Ireland's corporate, legal and regulatory environment alongside its tax treaties with European Union member states, the United States and other countries around the world are just some of the reasons why Ireland is considered such an attractive jurisdiction to locate your corporate headquarters.
Ireland is known the world over as a great place to do business. So when companies need to expand overseas Ireland is the perfect location. This is why, based in Ireland, there are over 700 top US companies. Together they employ over 150,000 people across the country.
For decades, our low corporate tax rate had enticed major companies to base themselves in Ireland, and the country has benefitted hugely from it. Having successfully lured the world's largest pharmaceutical companies to Ireland, the tech giants followed.
One of the most favourable tax systems and Double Taxation Treaty Network. Ireland has a corporate tax rate of 12,5%, which is actually one of the lowest tax rates in the world.
Ireland's membership of the European Union means that US companies can trade freely with Ireland and have easy access to the European market. Ireland's low corporate tax rate of 12.5% is another major factor that attracts US companies. This is significantly lower than the US corporate tax rate of 35%.
While Ireland has been considered a tax haven by many for decades now, the global tax system that Ireland depends on to incentivize multinational corporations to move there is receiving an overhaul by a coalition of 130 nations.
Google has managed to reduce the amount of the energy it uses worldwide to cool down its data system to just 12% of its energy bills. The chilly climate of Ireland makes the data processing center more energy efficient and hence greener to cool down its server.
The Irish economy has many firmly intact institutional strengths. The foundations of economic freedom are buttressed by well-institutionalized protection of property rights and a stable judiciary. Regulatory efficiency and openness to global trade and investment support Ireland's competitiveness.
Irish and Australian business cultures are similar in their levels of formality and practices, sharing value in relationships and trust in business. Business integrity, cooperation and likeability go a long way in establishing this trust. However, communication is key to business practice for the Irish.
In 1980, Apple entered into a deal with its Irish operation, whereby the latter would share the cost of funding Apple's research and development. In return, the Irish unit would be able to enjoy rights to Apple's intellectual property for goods sold outside the Americas.
Accenture is based in Ireland for tax and legal purposes after relocating here from Bermuda in 2009 when then US president Barack Obama was targeting overseas profits in countries, like Bermuda, that the US regarded as tax havens.
Apple Operations International and its subsidiaries employ about 56,600 staff, of whom 6,000 are based in Ireland.
The story of Apple in Ireland began in 1980 with a single manufacturing facility and 60 employees. Fast-forward to today, and Ireland is home to more than 6,000 Apple employees and a sprawling campus in the city of Cork.
Currently, the richest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita is Luxembourg, with a GDP per capita of $135,700. Other wealthy countries include Bermuda, Ireland, and Switzerland, all with GDP per capita above $80,000.
Even after adjusting for the cost of living, Ireland's gross domestic product (GDP) per person was 134pc above the bloc's average, making Ireland the second-richest country, behind Luxembourg.
Per capita, Ireland is now considered one of the wealthiest countries in the world and the most affluent in Europe behind Luxemburg. The much-loved Donald Trump did say in 2020, "Ireland is punching way above its weight", and according to recent calculations by financial expèrts, he may not be completely wrong.
Irish companies pay lower rates of corporation tax than English entities, by setting-up of a limited company in Ireland you are able to take advantage of this very attractive tax rate. The Irish Government has frozen the tax rates on Irish companies at just 12.5% because you are investing in the country.
If you are a foreign national
If you are a non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss national and you want to open a business or invest in Ireland, you can apply for permission under the Immigration Investor Programme and Start Up Entrepreneur Programme. Read more about coming to set up a business or invest in Ireland.
Access to European Market
After Brexit, Ireland is the only English-speaking member of the European Union. Register a company in Ireland to obtain free access to the European market and thus step on the path of great commercial opportunities.
On 29 August 2016, after a two-year investigation, Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission announced: "Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple". The Commission ordered Apple to pay €13 billion, plus interest, in unpaid Irish taxes from 2004–14 to the Irish state.
Question: Why is Facebook headquartered in Ireland? Answer: Because Ireland has a low corporate tax rate thereby saving costs and increasing profits. See below for details. The more technical name for this phenomenon is called the Double Irish Arrangement or Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).
Google's Irish subsidiary has agreed to pay €218m (£183m) in back taxes to the Irish government, according to company filings.