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Latest articles and guides for Hong Kong company formation
Director Salary in Hong Kong: How Much Is Tax-Efficient?
Director salary from your own limited company is deductible for the company and taxable for you. A worked example shows where the efficient level sits.
2025/26 Tax Reduction: 100% Waiver Capped at HK$3,000
Tax reduction for 2025/26: 100% off salaries tax, personal assessment and profits tax, capped at HK$3,000 — double last year. Who benefits and when it lands.
BIR60 Tax Return Guide: How to Complete Each Section
BIR60 is Hong Kong's individual tax return, issued in early May and due within a month. How to fill in each section and avoid the most common errors.
Hong Kong Salaries Tax: Rates, Allowances and Filing
Salaries tax in Hong Kong runs at progressive rates (2%–17%) or the standard rate, whichever is lower — 2025/26 allowances, deductions and worked examples.
5 Ways to Lower Your Hong Kong Audit Fee
How to reduce your Hong Kong audit fee: five moves that cut the auditor's estimated hours — and your quote.
Hong Kong Audit Fees: Typical Ranges and What Drives Them
Hong Kong audit cost: market fee ranges from dormant to SME, what drives quotes apart, and what to ask first.
BUD Fund Audit Requirements: The Accounting Side
Every approved BUD Fund project needs audited accounts before payout — the accounting requirements explained.
Hong Kong Company Green Box: Contents and What You Need
Inside the Hong Kong company green box: what the law requires, what is tradition, and the digital alternative.
Certificate of Good Standing: Hong Kong's Equivalents
Hong Kong issues no certificate of good standing — the Companies Registry equivalents banks accept, and fees.
Objecting to a Hong Kong Tax Assessment with Form IR831
How to object to a Hong Kong tax assessment: the one-month IR831 deadline, grounds, and holdover of tax.
The Annual Maintenance of a Hong Kong Company, Explained
A Hong Kong company's 'annual review' is not one filing — four separate obligations, two departments, deadlines and costs.
The 'Zero Filing' Myth for Hong Kong Companies
'Zero filing' does not exist in Hong Kong tax law — the real rules, the penalties, and the compliant routes.
Business Registration Renewal: The 2026-27 Fee Explained
Hong Kong business registration renewal 2026-27: the HK$2,350 fee split, demand notes, and late penalties.
Converting an Unlimited Business to a Limited Company
Converting an unlimited business to a limited company in Hong Kong: the real procedure, stamp duty and timing.
Abandoning a Hong Kong Company: Penalties and Striking Off
Abandoning a Hong Kong company lets penalties stack until striking off hands its assets to the Government. See when summonses come and how restoration works.
Debt Collection for Hong Kong SMEs: Follow-Up to Filing
Debt collection for Hong Kong SMEs: the four stages from reminder to legal action, the HK$75,000 Small Claims Tribunal limit and the six-year deadline.
Record Retention After Dissolution: How Long and by Whom
Company records must still be kept after dissolution, generally for 7 years, and the duty falls on former directors. What to keep and how to store it.
Before Closing a Hong Kong Company: The Full Checklist
Closing a Hong Kong company means settling staff, tax, leases and the bank in order. Get the checklist, what goes first, and why the account closes last.
Deregistering a Hong Kong Company: Steps, Fees, Timeline
Deregistering a Hong Kong company starts with the IRD's no-objection notice and ends months later. Learn the three conditions, fees and what keeps running.
Liquidation vs Deregistration: Closing a Hong Kong Company
Liquidation vs deregistration: how debts decide which route a Hong Kong company takes, where striking off fits in, and the cost and timeline of each.
Business Partner Exit: Three Routes to Divide a Company
Business partner exits run through share transfer, capital reduction or liquidation. Compare each route, valuation methods, and when you need a solicitor.
Director's Personal Liability When a Company Goes Wrong
Director personal liability in Hong Kong: where limited liability protects you, the gaps that reach your own assets, and practical steps to stay safe.
Director Prosecution in Hong Kong: Handling a Summons
Director prosecution in Hong Kong: why a summons arrives, what happens in court, how to pay the fine with no payment notice, and putting filings right.
IRD Enquiry Letters: How to Reply and What to Prepare
IRD enquiry letters explained: the common types, the reply deadlines, the documents to gather, what happens if you ignore one, and when to get help.
Company Struck Off: Restoration Procedure and Time Limits
Struck-off Hong Kong companies are dissolved and their assets pass to the Government. See the 20-year restoration window and the two routes to bring one back.
Mainland Company Setting Up in Hong Kong: Three Decisions
Mainland companies setting up in Hong Kong face three early decisions: branch or subsidiary, who is on the ground, and the double taxation arrangement.
Should a Freelancer Incorporate in Hong Kong? Three Tests
Freelancer incorporation in Hong Kong: three tests on risk, client demands and running costs to decide between a sole proprietorship and a limited company.
Hong Kong Construction Company Setup: Levies and MPF Rules
Construction companies in Hong Kong face three extra rules: contractor registration, levies on works above HK$3 million and day-one MPF for casual workers.
Hong Kong Trading Company Setup: Declarations and Banking
Trading company setup in Hong Kong: the 14-day import and export declaration deadline, why banks scrutinise traders, and how offshore claims are judged.
Hong Kong Restaurant Setup: Licensing, Hiring, Bookkeeping
Restaurant setup in Hong Kong runs on three tracks: food business licensing, catering hiring rules like the MPF industry scheme, and cash bookkeeping.
Bank Account Frozen in Hong Kong: Handling the Review
Bank account reviews are routine for Hong Kong banks, but your response matters. Learn what triggers them, how to respond in full, and when to act fast.
Open a Hong Kong Company Bank Account as a Non-Resident
Opening a Hong Kong company bank account as a non-resident: what banks actually assess, whether you must attend in person, and how to prepare.
Digital vs Traditional Banks: Hong Kong Business Accounts
Digital banks and traditional banks compared for Hong Kong business accounts: opening speed, fees, service range, where each fits, and why many keep both.
Hong Kong Employment Visas: The Employer's Duty to Check
Employment visa guide for Hong Kong employers: how GEP, ASMTP, Top Talent Pass and IANG differ, your duty to check documents before hiring, and renewals.
Probation and Notice Periods: The Payment in Lieu Formula
Probation and notice periods in Hong Kong: the notice due at each stage, the payment in lieu formula, grounds for summary dismissal, and common pitfalls.
Statutory Holidays vs General Holidays vs Annual Leave
Statutory holidays vs general holidays vs annual leave in Hong Kong: 2026 day counts, how leave rises with service, and the rules employers often break.
How to Complete IR56B: The Employer's Return Explained
IR56B and the employer's return explained: what income to report, the one-month deadline, how IR56B, E, F and G differ, and how to correct mistakes.
MPF for Part-Timers and Casuals: The 60-Day Rule
MPF for part-time and casual staff: how the 60-day rule is counted, who is exempt, and why construction and catering staff contribute from day one.
Severance Pay vs Long Service Payment: Formula and Rules
Severance pay and long service payment compared: eligibility for each, the shared formula and wage cap, deadlines, and why an employee receives only one.
Employees' Compensation Insurance: A Hong Kong Legal Duty
Employees' compensation insurance is compulsory for every Hong Kong employer, casuals included. Learn the penalties, common gaps and duties after an injury.
Changing Auditor in Hong Kong: Procedure and Deadlines
Changing auditor in Hong Kong means form NA1 or NA2, a 15-day deadline and possibly a statement of circumstances. See the procedure, timing and handover.
Hong Kong Employment Ordinance: Employer Basics (2026)
Employment Ordinance duties apply once you hire in Hong Kong. Learn the continuous contract test, wage deadlines, statutory holidays and sickness allowance.
Small Company Reporting Exemption: Hong Kong Audit Rules
Hong Kong audit rules for small companies: the audit is never exempt, but the s.359 reporting exemption simplifies disclosure. The thresholds and savings.
What Auditors Ask For: Confirmations and Stocktakes
What auditors ask for and why: bank and balance confirmations, stocktake records, the management representation letter, and what cannot be recreated later.
Hong Kong Audit: Process, Timeline and What Drives Cost
Audit timelines depend less on the auditor than on your books. See the five stages of a Hong Kong audit, what drives the fee, and when to start preparing.
Qualified Audit Opinion in Hong Kong: What It Means
Qualified audit opinions do not mean failure. Learn the four opinion types, why small Hong Kong companies get qualified, and how to clear one for good.
Management Accounts vs Statutory Accounts: The Difference
Management accounts vs statutory accounts: how their purpose, standards and timing differ, why one business shows two profit figures, and why both matter.
Prepare Documents for Your Accountant: Year-End Checklist
Year-end documents your accountant needs, in eight categories: bank, income, expenses, payroll, assets, stock and more, plus the items most commonly missed.
Accounting Software vs Excel for Hong Kong Bookkeeping
Excel bookkeeping is lawful for a small Hong Kong company. See what spreadsheets can carry, five signals to move to software, and where switching goes wrong.
Monthly vs Annual Bookkeeping: Comparing the Real Cost
Bookkeeping once a year or monthly: what annual books really cost in lost visibility and tax planning, and when once a year is genuinely enough.
Separating Business and Personal Finances in Hong Kong
Mixing company and personal money creates a director's current account. Why the two must stay separate, the loan-to-director limits, and how to untangle it.
Accounting Records Retention: Hong Kong's Seven-Year Rule
Accounting records in Hong Kong must be kept seven years, but tax and company law count from different dates. See what to keep and whether e-copies qualify.
Hong Kong Certificate of Resident Status: How to Apply
Tax resident certificate: how to get a Certificate of Resident Status from the IRD to claim treaty benefits with the mainland, plus the 2023 relaxation.
Late Tax Filing Penalty in Hong Kong: How to Put It Right
Late tax filing in Hong Kong can trigger an estimated assessment, penalties and additional tax. How each tier works and the one-month window to object.
Salary vs Dividends in Hong Kong: The Tax Maths for Owners
Salary or dividends in Hong Kong: no dividend tax changes the maths. Compare profits tax against salaries tax rates and find the mix that costs less.
Hong Kong Tax Loss Carry-Forward: Rules and Limits
Tax losses in Hong Kong carry forward indefinitely, but there is no carry-back, no group relief, and a major shareholding change can restrict their use.
Dormant Company Status in Hong Kong: What It Really Saves
Dormant company status in Hong Kong: the strict no-transaction test, the special resolution and 15-day filing, what it exempts, and when to close instead.
What Expenses Are Tax Deductible for Hong Kong Companies?
Tax-deductible expenses for Hong Kong companies: 20 common cases in one table, the governing test, enhanced deductions, and where claims most often fail.
Profits Tax Deadlines: N, D, M Codes and Block Extension
Profits tax return deadlines: how the N, D and M year-end codes work, the block extension dates, a new company's first return, and what an extension delays.
Provisional Profits Tax: How to Apply for a Hold-Over
Provisional profits tax explained: why a first bill looks doubled, how the payment on account works, and the grounds and deadline to apply for a hold-over.
Hong Kong Company Compliance Calendar: Key 2026 Deadlines
Hong Kong compliance deadlines fit on one page: the annual return's 42 days, monthly MPF by the 10th, April tax returns and business registration renewal.
Offshore Profits Claim in Hong Kong: The Source Test
Offshore profits claims in Hong Kong are not automatic: how the source test works, what evidence the IRD asks for, and how FSIE now treats passive income.
Designated Representative Duties: Who Can Take the Role
Designated representative rules for Hong Kong companies: who is eligible, what the role involves day to day, and how to appoint a licensed provider.
Identifying Significant Controllers: A Step-by-Step Guide
Significant controllers explained: how the 25% test works, how to trace indirect holdings through layers, how trusts are treated and when to send notices.
Annual Return vs Profits Tax Return in Hong Kong
Annual return and profits tax return go to different departments with different deadlines and penalties. See both compared and the third form people forget.
Late Annual Return: Remedy, Penalties and Prosecution
Late annual return in Hong Kong: you can still file, but fees climb from HK$870 to HK$3,480 and prosecution stays possible. What to do at each stage.
Annual General Meeting in Hong Kong: Rules and Exemptions
Hong Kong AGM rules: the 9-month deadline and 21-day notice, four exemptions including single-member companies, and how written resolutions replace it.
How to Complete Form NAR1: Fields and Rejection Fixes
NAR1 annual return guide: how to complete each field, why the company number is now the business registration number, e-filing steps and rejection fixes.
Hong Kong Bank Account Rejected: Reasons and Next Steps
Bank account rejections rarely come with reasons, but the causes are few. See six common ones, how to diagnose yours, and what to fix before reapplying.
Company Chops and Signing in Hong Kong: Common Seal Rules
Common seals are optional in Hong Kong; signing under section 127 has the same effect. Learn who signs and which documents cannot be signed electronically.
Notarising Hong Kong Company Documents: Routes and Costs
Notarising Hong Kong documents takes two routes: an attesting officer for mainland China, or a notary public plus Apostille overseas. See costs and timing.
Bank Account Documents Checklist for Hong Kong Companies
Bank account documents for a Hong Kong company fall into six groups, and proof of business decides the outcome. Get the checklist and the order to prepare it.
Keeping Company Minutes in Hong Kong: The 10-Year Rule
Company minutes and resolutions must be kept for at least 10 years in Hong Kong, sole-member decisions included. Learn what to record, where and how.
Hong Kong Statutory Registers: The Five Books to Keep
Statutory registers every Hong Kong company must keep: the five books, what each records, where they can be kept, and the 15-day NR2 filing requirement.
Intra-Group Stamp Duty Relief: 90% Threshold and Clawback
Intra-group stamp duty relief in Hong Kong: the 90% association threshold under section 45, how to apply to the Stamp Office, and the two-year clawback rule.
Hong Kong Share Transfer Stamp Duty: Rates and Deadlines
Stamp duty on Hong Kong share transfers: the 0.2% rate plus $5 fixed duty, how the Stamp Office values unlisted shares, deadlines, and late penalties.
Share Capital Changes in Hong Kong: Procedure and Filings
Share capital changes in Hong Kong: allotting new shares with the one-month NSC1 deadline, and the solvency statement route to a capital reduction.
Changing Directors in Hong Kong: Appointment and Removal
Changing a director in Hong Kong requires Form ND2A within 15 days for any appointment, resignation or removal. Learn who signs and how liability continues.
Changing a Hong Kong Company Name: Steps and Timeline
Changing a Hong Kong company name requires a special resolution and Form NNC2 within 15 days. See the timeline, certificate updates and who must be notified.
Changing a Registered Office in Hong Kong: NR1 in 15 Days
Registered office changes in Hong Kong require Form NR1 filed within 15 days. Learn the penalties for late filing and when the IRD needs separate notice.
Hong Kong Branch vs Subsidiary: Which Should You Choose?
Branch or subsidiary in Hong Kong: comparing legal status, liability, tax and annual filings, including why a branch may publish the parent accounts.
Financial Year End in Hong Kong: 31 March or 31 December?
Financial year end choices for Hong Kong companies: how 31 March, 31 December and other dates affect tax filing deadlines, and the rules on changing it.
After Incorporation Checklist: Seven Immediate Duties
After incorporation, seven Hong Kong duties start at once, from the controllers register to the 42-day annual return. See each deadline and penalty.
Hong Kong Articles of Association: Is the Model Enough?
Articles of association in Hong Kong: what the law requires, when the Registry model articles are enough, when to tailor them, and how changes are filed.
Hong Kong Company Setup Timeline: How Long Each Step Takes
A Hong Kong company can be incorporated within an hour online or four working days on paper. The name search, signing and bank account set the real timeline.
One-Person Hong Kong Company: Director and Secretary Rules
One-person company rules in Hong Kong: why the sole director cannot be company secretary, how written resolutions work, and the reserve director safety net.
Hong Kong Registered Office Address: Home or PO Box?
Registered office rules for Hong Kong companies: why a PO box is not allowed, the risks of using your home address, and the deadline for filing a change.
Hong Kong Share Capital Structure: How to Split Shares
Share capital structure in Hong Kong: what no par value means, how many shares to issue, how to split them between founders, and leaving room for investors.
Hong Kong Company Name Rules: Restricted Words and Search
Hong Kong company names are checked only after filing, so search first. Learn which words are refused, the Chinese and English rules and how a change works.
Business Registration Number vs Company Number Explained
Business registration numbers differ from company numbers in Hong Kong. Learn which department issues each, which one to give banks, and what the UBI changed.
Annual Return NAR1: The 42-Day Deadline and Late Fees
Annual return NAR1: how the 42-day deadline runs from incorporation anniversary, the HK$105 on-time fee, the late scale up to HK$3,480, and who must file.
MPF for Hong Kong Employers: Rates, Deadlines and Returns
MPF obligations for Hong Kong employers: 5% contributions, income limits, the 60-day enrolment window, monthly deadlines and the annual employer's return.
Significant Controllers Register (SCR): Who Must Keep One
Significant controllers register: who counts under the 25% threshold, what to record, the designated representative rule, and the HK$25,000 penalty.
Hong Kong Audit Requirements: Which Companies Need One
Hong Kong audit requirements: every limited company is audited yearly, trading or not. The dormant exemption, what to prepare, and what skipping it costs.
Hong Kong Company Formation 2026: Costs and Key Mistakes
Setting up a Hong Kong company in 2026 costs less than most expect, but running it is the real expense. See the fees, timeline and eight beginner mistakes.
Hong Kong SME Tax Guide: Profits, Salaries, Property Tax
SME tax in Hong Kong means three taxes: this guide covers when profits tax, salaries tax and property tax each apply, plus deadlines and common mistakes.
Limited Company vs Sole Proprietorship vs Partnership
Limited company, sole proprietorship or partnership: liability, tax rates, costs and compliance compared, and why risk, not profit, decides the choice.
What Is a Company Secretary? Hong Kong Rules and Duties
Company secretary duties in Hong Kong: what Cap. 622 requires, who is eligible, why a sole director cannot serve, and the penalty if the office sits vacant.
Changing Company Secretary in Hong Kong: Steps and Timing
Changing company secretary needs no consent from your outgoing provider. See the four steps, the documents to recover, and why compliance never lapses.
Hong Kong Company Setup from Overseas: No Visit Required
Setting up a Hong Kong company from overseas is fully remote: the documents, five steps, timing and government fees, and why only banking may need a visit.
Cross-Border E-Commerce in Hong Kong: Tax and Bookkeeping
Cross-border e-commerce sellers pick Hong Kong for currency freedom and low tax. See what the offshore exemption requires, setup costs, and bookkeeping traps.
DIY Bookkeeping or an Accountant? How to Run the Numbers
DIY bookkeeping or an accountant? A formula to price your own time, four signs it is time to outsource, and the hybrid setup most Hong Kong SMEs use.
First Profits Tax Return for a New Hong Kong Company
First profits tax return for a new Hong Kong company: when it arrives, why the first period can exceed 12 months, what to prepare, and choosing a year end.
Hong Kong Accounting Standards: What SMEs Need to Know
Hong Kong accounting standards for SMEs: when revenue is recognised, how depreciation, inventory and bad debts work, and why all four change your tax.
Hong Kong Company Registration: Requirements and Process
Registering a Hong Kong limited company takes five requirements and six steps. See the government fees, realistic timing and the compliance due in year one.
Hong Kong Profits Tax: Rates, Basis Periods and Filing
Profits tax in Hong Kong: two-tiered rates from 8.25%, the territorial source rule, basis periods, filing deadlines, and three common misconceptions.
Hong Kong vs Singapore: Where to Set Up Your Company
Hong Kong vs Singapore company setup compared: local director rules, GST, audit, costs and banking, and why the real test is where your customers are.
Tech Startups in Hong Kong: Setup, Support and Pitfalls
Tech startup setup in Hong Kong: why day-one share structure and IP ownership matter more than tax rates, the 300% R&D deduction, and where to find support.
Two-Tiered Profits Tax Rates: Who Qualifies in Hong Kong
Two-tiered profits tax rates: the half rate on the first HK$2 million, who qualifies, the connected-entity restriction, and which company to nominate.
Foreigners Registering a Hong Kong Company: Requirements
Foreigners can own a Hong Kong company outright: the real requirements, documents, remote registration steps, bank account odds, and tax points to watch.
Hong Kong Business Bank Account: How to Get Approved
Hong Kong business bank account: why proof of business decides approval, digital versus traditional banks, what to prepare, and what to do after a rejection.
Hong Kong Company Registration Cost: Setup and Annual Fees
Hong Kong company registration cost splits into fixed government fees and varying service fees. See each item, what is compulsory and what recurs every year.
Free guide
Start a Hong Kong Limited Company — The Complete Checklist
6 pages covering the 6-step setup process, what to prepare, cost breakdown, bank account opening, and your first-year compliance calendar. Enter your email to download the PDF.
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