Describe the movement of shares
An allotment adds shares issued by the company; a transfer changes who holds existing shares. CRO lists Form B5 for a return of allotments. Those starting points do not describe every approval, record or tax step that your transaction might need. Explain the proposed movement to an adviser before choosing forms.
Use numbers to expose the difference
Imagine a company with 100 identical shares. Issuing 20 more changes the total to 120, while transferring 20 existing shares leaves the total at 100. The effect on percentages differs. Use a before-and-after table of holders and totals to check what you actually intend. Treat the arithmetic as preparation, not evidence that either transaction is legally available.
Explain the purpose and payment
Say whether the proposal involves investment, a founder departure, an employee arrangement or another purpose. Identify who is expected to pay whom and whether any agreement already governs the change. An adviser can then consider restrictions, formal decisions, records and tax implications. Avoid using an incorporation package’s general support description as a substitute for confirming the scope of a later transaction.
Update the connected records
Ask which company records, certificates, filings and beneficial ownership details need changing. RBO information must reflect relevant changes through its own process. Keep the completed transaction pack and an updated ownership table together. A bank or future investor should be able to understand the ownership position without reconstructing it from informal messages.
Your practical checklist
- State whether shares are new or existing
- Prepare before-and-after holdings and totals
- Explain the commercial purpose and payment
- Check approvals, restrictions and tax treatment
- Coordinate company and beneficial ownership records
Sources and editorial notes
Official guidance and any referenced service information checked 11 October 2026. These are original preparation notes with illustrative examples; they do not replace individual legal or tax advice.
Author and publisher: Ireland Company Formation, operated by COMMERCIAL ADMINISTRATION BUREAU LIMITED. For a correction or question, contact the team.
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