Ireland vs Malta: which jurisdiction wins?

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

	Ireland	Malta
Tax headline	12.5% trading, 15% Pillar 2 for large groups	35% headline, ~5% effective via refund system
Formation days	5	7
First-year cost	$5,500	$4,500
Treaties	75+	70+
Substance	Substance critical (CFC, BEPS)	EU substance requirements + DAC6
Banking	BOI, AIB, plus US bank branches	Bank of Valletta, APS, plus EU EMIs

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