CRO Annual Report 2025: Key Highlights for Irish Businesses
The Companies Registration Office (CRO) has recently published its Annual Report 2025.
For business owners, company directors, accountants and regular CRO users, the report offers an interesting snapshot of activity within the Irish corporate sector during the year.
A full copy of the CRO Annual Report 2025 is available from the CRO website HERE.
Below, we’ve outlined some of the key findings that caught our attention.
1. CRO Income and Expenditure
Including income received from the Register of Friendly Societies and the Register of Beneficial Ownership, the Companies Registration Office received €19.5 million in 2025, compared to €20.5 million in 2024, representing a decrease of 4.9%.
The CRO’s expenditure for 2025 was €8.79 million.
The report also notes a reduction in late filing fees, with €8.7 million collected in 2025 compared to €9.7 million in 2024, suggesting improved compliance with annual return filing requirements among Irish companies.
2. Limited Partnerships in Ireland
A limited partnership is a partnership structure in which some members have limited liability for the debts of the firm. Their liability is limited to the amount of capital they have contributed to the partnership.
During 2025, 100 new limited partnerships were registered, compared to 149 in 2024. These registrations included both family partnerships and property partnerships.
The report includes a full list of the limited partnerships registered during the year (see page 56)
3. New Company Registrations Increase
The number of new company formations in Ireland continued to rise in 2025.
A total of 26,533 new companies were registered during the year, compared to 23,652 in 2024.
According to the report, this represents an increase of approximately 12% and is the highest number of company incorporations recorded since 2016.
4. Judicial Reviews Relating to District Court Extensions
The report outlines a Judicial Review taken by the CRO concerning two companies that had been granted extensions of time to file their Annual Returns.
In both cases, the companies were granted extensions by the courts but did not file their outstanding annual returns within the specified timeframe granted by the court.
The companies then subsequently applied for, and were granted, further extensions by their respective District Courts despite non-compliance with the first order granted.
As a result, the CRO then initiated Judicial Review proceedings in relation to those decisions with a view to having the District Court Orders quashed.
The judge found in favour of the Registrar in these cases.
The importance of this ruling is that it provides clarity on s343(5) of the Act, which stipulates that only one order may be made in respect of a company seeking to extend their time to file an annual return.
Further details on the cases are available on page 7 of the report.
5. Liquidations and Voluntary Strike-Offs
The CRO processed a total of 2,665 liquidations in 2025, an increase of 111 compared to 2024.
The figures show increases in Members’ Voluntary Winding Ups and Court Liquidations, while Creditors’ Liquidations decreased.
| Type | 2024 | 2025 |
| Members’ Voluntary Winding Up | 1,797 | 1,988 |
| Creditors’ Liquidation | 682 | 577 |
| Court Liquidation | 65 | 100 |
Need Help with CRO Compliance?
Whether you need assistance with company formations, annual returns, limited partnerships, voluntary strike-offs, or company liquidations, our team is here to help.
Contact us today to discuss your requirements and ensure your business remains compliant with its CRO obligations.
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Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. All content is provided in good faith; however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information. All or any information is subject to change. This post does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or legal advisor with any questions you may have. CFI are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of the information contained in this Article.
For More Information:
Company Formations |
Company Secretarial |
Annual Returns |
Register of Beneficial Owners |
