Ireland has had a strong business relationship with the United States for years now but as economic instability with other friends of the US like the UK, Ireland offers even more promise for US customers.
In general, Ireland is very welcoming to international businesses looking to set up on our shores. With Research & Development tax credits, employment incentive schemes, grants and the fact that a company is a legal entity on its own. These factors make Ireland a good fit for e-commerce businesses and online retailers.
Since Brexit, Ireland has become the natural EU gateway for non-EU businesses – the only English-speaking EU country, with direct access to the single market and mature cross-border logistics infrastructure. This stability is an alluring quality for the US companies, but there are more reasons that attract e-commerce companies to Ireland.
Corporate Tax in Ireland is 50% that of the United States’ Corporate Tax
Since 1996 Ireland has crafted a tax policy to compete on a Global scale, as a low-tax country. Remember, Ireland is an island on the outskirts of Europe so we need to incentivise Foreign Direct Investment.
The fact is, Ireland’s corporate tax rate is 12.5% for trading income – one of the lowest in the EU and significantly below the US rate of 21%. For larger companies (over €750m global turnover), a 15% rate applies under the OECD’s Pillar Two framework.
Also, Ireland has a well-educated workforce, an English-speaking workforce, with an excellent infrastructure (5 international airports) for international travellers. Furthermore, as an export nation Ireland relies heavily on global carrier networks, therefore can offer competitive shipping rates.
Best of all, Ireland facilitates US importers a stable gateway into Europe due to EU membership status, as well as a potentially favorable route into the UK post-Brexit.
By partnering with Autofulfil online retailers can maximise e-commerce sales and profits in Europe..
Easy to Setup an E-Commerce Company in Ireland
Ireland has created a great eco-system for start-up companies through a network of supports, ranked third in Europe for the supports provided via funding and investment opportunities for early-stage companies or those experiencing growth. See Enterprise Ireland for more information.
The Irish revenue system offers remote support for e-commerce companies with electronic signatures, a regime for domain name registration, patents and the intellectual property legislation via electronic documentation. Ireland also supports eCommerce growth through Local Enterprise Office programmes including the Trading Online Voucher scheme and other digital development grants.
The Establishment of Single Director Companies
Irish company law allows single-director companies, making it straightforward for US eCommerce businesses to establish a European entity without needing a local board. This is a big win for US e-commerce businesses looking to Ireland as a base to establish their company in Europe, empowering US companies to be more agile.
So if you’re a US based online retailer seeking a European base to grow EU sales, contact Autofulfil at sales@autofulfil.com to learn more.
New in 2026: EU customs charges on non-EU parcels
Since July 2026, every low-value parcel (up to €150) entering the EU from outside carries a €3 customs duty per item, with a further ~€2 handling fee expected from November. For US brands shipping individual orders to EU customers, that’s €5+ per item in new charges.
The workaround: hold stock inside the EU. Import in bulk to Ireland, and every customer order ships as a domestic EU parcel – no per-item duty, no handling fee. Read the full breakdown →
