Ireland corporate taxes

Ireland taxes trading profit at its long-standing 12.5% rate, with 25% on passive income and a 15% Pillar Two minimum for large multinational groups. VAT is 23%, and employment income carries income tax at 20%/40% plus USC and PRSI. Filing runs through Revenue’s ROS system; companies register and file annual accounts with the Companies Registration Office.

Currency EUR (€)Tax year Calendar year (companies: chosen accounting period)EU member stateLast reviewed 2026-07-12

12.5%

Corporation tax (trading)

On trading income

25%

Corporation tax (passive)

Rents, interest, investment income

23%

VAT standard rate

Reduced: 13.5% and 9%

20% / 40%

Income tax

Plus USC and PRSI

25%

Dividend WHT

Exemptions within groups

15%

Pillar Two minimum

Groups above €750m revenue

Company forms & registration

Companies register with the Companies Registration Office (CRO), then with Revenue for tax, and file beneficial-owner data with the RBO.

Main legal forms	LTD (private company limited by shares), DAC, PLC, CLG, sole trader^[3][9]The LTD is the default choice for most businesses.
Minimum share capital — LTD	No minimum^[3][9]A private LTD has no statutory minimum capital. PLC: €25,000.
Registers a new employer meets	CRO (incorporation) → Revenue (CT, VAT, PAYE via ROS) → RBO (beneficial owners)^[9][10]

Other statutory requirements

Obligations beyond filing a tax return that every operating company must satisfy.

Beneficial ownership (RBO)	Filed within 5 months of incorporation^[10]A person owning or controlling more than 25% is a beneficial owner; changes are filed within 14 days. Since 2025 non-filing is grounds for involuntary strike-off.
Annual return (Form B1)	Filed with the CRO every year with financial statements^[3][9]The first annual return falls 6 months after incorporation (no accounts); later returns include the financial statements. A single late filing no longer removes audit exemption (a second within five years does).
Audit exemption	Turnover < €12m, assets < €6m, < 50 employees^[3]A small company meeting all three (thresholds raised for 2024 onward) is exempt from a statutory audit.
Document retention	6 years^[3]

Corporation tax

Trading income	12.5%^[1][4]The rate on active trading profits, unchanged since 2003.
Passive (non-trading) income	25%^[1][4]Rents, interest, and most investment income are taxed at 25%.
Pillar Two minimum tax	15% for large groups^[1]Groups with consolidated revenue of €750m+ face a 15% effective minimum through an income inclusion rule and a domestic top-up tax.
R&D tax credit	30% of qualifying R&D^[1][4]
Return & preliminary tax	CT1 by the 23rd of the 9th month after period end^[1][4]Preliminary tax is paid in advance: small companies (prior liability ≤ €200,000) in one instalment, larger companies in two.

Withholding taxes & dividends

Dividends (DWT)	25%^[7]Dividend withholding tax; exemptions apply for Irish-resident company recipients, EU parent-subsidiary cases (≥5%), and treaty residents.
Interest	20%^[1][8]Withholding on certain annual interest, with wide exemptions (EU, treaty, quoted eurobonds).
Patent royalties	20%^[1][8]Reduced or eliminated under the EU Interest & Royalties Directive and treaties.
Professional services (PSWT)	20%^[1]Withheld by public bodies on payments for professional services; credited against the provider’s tax.

VAT (Value-Added Tax)

Standard rate	23%^[2][5]
Reduced rates	13.5% and 9%^[2][5]13.5%: construction, fuel, many services. 9%: newspapers, some tourism. Restaurant/catering and hairdressing move from 13.5% to 9% in July 2026. 0% for exports, most food, oral medicines and children’s clothing.
Registration thresholds	€85,000 (goods) / €42,500 (services)^[2][5]Non-established businesses register from the first taxable supply.
VAT return	VAT3, bi-monthly by the 23rd (via ROS)^[5]Payment due with the return; less frequent periods are possible for smaller traders.

Payroll: income tax, USC & PRSI

The employer operates PAYE in real time — income tax, the Universal Social Charge and Pay Related Social Insurance are withheld each pay day and reported to Revenue.

Income tax (PAYE)	20% then 40%^[1][6]20% on income up to the standard-rate band (€44,000 for a single person in 2026), 40% above.
Universal Social Charge (USC)	0.5% / 2% / 3% / 8%^[1][6]2026 bands: 0.5% to €12,012, 2% to €28,700, 3% to €70,044, 8% above.
PRSI (social insurance)	Employee 4.2%; employer ~11.25%^[6]From 1 October 2026 the employee rate rises to 4.35% and the employer rate to 11.40% (9.15% on lower weekly pay).
Minimum wage	€14.15/hour (2026)^[6]
Reporting	Real-time payroll submission on or before each pay date^[6]PAYE, USC and PRSI are remitted to Revenue monthly (by the 23rd via ROS).

Other taxes companies meet

Commercial rates	Local authority rates on commercial property^[4]Charged by local authorities based on the valuation of business premises.
Stamp duty	1% on shares; 7.5% on non-residential property^[4]On transfers of shares and property (residential rates differ).
Excise & environmental taxes	Fuel, alcohol, tobacco, carbon tax^[4]

Accounting & financial statements

Accounting standards	FRS 102 (Irish GAAP) or IFRS^[3]IFRS is used for listed groups; the Companies Act 2014 governs the accounts.
Filing with the CRO	Financial statements filed with the annual return^[3][9]The annual return date sets the deadline; small and micro companies file abridged accounts.
Company size classes	Small, medium, large by turnover / assets / employees^[3]The class sets disclosure and audit obligations; audit exemption applies to qualifying small and micro companies.

Forms & filings

Every recurring return and report a typical company deals with, what triggers it, and where it goes. Registration-time and one-off filings are marked “per event”.

Form	What it is	Who files	Frequency	Deadline	Filed with
`CT1`	Corporation tax return^[1][4]	Companies	annual	23rd of the 9th month after period end	RevenueROS
`VAT3`	VAT return^[2][5]	VAT-registered persons	monthly	Bi-monthly, by the 23rd	RevenueROS
`PAYE`	Real-time payroll submission^[6]	All employers	per event	On or before each pay date; remit monthly by the 23rd	RevenueROS
`DWT`	Dividend withholding tax return^[7]	Companies paying dividends	monthly	14th of the month after the distribution	RevenueROS
`B1`	Annual return^[3][9]	All companies	annual	On the annual return date, with financial statements	CROCORE
`RBO`	Beneficial ownership filing^[10]	All companies	per event	Within 5 months of incorporation; 14 days on change	RBORBO portal

Compliance calendar

The same filings grouped by rhythm — what recurs when.

monthly

VAT3Bi-monthly, by the 23rd
DWT14th of the month after the distribution

annual

CT123rd of the 9th month after period end
B1On the annual return date, with financial statements

per event

PAYEOn or before each pay date; remit monthly by the 23rd
RBOWithin 5 months of incorporation; 14 days on change

Sources

Numbered references cited throughout this profile. Laws link to consolidated texts in the official register.

Taxes Consolidation Act 1997Irish Statute Book · law
Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010Irish Statute Book · law
Companies Act 2014Irish Statute Book · law
Corporation tax — guidanceRevenue · authority
VAT — guidanceRevenue · authority
Employing people (PAYE, USC, PRSI)Revenue · authority
Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT)Revenue · authority
Withholding tax on interest & royalty paymentsRevenue · authority
Company registration & annual returnCompanies Registration Office · register
Register of Beneficial OwnershipRBO · register