in Germany, France, or the Netherlands, forming one in Ireland means working in English, under a common law legal system that closely resembles the UK’s own, with a business culture that is straightforwardly familiar.

What Type of Irish Company Is Right for You?

There are two main structures for UK businesses establishing an Irish presence. TAS Consulting will advise you on which is the better fit for your situation, but here is the plain English summary:

Irish Subsidiary (Private Limited Company)

This is a separate legal entity registered in Ireland. It has its own directors, shareholders, and legal identity. It pays Irish corporation tax on its profits. The UK parent company can own the Irish subsidiary as a shareholder, giving you a clean group structure.

This is the most common and usually most advantageous approach for UK businesses wanting a proper Irish and EU base.

Irish Branch of a UK Company

A branch is not a separate legal entity it is an extension of your existing UK company operating in Ireland. Irish tax applies only to the profits generated by the Irish branch’s activities. It still requires registration in Ireland and an authorised Irish agent.

A branch can be quicker to establish and involves less initial administrative overhead, but it offers less protection and flexibility than a subsidiary. For businesses planning longer-term EU operations, the subsidiary route is almost always the better structure.

	Subsidiary	Branch
Legal status	Separate legal entity	Extension of UK parent
Tax exposure	Irish tax on all profits	Irish tax on Irish profits only
Director appointment	Your own directors appointed	Directors of head company
Liability	Limited to Irish company	Parent company bears liability
Best for	Long-term EU operations	Simpler, shorter-term presence

Key Requirements for Forming an Irish Company as a UK Resident

You do not need to live in Ireland to form and run an Irish company. But there are specific requirements you need to meet. Here is what applies:

At Least One EEA-Resident Director

Under the Companies Act 2014, every Irish private limited company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in a European Economic Area (EEA) country. Since the UK left the EU, UK residents no longer satisfy this requirement.

If you do not have an EEA-based director, you have two options:

• Appoint a nominee EEA-resident director (TAS Consulting can arrange this)
• Purchase a Section 137 Bond, which is a two-year insurance bond of approximately €25,000 that acts as a financial guarantee in lieu of an EEA-resident director

A Registered Office Address in Ireland

Your Irish company must have a physical registered office address in the Republic of Ireland. This is where all official CRO and Revenue correspondence is sent. It does not need to be where you actually operate from. TAS Consulting provides a professional Dublin registered office address as part of our company formation packages.

A Company Secretary

Every Irish company must appoint a company secretary. This can be an individual or a corporate body. If you have fewer than two directors, the director and company secretary must be different people. TAS Consulting provides professional company secretarial services if needed.

VIN Numbers for Non-Resident Directors and Major Shareholders

Non-resident directors and any shareholder owning more than 25% of the company must obtain a Verification of Identity Number (VIN) from the CRO. This is an identity verification step, similar to a PPS number, for those who do not already have Irish tax registration.

A Unique Company Name

Your chosen company name must be available and acceptable under Irish company law. Certain words (Bank, Insurance, Group) require prior approval. TAS Consulting will check name availability and flag any issues before you proceed.

What’s Included in TAS Consulting’s Brexit Company Formation Service

When you engage TAS Consulting to form your Irish company, here is what we take care of:

• Company name check and reservation at the Companies Registration Office (CRO)
• Preparation of all incorporation documents: Memorandum and Articles of Association, Form A1
• CRO filing and registration: Most companies are incorporated within 3 to 5 business days
• Registered office address in Ireland: A professional Dublin address for all official correspondence
• Company secretarial services: Appointment and ongoing compliance management
• EEA director or Section 137 Bond: Arranged where needed
• Tax registration: Corporation tax, VAT (where applicable), employer PAYE if hiring Irish staff
• Revenue and CRO liaison: We manage all official correspondence during setup
• RBO filing: Register of Beneficial Ownership submission handled in full
• Bank account documentation assistance: Guidance and paperwork to open an Irish business bank account

Everything is managed end to end. You do not need to be in Ireland, deal with the CRO directly, or navigate Irish tax registrations on your own. We handle the process from first consultation to fully operational Irish company.

The Business Case for Ireland Why UK Businesses Choose to Come Here

Beyond the practical mechanics of company formation, there are strong commercial reasons why Ireland has become the preferred EU base for UK businesses since Brexit.

12.5% Corporation Tax Rate

Ireland’s 12.5% corporation tax rate on trading profits is one of the most competitive in the world and far below the UK’s 25% rate (for companies with profits over £250,000). For businesses with strong margins, relocating or routing EU profits through an Irish entity can produce meaningful tax savings within a compliant, OECD-aligned structure.

Full EU Single Market Access

An Irish company is an EU company. It can trade freely across all 27 EU member states without tariffs, customs declarations, or regulatory barriers. For businesses that sell goods or services into Europe, this restores the access that was lost with Brexit.

English-Speaking Common Law Jurisdiction

Ireland is the only English-speaking country remaining in the EU. Its legal system is based on common law the same tradition as the UK which means Irish contracts, legal structures, and regulatory frameworks are immediately familiar to UK businesses and their lawyers.

Extensive Double Taxation Treaty Network

Ireland has double taxation agreements with over 76 countries, including the United Kingdom. This means profits flowing between your UK and Irish companies are not subject to double taxation. The Ireland-UK double taxation agreement specifically governs dividend payments, royalties, and interest flowing between the two jurisdictions.

Strong Foreign Direct Investment Track Record

Ireland consistently ranks among the world’s most business-friendly destinations. Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Pfizer, and hundreds of other multinationals have their European headquarters in Ireland not by accident, but because the regulatory environment, tax policy, and talent pool make it the right commercial decision.

Proximity and Connectivity

Dublin is closer to London than many UK regional cities. Direct flights, the same time zone, and shared cultural and commercial familiarity make Ireland operationally convenient in a way that other EU destinations simply are not.

Who This Service Is For

TAS Consulting’s Brexit company formation service is designed for:

• UK companies: That want to maintain EU market access after Brexit
• UK entrepreneurs and sole traders: Looking to set up a new business within the EU
• E-commerce businesses: Selling to EU customers who want to avoid post-Brexit VAT and customs complications
• Professional services firms: Consultants, advisors, tech firms who need an EU legal entity to service EU clients
• Financial services businesses: That have lost EU passporting rights and need an Irish-regulated entity
• UK businesses with EU-based staff: Who want to provide a proper employment base within the EU
• Holding company structures: Irish companies are widely used as EU holding vehicles due to Ireland’s participation exemption on dividends and capital gains

Set Up Your Irish Company Today

Brexit created challenges. It also created a clear opportunity Ireland is open, accessible, English-speaking, and fully inside the EU. TAS Consulting makes establishing your Irish presence straightforward.

Get in touch today for a free initial consultation. We will review your business structure, explain your options, and have your Irish company registered and operational as quickly as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions