Hong Kong corporation tax guide: Profit Tax rates (2024 Updated Version)

After the Lunar New Year, It's the time for companies to prepare for tax filing. According to Hong Kong regulations, both limited and unlimited companies are required to file and pay profits tax annually. 

The process of company tax filing, including the deadlines, required documents, and even the complexities of filling out tax forms, can be quite daunting! How should you fill out the company tax return? Whether you are preparing to file income tax (profits tax) for your company for the first time or you are experienced in filing tax but want to seek suitable accounting firm services, we will explain everything below.

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Does a limited company/unlimited company need to file for tax?

Regardless if the company is a limited or unlimited company, as long as your business has earned profit in the last fiscal year, you are required by the law to file profits tax. For different companies, there are different methods for tax filing. 

Unlimited company that is owned by a sole proprietor (i.e. owned by one single person) can submit their tax filing on his/her  individual’s tax form. Limited companies will have to perform financial audits before filing their taxes and filling in the Profits Tax Return form. 

Not every company has to file for tax each year. Some companies can file for tax when they receive requests to check for potential tax liabilities from the IRD, or when they receive profits tax form from IRD. Some examples include:

1. Companies that have not commenced operations
2. Companies that have ceased or not yet restarted operations
3. Companies that are not profiting or with a recorded deficit. 

Tax filing deadlines for limited companies, unlimited companies, and new companies

Tax filing deadlines for limited companies:

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) will send the Profit Tax Return forms to all non-first-time tax filing limited companies on the first working day of April every year. Limited companies have one month to complete the tax return form and prepare relevant documents, including declaring the total taxable amount, audit reports, and other supporting proofs before the deadline. If companies choose to file tax online an extension may be granted which will be discussed later in this text.

Tax filing deadlines for unlimited companies:

Similar to how it works for limited companies, IRD will send Profit Tax Return forms to unlimited companies on the first working day of April every year. 

Unlimited companies can choose the method of tax filing based on their business nature. If your unlimited company operates as a partnership, you need to submit the tax return form and necessary documents within one month of receiving the tax forms. Your submission includes financial statements, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets. It is also necessary to clearly state the profits earned by each partner in the tax return form.

If the unlimited company operates as a sole proprietorship, the company's responsible person can declare tax on ‘Part 5: Profits Tax’ of their Individuals’ Tax Return form, and is therefore not required to declare taxations as an unlimited company.

Tax filing deadlines for new companies:

Newly established limited companies and partnerships typically receive Tax Return forms from the tax authorities within approximately 18 months from the date of establishment. Upon receiving the Tax Return forms, companies are required to file their taxes within three months and cannot apply for an extension.

Sole proprietorship unlimited companies may elect to declare tax on their individual’s tax return form.

Deadline for requesting tax filing extension

If a company wishes to delay its tax filing, it must apply for a tax filing extension in advance with the IRD. The possible extended deadline will be determined based on the company's fiscal year-end date. Taking the 2022/2023 year as an example, the estimated schedule for delayed tax filing is as follows:

Along with tax filing forms, The IRD will also include instructions on how to apply for extensions on their forms should a tax filing extension is needed. Generally, companies filing taxes online are typically granted an additional month compared to those that are using the traditional paper-based method.

Tax filing procedures for companies

1. Receive the Tax Return forms from The Inland Revenue Department (IRD)

2. Conduct a financial audit. Prepare the financial statements, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and other relevant documents and reports

3. Completes the Tax Return forms. 

4. Submit the Tax Return Forms, along with all of the necessary supplementary forms and documents, either online, in-person, or by mail.

5. The IRD sends the Demand Note after receiving and affirming the filing of your tax returns. 

6. The company pays the amount as stated. 

Required documents for profits tax filing

1. Company Tax Return Forms

The company should choose the appropriate Tax Return form based on its business background, including:

• Profits Tax Return - Corporations (BIR51)

• Profits Tax Return - Persons Other Than Corporations (BIR52)

• Profits Tax Return - In Respect Of Non-Resident Persons (BIR54) 

• Tax Return – Individuals (BIR60)

2. Audited financial statements

With the following exceptions, all companies are required to submit audited financial statements along with their Tax Return forms. The exempted companies include:

• Companies deemed non-active under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)

• Companies registered in a jurisdiction where financial audit is not required by law

• Hong Kong branches of foreign companies (proof of exemption is required)

3. Balance sheet

4. Profit and loss statement

5. Profit tax computation and related forms that explain how the taxable profits are calculated

6. Other supplementary documents and information

Note: Starting from April 1, 2023, small corporations and businesses are required to submit the aforementioned supporting documents along with their tax return forms, regardless of the amount of income earned.

Corporate profits tax rate calculation

Hong Kong implements a two-tiered tax profit tax rate system for limited companies and unlimited companies:

The majority of companies are subject to the above profits tax rates. However, if a company has any associated companies - meaning the company is being controlled by another company or is owned by the same person, the above two tier system does not apply and the company should file their tax at either 16.5% (for limited companies) or 15% (for unlimited companies).

Certain companies by default do not qualify for the two-tier tax system, including but are not limited to insurance companies, corporate treasury centres and aircraft leasing companies. For details, please refer to the government's tax regime.

Tax allowance and deductible expenses

According to the 2024-25 Budget from the Hong Kong government, the maximum reduction in corporate income tax for the 2023/24 fiscal year is set at $HK3,000. Additionally, all expenses incurred for the purpose of generating business income can be used as deductions for corporate taxes, which includes

• Employee salaries, allowances, benefits, severance payments, long-term service awards, and dormitory rents

• The company’s contributions to employees’ Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (MPF)

• Transportation expenses and expenditures related to business entertainment

• Insurance fees

• Expenditure on building refurbishment

• Rent, utility bills, telephone expenses, management fees, air conditioning, and property management fees

• Costs incurred for the production of goods, daily operations, and provision of services, such as accounting fees for tax filing

• Expenditure on environmental protection facilities, including machinery, devices, or eco-friendly vehicles

• Expenses for the establishments, acquisition or maintenance of machinery, industrial facilities, computer hardware, or software

• Donations made to approved charitable organisations, charitable trusts, or government entities of a public nature

• Interest payments on loans and legal expenses

• Bad debts

Pricing for auditing and accounting services

Most SME owners might not have experience in auditing. Filing tax returns for the company can also be complicated and time-consuming. The whole process of sorting receipts and bills  could lead to mistakes in financial reports; the worst scenario could be unintentional tax evasions and violating the law! If you don’t want to be troubled by tax filing anymore, there are actually a lot of professional accounting systems or accounting firms that do the job for you. Here are some examples for your reference. 

KPay x cloud accounting management system 
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