Ireland vs Hong Kong: which jurisdiction wins?

Ireland vs Hong Kong — both credible, very different trade-offs. Below: side-by-side on the variables that actually move the decision.

	Ireland	Hong Kong
Tax headline	12.5% trading, 15% Pillar 2 for large groups	16.5% profits tax, territorial system
Formation days	5	7
First-year cost	$5,500	$3,200
Treaties	75+	47+
Substance	Substance critical (CFC, BEPS)	Offshore claim requires substance and operational evidence
Banking	BOI, AIB, plus US bank branches	HSBC, Standard Chartered, plus VASP-licensed banks since 2024

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