Hong Kong: Working Group suggests Fiscal Policies are Unsustainable
The Working Group on Long-Term Fiscal Planning has suggested that a future structural fiscal gap will require the Government to find additional tax revenue. Hong Kong's overall fiscal position in the short- to medium-term remains healthy. In the
See MoreHong Kong – Tax provisions in budget 2014-2015
The Hong Kong budget for 2014-2015 contains tax proposals affecting the financial services sector. Among these are measures that would: Propose a review of the requirements under the Inland Revenue Ordinance for interest deductions in the
See MoreHong Kong – Stamp duty change for residential property transactions
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has passed a bill to amend the stamp duty imposed on residential property transactions. The measures are effective retroactively from 27 October 2012. The new measure includes: Enhanced special stamp duty rates;
See MoreHong Kong- Budget considers Fiscal Sustainability Over Longer-Term
Competitiveness was the theme of Hong Kong’s 2014/15 budget, but a significant portion of the budget speech looked at the maintenance of Hong Kong's healthy public finances in the face of increased spending on education, social welfare and
See MoreHong Kong: Negotiations for DTA with Romania
On 29 January 2014, the Romanian government authorized the start of negotiations for the conclusion of a Double Tax Agreement (DTA) between Hong Kong and
See MoreHong Kong: Tax concession for captive insurance companies
On 8 January 2014 legislation was introduced into the Legislative Council to provide a profits tax concession to captive insurance companies for profits from their business of insurance of offshore risks. These profits are to be chargeable to
See MoreHong Kong: Stamp Duty Increases Affect Property Sales
Increases in the rates of existing ad valorem stamp duty for both residential and non-residential property transactions appear to have cooled the real estate market. The Government increased such taxes from February 23, 2013 for that goal and it
See MoreHong Kong: Court of Final Appeal decision on unrealized revaluation gains
Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal (CFA) ruled that year-end unrealized revaluation gains on listed securities held for sale were not taxable in Hong Kong. In a case called Nice Cheer Investment Limited (NCIL), the CFA rejected the CIR’s
See MoreHong Kong: Lower Tax for Captive Insurers
The amended Inland Revenue bill (No.3) 2013 has been gazetted by the Hong Kong Government, aiming to reduce by half the profits tax on captive insurers, and to increase the deduction ceiling for retirement scheme contributions by employees or
See MoreHong Kong: Ensure Support for SMEs
In response to a question in the Legislative Council, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development confirmed that the Government will arrange continued support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The numbers of SMEs and
See MoreHong Kong: Exchange of information for tax purposes
Hong Kong is broadly compliant in its implementation of the international standards of transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes, a review of OECD’s global forum was announced at its meeting in Jakarta on November 2013. However,
See MoreCanada- Hong Kong tax treaty for avoiding double taxation enters into force
The agreement between Canada and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China due to avoid of double taxation and prevent of fiscal evasion has entered into force on October 29, 2013. According to article 27 of the
See MoreProtocol to tax agreement between Austria and Hong Kong enters into force
According to a press release of 18 October 2013, the amending protocol on Income and Capital Tax agreement between Austria and Hong Kong, signed on 25 June 2012, entered into force on July
See MoreKuwait and Hong Kong: DTA entered into force
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Kuwait signed an Income Tax Treaty in May 2010. In a press release it has been announced that the treaty came into force on July 24 after completion of ratification procedures on both sides. The
See MoreHong Kong: Tax laws introduced for Islamic Finance
The Inland Revenue and Stamp Duty Legislation (Alternative Bond Schemes) (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 was gazetted and came into operation on July 19, 2013 in Hong Kong. It amends the Inland Revenue Ordinance and Stamp Duty Ordinance to provide a
See MoreHong Kong: Explanation of IPR, Royalties Taxation
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of Hong Kong has issued amended interpretation and practice notes for taxpayers regarding the profits tax deduction for capital expenditure on intellectual property rights (IPR), and the taxation of royalties
See MoreHong Kong: Continue to increase company registrations
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) operates as a separate tax jurisdiction from mainland China and retains popularity as a place from which to do business with the mainland. In Hong Kong SAR a total of 84,996 local companies were
See MoreHong Kong: SAR allows to enter into independent tax information exchange agreements
The Legislative Council of Hong Kong SAR passed the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2013 on 10 July 2013. The Bill allows Hong Kong to enter into tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs). There is an increasing emphasis by the OECD and other
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