Estonia vs Ireland
Estonia is £137 cheaper in year 1 and £307 a year cheaper after that.
| EstoniaPrivate limited company (OÜ)Start with 1Office | IrelandPrivate company limited by shares (LTD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Minimum, year 1 | £443 | £580 |
| Minimum, per year after | £130 | £437 |
| Typical year 1 | £1,548 | £2,808 |
| Government fee | £228€265 state fee | £43€50 online via CORE |
| Indirect setup | £85–380 | £100–2,050 |
| Running per year | £130–2,045 | £437–3,792 |
| Share capital | €0.01 | €1 |
| Rules | ||
| Directors | No local directorA local contact person is required if run from abroad. | Local director neededOne director must live in the EEA. Without one, you need a €25,000 bond costing about €1,500 to €2,000. |
| Remote setup | Fully remoteFully online with e-Residency. One trip to collect the card. | Fully remoteOnline through CORE. Each director needs an Irish ID number, which means signing a form in person in front of a notary. You also need a company secretary and an RBO filing. |
| Audit | No audit below size thresholds | No audit for small companies |
| Time to form | 1 to 3 days | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Ease for foreign owners | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Tax and banking | ||
| Corporation tax | 0% / 22%0% on profit kept, 22% when paid out. | 12.5%12.5% on trading profit, 25% on passive income. |
| Dividend withholding | None | 25%25% dividend withholding, with EU and treaty exemptions. |
| VAT / GST | 24% | 23% |
| Banking | 3/5LHV and Swedbank are selective. Wise and Revolut are common. | 3/5Irish banks want local presence. EU e-money accounts are common. |
| All company setup fees in EstoniaUse 1OfficeAd | All company setup fees in Ireland | |
Questions
Is Estonia cheaper than Ireland for company setup?
Yes. Estonia costs at least £443 in year 1, against £580 for Ireland.
Which is cheaper to run each year?
Estonia, at least £130 a year against £437 for Ireland.
Which needs a local director?
Ireland. One director must live in the EEA. Without one, you need a €25,000 bond costing about €1,500 to €2,000. Estonia does not need one.
Which is faster to set up?
Estonia, in 1 to 3 days. Ireland takes 2 to 4 weeks.
How does corporation tax compare?
Estonia: 0% on profit kept, 22% when paid out. Ireland: 12.5% on trading profit, 25% on passive income.
Sources: Estonian Business Register · PwC · EY · CRO · Revenue · Open Forest