File necessary materials with the Companies Registration Office (CRO)
Agency: Companies Registration Office
A founder may register a company at the Companies Registration Office (CRO) by three methods:
- The CORE registration system, in which the papers for incorporation are lodged in print and electronic form. Under this scheme, the constitution must be submitted in CRO• preapproved format. After the documents are filed, the CORE incorporates the company within 5 working days (typically within 3 working days).
- A “Fe Phrainn” system, in which (as detailed in the first method) the incorporation documents are submitted to the CRO in a preapproved format. Under this method, however, documents are submitted in print form only, and the CRO incorporates the company within 10 working days.
- An alternate system in which the incorporation documents are submitted to the CRO in print form, but the constitution are not in a preapproved format. In this instance, the CRO incorporates the company in 2–4 weeks.
To access the first two systems, to the company founder must apply to the CRO for an access number and have the constitution approved in advance. Usually only professional agencies use the expedited systems.
Necessary documents for limited companies:
- Constitution.
- List of directors, secretary, and subscribers.
- Statement of nominal (authorized) and issued share capital and consideration paid.
- Notice of registered office.
- Statement of the main business activities and the address where they will be carried out, contained in a statutory notice sent to the CRO.
Forms can be downloaded from the CRO Web site. For all methods, a CRO Form A1 must be submitted with details of the company name, the first election of directors and secretary, and the subscribers to the constitution; the authorized and issued share capital; and the registered office and the details of the location in the state where the central administration and the main company activities are proposed to be undertaken. The constitution, signed by the subscriber shareholders, will also be submitted to the CRO.
Since September, 2009, it is possible to reserve the proposed company name in advance of submitting the incorporation papers. The advantage of this is that it avoids the rejection of the proposed name by the Companies Registration Office either because it has already been taken or because it is inappropriate for some other reason (such as public policy). There is a fee charged of EUR 25 but this fee is then taken off the incorporation fee meaning that there is in effect no cost.
A registration fee of EUR 100 is charged for each model constitution registered with the Office. However, the use of the model company incorporation documents, using the CRO disk system, will result in a reduced incorporation fee of EUR 50. The company registration fee for procedures other than the new ones is EUR 100.
Time and cost: 3 days, EUR 50 for with pre-approved memorandum and articles, EUR 100 for standard registration
Obtain a company seal
Agency: Sealmaker
In addition to getting a company seal, the company must keep the statutory registers for the directors and shareholders.
Time and cost: 1 day, EUR 20.28
Register for corporation tax, social insurance (PAYE/PRSI), and VAT with the Revenue Commissioners
Agency: Revenue Commissioners
To register for corporation for VAT taxes and for social insurance (PAYE/PRSI) with the Revenue Commissioners, the company must file Form TR2. The Tax Identification Number is needed only when the company must pay year-end taxes. Upon entering form data into the Commissioners database, the company is immediately registered for PAYE/PRSI.
Time and cost: 1 week, no charge
