🇮🇪 Ireland vs 🇨🇾 Cyprus

Company formation compared. Tax, setup, banking, costs.

🇮🇪

Ireland

Private Limited Company (LTD)
Tax: 12.5% trading profit
Setup: €69 (€19 + €50 CRO)
Time: ~5 business days
  • ✓ Faster setup (1–2 weeks vs 4–6)
  • ✓ Lower annual accountant fees
  • ✓ Stripe + AIB + Revolut friendly
  • ✓ Larger startup ecosystem
  • ✓ English-speaking by default
  • ✗ No non-dom personal tax break
  • ✗ Higher cost of living
  • ✗ Section 137 if non-resident
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🇨🇾

Cyprus

Tax: 12.5% (same as Ireland)
Setup: €350–€800
Time: 4–6 weeks
  • ✓ Same 12.5% corp tax
  • ✓ Non-dom regime for residents (17 years tax-free dividends)
  • ✓ Lower personal income tax
  • ✓ Mediterranean lifestyle
  • ✗ 4–6 week incorporation
  • ✗ Higher accountant fees
  • ✗ Less startup-friendly banking
  • ✗ Smaller English-speaking workforce
Honest verdict

Same tax rate but Ireland is faster to set up, easier to bank with, and has a much larger English-speaking professional services market. Pick Cyprus only if you need the non-dom tax regime for residents.

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