On 3 April 2023, the Inland Revenue Department issued about 220 000 profits tax returns, 120 000 property tax returns and 310 000 employer’s returns for the year of assessment 2022-23. About 2.4 million of tax returns for individuals will be issued on May 2. Taxpayers and employers are generally required to file their returns within one month from the date of issue of the relevant returns. For cases with tax representatives appointed, the deadlines for filing returns are set out in the Block Extension Letter posted on the department’s website.

Starting from this year, all corporations and businesses, regardless of the amount of their gross income and the mode of return filing, must submit their profits tax returns together with all supporting documents (including financial statements and profits tax computations). Further, all relevant supplementary forms and other forms required to be furnished with the returns must be e-filed under eTAX. If a taxpayer does not choose to e-file the return, the taxpayer has to print and sign a paper Control List for the supplementary forms and/or other forms e-filed and then furnish the signed Control List together with the return and supporting documents in paper form.

All corporations and businesses can e-file profits tax returns under eTAX for the year of assessment 2022-23. They only need to fill in simplified e-returns online, upload completed required forms and the supporting documents prepared in inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”) format, e-sign and submit the returns through eTAX.

Semi-electronic filing mode is also available under eTAX. A taxpayer can upload the completed required forms and the supporting documents prepared in iXBRL format through eTAX, print a simplified tax return generated by eTAX for signature and submission in paper form.

For full electronic filing or semi-electronic filing of profits tax returns, the taxpayer is required to submit the supporting documents (i.e. financial statements and profits tax computations) in iXBRL format. To facilitate corporations and businesses in preparing the required iXBRL data files, IRD iXBRL Data Preparation Tools are available for download on the department’s website (www.ird.gov.hk/ixbrl) free of charge.

Members of the public can visit the department’s website (www.ird.gov.hk) for common questions and answers on how to complete tax returns. The department has gradually enhanced the functions of electronic tax filing to promote tax digitalisation and to enhance the efficiency, reliability and accuracy of return filing. Taxpayers are encouraged to file their tax returns through eTAX electronic services, details of which can be found on the webpage (www.gov.hk/en/residents/taxes/etax/services/index.htm) (Note). Guidance on electronic filing of employer’s returns is also available on the department’s website (www.ird.gov.hk/eng/tax/err.htm).