Hong Kong Company Management 2023-06-27T13:54:38+00:00

Hong Kong Company Management

THE SCF GROUP HAS BEEN FORMING AND MANAGING HONG KONG COMPANIES FOR OVER 25 YEARS 

HONG KONG MANAGED COMPANIES

Synopsis

Technically part of the People’s Republic of China since the United Kingdom ceded sovereignty on the 1st of July 1997 having administrated the territory since 1841. Under the 1984 Treaty signed between the UK and China it was agreed that save for foreign policy and defence, Hong Kong could continue to maintain its separate capitalistic economy and legal system for 50 years. Despite worries to the contrary, Hong Kong has continued to prosper and has become an ideal business base for those conducting business. However, pro-democracy  supporters have seen their personal rights curtailed over the last few years. The Territory occupies 1,042 square Km and has a population of 7,677,645 (2023).

Work RATINGS
Corporate registration efficiency 5
Cost 5
Confidentiality 4
Local Banking facilities 5
Legal system 5
Political stability 3
Reputation 5
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Location
Hong Kong is located in Eastern Asia, bordering China and the South China. Victoria Harbor is one of the deepest natural maritime ports in the world.

Managed Limited Companies

The Territorial Tax System & The 4% Corporate Tax Rate*

The key benefit of Hong Kong for those conducting business outside of the territory is that it employs a territorial tax system which in effect means that only profits generated from within the territory are subject to the local corporate tax rate of 16%. Hong Kong operates a well-run tax system and that by convention the authorities expect to see taxes paid on around 25% of declared profits or, in other words, if based on the standard 16% corporate tax rate, a mere 4% annual corporate tax if a business is really conducted outside of Hong Kong! It should be emphasized that not to pay such taxes can expose a trading company both to considerable fines and negate the protection that is afforded from 3rd party countries — i.e. normally the country of the beneficial owners fiscal residence – by being able to show that there is a real trading company being operated from Hong Kong, carrying on real business and paying local taxes. Unlike many Far-Eastern countries Hong Kong employs and enforces international accountancy standards, which are very similar to those in the United Kingdom. In addition, our British and Irish clients will also be very familiar with local company law and legal documents as they bare a close correlation with those – such as the Memorandum & Articles of Association — employed back in Britain and Ireland. In other words, Hong Kong is an ideal base for those conducting business in the Far East who don’t want too alien an environment.

Domestic Corporate Tax Only 16% Hong Kong Based Companies   

Where business needs to be carried out in Hong Kong itself then it still provides a very attractive location since the corporate taxes are only 16%

Personal Tax

In Hong Kong this is known as the Salaries Tax and as its name implies it only applies to employment income and not dividend or capital gains receipts. The rates of taxes start at only 2% on employment income but cannot go beyond 16% and that is before tax credits are taken into account. All in all, Hong Kong is a very favorable personal tax location.

Double Taxation Treaty Network

Until 2001 Hong Kong didn’t have any double taxation avoidance (DTA’s) or double taxation treaties (DTT’s). Today it has DTA’s with Belgium, Luxembourg, China, Thailand and Vietnam and DTT’s awaiting ratification with the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Liechtenstein and Austria.

Why register a Hong Kong Managed Company?

  • Pro-business environment with corporate taxes varying from 4% to 16% depending on a company’s territorial base;
  • Highly respectable and credible jurisdiction;
  • Highly educated population with English being the language of commerce;
  • Highly developed corporate and general law based on UK law;
  • Excellent communications;
  • HK has a territorial tax system;
  • Corporate taxes can be as low as 4% for a trading company;
  • Personal taxes only apply to employment income;
  • Personal tax rates vary from 2% to a max. of 16%;
  • No taxation on dividends or capital gains;
  • Legal system based on that of the United Kingdom;
  • Accountancy standards are to international standard;
  • Ideally located as a base for investment into China;
  • Company registration procedures are very efficient and take no more than 2-3 weeks;
  • English is the language of commerce;
  • Stable economic environment.

Companies

Hong Kong uses the common law system and still employs company statutes based on English & Welsh Companies’ Acts dating back to 1948.

Double Taxation Treaty Network

Whilst HK has been developing a tax treaty network over the last decade or so it is still not as comprehensive as other jurisdictions, which is why proving OECD approved management and control is particularly important for Hong Kong based companies.

ADMINISTRATION & ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES

Managed Hong Kong Limited Liability Company

The key service offered by the SCF Accountancy & Law is that of a fully managed Hong Kong company where-by we can register your Company, act as the daily legal and accountancy administrators, liaise on your behalf with the local authorities, maintain the registered office, company minutes and in fact everything necessary to provide you with a fully functional Hong Kong limited liability company including, online banking and management.

Our Range of Fully Managed Company Services

  • The appointment of a qualified accountant to act as Company Secretary;
  • The opening up of a bank account for your company with access provisions agreed by SCF, the bank and of course the beneficial owners;
  • A Full Management Agreement setting out the rights and obligations of all parties;
  • The provision of an Hong Kong registered office address for service of process and official mail;
  • The maintenance of all requisite company minutes, ongoing companies’ registration office submissions, annual returns and AGM preparation;
  • The annual submission of the Annual Assessment of Tax Form;
  • The maintenance of the company’s accounts supported by a quarterly ready for the submission to the Revenue Commissioners’  including the corporate tax calculation. Accountancy will be maintained in either SAGE or Quick Books format;
  • The appointment, if required or appropriate, of auditors;

Set-Up & Annual Maintenance Fees

Please see separate SCF Accountancy & Law Hong Kong Managed Company Fee Quotation.

For more information on Hong Kong companies please contact a SCF Consultant.

PRIORITY ENQUIRY FORM

(Strictly Confidential No Obligation)

    SCF Legal & Corporate Management Services Limited

    Address: 250 Kings Road, Chelsea, London SW3 5UE

    Telephone: 020 7731 2020   Email: enquiries@scfgroup.com

    Registration number: 05462416

    © SCF INTERNATIONAL 2023

    A FULL RANGE OF LEGAL, ACCOUNTANCY & COMPANY MANAGEMENT SERVICES

    The SCF International  specializes in providing accountancy and management services for UK and Irish limited companies, UK & Irish company management services including the provision of (where necessary) domestic directors, domestic company secretaries, registered office address services, trading offices, value added tax (VAT) registration and management, payroll (Pay as You Earn PAYE), opening up and managing UK or Irish bank account facilities, raising  invoices and any and/or all other services required to establish a bone fide managed and controlled UK or Irish limited liability company.

    Our in-house team of legally and accountancy qualified experts can also provide advice on current UK & Irish tax laws/provisions including anti-avoidance provisions, EU directives and regulations, the impact of BREXIT for both UK and EU based businesses and other relevant. In addition, where required the SCF Group can also set-up and arrange the management of companies in tax efficient EU based jurisdictions such as Cyprus, Luxembourg or Malta or indeed any jurisdiction in the world including those in the Middle and Far East.

    Property de-enveloping services – In conjunction with leading UK firms of solicitors SCF can help transfer companies currently held by what were known as ‘offshore’ companies into either more tax efficient UK companies or directly back into the names of individual beneficial owners’ often without attracting stamp duty land tax (SDLT) but still avoiding the advance tax on enveloped dwellings (ATED).

    Our fiscal migration and tax planning department is operated by qualified lawyers and accountants and can advise both domiciled and non-domiciled individuals on how to mitigate their individual and corporate tax exposure be it in the UK or abroad. Our legal & business department can provide specialized advice on all domestic and international tax planning issues but also upon ‘key’ issues such as asset protection be it in the form of trusts and private interest foundations (PIF’s). In particular, SCF can provide advice to those intending to relocate to the UK on how to do so in the most tax efficient way.