The Companies Registration Office (CRO) charges fees for some company filings, while several common electronic forms are free. This guide summarises frequently used 2026 fees from the CRO schedule; check the official schedule before filing because fees can change.
Annual Return Fees
These are statutory filing charges, not the price of preparing accounts or obtaining professional help. Use our small-business accountant cost guide to compare bookkeeping, tax and annual-compliance quotes without confusing professional fees with CRO charges.
| Filing | Online (CORE) | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| B1 Annual Return | €20 | Not available |
| Late filing penalty (base) | €100 | |
| Late filing penalty (per day) | €3/day | |
| Maximum late penalty per return | €1,200 | |
Company Formation Fees
| Filing | Online (CORE) | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| A1 — Incorporation (LTD, DAC, CLG) | €50 | Not available |
| Company name reservation | €25 | N/A |
Director and Secretary Changes
| Filing | Online (CORE) | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| B10 — Change of director/secretary | Free | Not available |
| B69 — Notice of cessation where the company has not filed B10 | Free | Not available |
Other Common Filings
| Filing | Online (CORE) | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| B2 — Change of registered office | Free | Not available |
| B1B73 — Extend annual return date | €20 | Not available |
| B5 — Return of allotments | €15 | Not available |
| C1 — Particulars of a charge | €40 | Not available |
| H15 — Voluntary strike-off request | €15 | Online filing required by current guidance |
Search and Document Costs
- Searching the CRO register on core.cro.ie — basic company information is free
- Downloading company documents costs €3.50 per document on CORE
- Searching company data on Businesses.ie is free with no registration required
How to Pay
Follow the payment instructions for the applicable filing in CORE. Do not assume a paper route exists for every form or that all filings share a fixed processing time. Check the current CRO instructions before submitting.
Tips to Minimise Filing Costs
- Check the permitted filing route — several forms require electronic filing, and not every fee differs by route
- File on time — avoid the €100 + €3/day late penalty
- Bundle changes — some forms can be combined in a single submission
- Monitor deadlines — use the Businesses.ie Watchlist to track filing dates
Summary
The B1 annual return costs €20 online and company incorporation is €50. Electronic B2 and B10 filings are free. Late filing penalties start at €100 and increase by €3/day to a maximum of €1,200 per return. Check the applicable form and current instructions rather than assuming every online filing is cheaper or processed within a fixed period.
Form labels and listed charges reviewed on 2 October 2026 against the CRO company-fee schedule and voluntary strike-off guidance. Provider preparation fees are separate from these statutory charges.