A：Hong Kong company needs only to pay profits Tax every year,which is calculated by 16.5% of the profites. The company without profits needs to pay no profits Tax.
2. Q：What is the year end of Hong Kong company?
A：It is generally 31 March to 31 December of each year for the basis period of taxation according to Custom. Hong Kong company has maximum 18 months for the first year’s basis period of taxation.
3. Q：Does Hong Kong need to levy tariffs on imported/exported commodities?
A：Generally imported/exported commodities need not be levied tariffs, except tobacco, liquor and petroleum. But import/export commodities must be declared at customs.
4. Q：What are the taxes of Hong Kong taxation?
A：There are three kinds of taxes in Hong Kong taxation: Profits Tax, Salaries Tax and Property Tax. Profits Tax shall be 16.5% (2007/08:17.5%) of the taxable profits of the company; Salaries Tax shall be calculated by salary income at progressive tax rate, and paid up to 15% (2007/08:16%) of total salary income; Property Tax 15% (2007/08:16%) of the net rent income earned from owning properties after deduction of 20% standard tax relief for renovation and expenditure.
5. Q：Can the profits of a Hong Kong company offset the losses of previous year?
A：Losses incurred in a taxable year can be carried forward and used to offset the profits of the company in subsequent years.
6. Q：In which case will Hong Kong company be free from Profits Tax?
A：If the corporate profits do not arise from Hong Kong, and the company has not set up an office in Hong Kong nor hired Hong Kong employees, then its earned profits will be exempt from Profits Tax.
7. Q：My Hong Kong company only opens account at bank, to collect and pay bills for other China Company, then does this Hong Kong company need to process accounting, auditing and tax declaration?
A：Yes. Because company incorporation is profit-oriented, even if the company in Hong Kong only performs the role of collecting and paying for others, it shall be deemed as agency service business, and its income shall be the commission for collection and payment for others.
8. Q：The company only in foreign banks in China to open an account, and did not open an account in Hong Kong, whether the company made such a business is not required to tax in Hong Kong?
A：No. According to Hong Kong laws. all HongKong companies have to declare financial obligations to the Inland Revenue Department, and not because your account is in HongKong, if the company’s revenue is not from Hongkong, can apply for exemption from tax.
A：One of the couple should apply for all child allowance. Generally speaking, it is more favourable for one of the couple who earns higher income to apply for child allowance. However, if one of the couple is assessed at standard tax rate, it is more favourable for the other to apply for child allowance.
2. Q：How will Inland Revenue Department deal with having more than one person entitled to apply for child allowance in respect of one unmarried child?
A：If taxpayer, his/her separated or divorced spouse and other person are all entitled to apply for child allowance of one unmarried child, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue shall determine the basis for allocation of the child allowance according to each applicant’s contribution to the nurture and education of that child.
3. Q：Can taxpayer who raises an illegitimate child apply for child allowance?
A：If child meets the requirements of application for child allowance, his/her parent whether duly married or not, can apply for this child allowance.
4. Q：My son is 20 years old this year. He has not found a job since graduation in June of this year, will I be entitled to apply child allowance for my son?
A：If you raise one child over 18 but under 25 years old, this child should receive full-time education during relevant taxable year before you can obtain this child allowance. According to your case as referred to, your son has received full-time education from April to June of this year, so you are eligible to apply for this child allowance.
5. Q：How is it determined whether the dependent’s parents are usually living in Hong Kong?
A：In determining whether the dependent parents are usually living in Hong Kong, Inland Revenue Department will consider their social and economic relations in Hong Kong, the objective factors referable of which include:
- The number of days staying in Hong Kong
- Whether they have a fixed residence in Hong Kong
- Whether they have property to reside in foreign country
- Whether they have job or business activities in Hong Kong or foreign country
- Whether their relatives are living in Hong Kong or in foreign country
Generally speaking, if dependent parents are living in foreign country for a long time, the number of days staying in Hong Kong is limited or only of home-visiting nature, then they will not be deemed to be always living in Hong Kong by Inland Revenue Department, even if they hold Hong Kong permanent resident ID cards.
6. Q：My parents are aged more than 60 and hold Hong Kong ID card, but have removed to mainland, then can I apply for dependent parents allowance?
A：If your dependent parents do not want to continue living in Hong Kong, and only occasionally visit home located in Hong Kong, they will not be deemed to be always living in Hong Kong, which means you will not meet the requirements for application. However, if your parents only once in a while live in mainland, they will be deemed to be always living in Hong Kong, and you can apply for dependent parents allowance in respect of them.
7. Q：I pay living cost of $30,000 to my mother every year, and intend to apply for “dependent parent allowance”, then in which section of the tax declaration form shall I input the amount of living cost?
A：Application for “dependent parent allowance” is subject to your parents’ residence, ages and dependence.
If the dependent is always living in Hong Kong, aged 55 or above in this year, and given not less than $12,000 for a whole year, they are entitled to apply for “dependent parent allowance”, but need not to inputting the living cost actually paid in the year.
8. Q：My spouse does not have job, and I pay the living cost of children by myself, then can I apply for “single parent allowance”?
A：You are married, so you are not entitled to “single parent allowance” even if you pay the living cost of children by yourself. According to Inland Revenue Ordinance, “single parent” refers to taxpayer being single, widowed or separated all the year round, and who raised children solely or mainly by his/herself in that year, and only this kind of parent can obtain “single parent allowance”.
9. Q：What certificates does the applicant need to present in reviewing the application for disabled dependent allowance?
A：In reviewing the application, Inland Revenue Department may require the applicant to present proof showing that the dependent is qualified to apply for government’s disability allowance. If the dependent has applied to Social Welfare Department for disability allowance, taxpayer can provide the file number of application for allowance to hereby certify. But if the dependent has no claim for the allowance under governmental disability allowance scheme, Inland Revenue Department will require the taxpayer to present a copy of medical appraisal report signed by public hospital or certified doctor, according to the disability defined under Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme or Social Security Allowance Scheme, to certify that the dependent is qualified to place a claim for disability allowance with the Government, in respect of his/her disability. And Inland Revenue Department can also accept this medical appraisal report as the proof of qualification for disabled dependent allowance.
10. Q：My parents are aged more than 60 and hold Hong Kong ID card, but have removed to mainland, then can I apply for dependent parents allowance?
A：If your dependent parents do not want to continue living in Hong Kong, and only occasionally visit home located in Hong Kong, they will not be deemed to be always living in Hong Kong, which means you will not meet the requirements for application. However, if your parents only once in a while live in mainland, they will be deemed to be always living in Hong Kong, and you can apply for dependent parents allowance in respect of them.
7. Q：Does foreign national employed in Hong Kong need to pay Salaries Tax on salary obtained in Hong Kong?
A：Foreign national needs to pay Salaries Tax on its salary received during the employment in Hong Kong, but the following conditions can exempt the foreign national from Salaries Tax:
- Consecutively or accumulatively staying in Hong Kong not more than 183 days during one tax period
- This remuneration is not paid by Hong Kong employer or its representative
- This remuneration is not borne by enterprise set up in Hong Kong by foreign employer.
