Opening a company in Ireland from Spain
Ireland is the only country that is in the EU, uses the euro and is English-speaking, with one of the lowest corporation tax rates in Europe. This is what you gain, what it requires and how we get it up and running for you.
The advantages of having your company in Ireland
12.5% corporation tax
Half the Spanish rate on profits from a real trading activity. The 15% global minimum tax only affects groups with more than €750 million: it does not apply to a small business.
Up to five years with almost no tax
New companies can be exempt from corporation tax in their first years of trading, up to five, if their tax does not exceed €40,000 a year, with a cap linked to the social insurance contributions they pay for employees and directors (start-up relief).
EU, euro and English together
Since Brexit it is the only country that combines all three: the natural base for working with the United Kingdom and the United States without leaving Europe.
A 35% R&D tax credit
From 2026, what the company invests in research and development earns it a 35% tax credit, which is paid out even if it is not yet making a profit.
Software and patents taxed at a reduced rate
Income from patents and proprietary software can qualify for a reduced rate (Knowledge Development Box).
More than 70 double taxation treaties
One of the widest tax treaty networks in the world: it makes it easier to get paid by customers in many countries without paying tax twice.
European headquarters of the big tech companies
Google, Apple, Meta and Microsoft have their European headquarters here: skilled talent, suppliers and customers in the sector close at hand.
Inside the single market
Intra-EU VAT, SEPA payments and freedom to provide services with Spain and the whole EU.
How we get it running for you, without leaving Spain
- Review of your case. You tell us about your business and we tell you clearly whether Ireland suits you, or whether another country is a better fit.
- Opening the company. Incorporation, plus tax and employer registration. You contract the registered office yourself with a local provider; we tell you which ones are reliable.
- Bank account. We choose the right provider with you and prepare the application so that it is not rejected.
- Month-by-month management. Accounting, tax, annual accounts and staff payroll, with a single point of contact in Spain.
What it really costs
The official fees are the least of it. Registering a company with the Irish Companies Registration Office (CRO) costs €50 in official fees. That is what every website publishes. And it is the least of it, because with that you have a registered company, not a working business.
What you do not see, and what has to be sorted out for the company to work:
- A registered office in Ireland and a company secretary, both mandatory.
- Registration of the beneficial owners in the Irish register (RBO).
- A bank account that will not be rejected: banks ask for real activity in Ireland.
- Registration with the Irish tax authority (Revenue) and as an employer.
- Annual accounts and the annual return on time, with surcharges if they are filed late.
- Setting it up with real activity, so that the Spanish Tax Agency does not treat it as Spanish.
We do all of this for you, in Spanish and English, with a single contact person, except the registered office (and, where required, the local contact person), which you contract directly with a provider in the country.
Incorporation of the company, tax and employer registration, and a bank account application prepared so that it is not rejected.
Accounting, tax, annual accounts and a reminder of every deadline. Payroll from €25 per employee per month.
Plus official fees. The registered office is not included: you contract and pay for it directly with a local provider. Prices exclude VAT. We give you a fixed quote based on your business before we start.
Ask for your fixed quoteOnline banks that open accounts remotely
| Provider | What it is for and conditions |
|---|---|
| Revolut Business | The most recommended remote option, with an Irish IBAN. It requires at least one director or owner to live in the EEA or Switzerland: one resident in Spain qualifies. |
| Wise Business | Remote sign-up, multi-currency and international payments. |
| Fire | An Irish online banking provider with an Irish IBAN; an alternative to Revolut. |
Traditional banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland) ask for a meeting or verification at a branch, so they are not suitable for opening an account remotely. Note: Wise and others on the list are not banks but electronic money institutions. They keep your money separate, but without a bank's deposit guarantee scheme. Conditions change often; we check them with each client before applying for the account.
Requirements we handle for you
A director resident in the European Economic Area
Irish law requires one (or a €25,000 bond, which costs about €1,500-2,000 for two years). A director who lives in Spain meets the requirement.
Banks and tax authorities look at substance
The company should have real activity in Ireland: customers, contracts or staff. A company with nothing there will find it harder to open an account.
The 12.5% is for trading activity
Passive income (interest, rents, investments) is taxed at 25%.
The key to using these advantages without problems with the Spanish Tax Agency
All these advantages are legal and they are yours if the company has real activity in its own country: customers, contracts, suppliers or staff there. Within the EU, Spanish law recognises this expressly: a subsidiary with valid economic reasons and its own activity is not caught by the Spanish controlled foreign company rules (article 100.16 of the Spanish Corporate Income Tax Act). What you must avoid is a letterbox company, in fact managed from Spain with nothing there: the Spanish Tax Agency would treat it as Spanish (article 8). We set up the subsidiary so that it has that real activity from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a company in Ireland from Spain without living in Ireland?
Yes. The law requires a director resident in the European Economic Area, and someone who lives in Spain is one. The company is registered online.
What tax does a company pay in Ireland?
12.5% on profits from a real trading activity and 25% on passive income. The 15% global minimum tax only affects groups with more than €750 million.
Which bank accepts an Irish company with a Spanish director?
Revolut Business is the most widely used remote option and provides an Irish IBAN; Wise Business and Fire are also options. AIB and Bank of Ireland require a visit.
Do I need an office in Ireland?
A physical office is not mandatory, but a registered office is, and it is advisable to have real activity there: it is what banks ask for and what justifies paying tax in Ireland rather than in Spain.
How much does it cost to open a company in Ireland?
Registration with the Irish Companies Registration Office costs €50 in official fees. On top of that come the registered office, the company secretary, the bank account and the accounting. With us, the full set-up costs from €690 and maintenance from €180 a month, plus fees. The registered office is contracted separately with a local provider.
Do you want your company in Ireland?
Tell us about your project and we will tell you what you need, what it costs and how long it takes. All from Spain.
Other countries where we work
General information reviewed in October 2026, not an opinion on your case. Fees, rates and bank conditions may change; we confirm them in each case we handle.