Company registration · Hong Kong
Company registration in Hong Kong territorial tax and the gateway to China
- Support
- from $1 600
- Registration time
- 8.25% / 16.5%
- Two-tier profits tax rates
- 8.25% / 16.5%
Profits sourced outside Hong Kong are not taxed when the conditions are met, and the two-tier rates keep the burden low on the first tranche of profit.
The classic base for trade with Asia.
Registration
from $1 600
Turnkey work by BRIDGES. Government fees and duties appear as a separate line in the estimate at actual rates.
See packages8.25% / 16.5%
Two-tier profits tax rates
5-7 days
Incorporation with the registry
Territorial
Only Hong Kong-sourced profits are taxed
Who it suitsHong Kong
Who Hong Kong suits
Working on the company structure- 01Trade with China and the wider Asian region
- 02Sourcing and procurement operations
- 03IT and services with Asian clients
- 04Holdings owning Chinese subsidiaries
- 05Businesses that need a simple, fast and reputable company
Does not suit
- You need access to the EU market and EU VAT
- You are counting on anonymity: registers are public
- There is no budget for the mandatory annual audit
- The business has no connection to Asia at all
Company forms4
Which company to open
The private limited company is the working form for almost every task.
- 01Private Company Limited by Shares · Ltd — the main form
Trading, sourcing, services, holdings.
Fast incorporation, low state fees, strong reputation in Asia.
A company secretary and a registered office in Hong Kong are required.
- 02Branch · registered non-Hong Kong company
An existing group entering the Asian market.
No new legal entity is required.
The parent company carries the liability.
- 03Representative Office · representative office
Companies studying the region.
Simple to set up.
Commercial activity is not permitted.
- 04Partnership · general or limited
Professional practices.
Simple structure.
Rarely used by international clients.
Packagesfrom $1 600
Three ways to launch
The scope is built from real scenarios. The amount depends on the level of accounting support.
01 · 1-2 weeks
Company
from $1 900
A structure for contracts and ownership
- Name check and preparation of the constitution
- Incorporation with the registry
- Company secretary and registered office for the first year
- Full set of corporate documents
- Business registration certificate
02 · 4-10 weeks
Company and account
from $4 100
An operating business with real settlements
- Everything in the Company package
- Bank or payment institution profile and submission
- Support at the bank interview
- Accounting set-up and a reporting schedule
- Assessment of the offshore profits position
03 · from 4 weeks
Turnkey with reporting
by project
A trading company with real turnover
- Everything in the Company and account package
- Monthly bookkeeping
- Preparation and passing of the annual audit
- Profits tax return
- Documentation supporting the offshore claim
Registry fees, the business registration certificate and audit fees appear as separate lines in the quote.
TaxesHong Kong
Taxes in Hong Kong
Only profits sourced in Hong Kong are taxed, and the first tranche is taxed at half the rate.
Taxes in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
- 8.25% / 16.5%
- Two-tier profits tax rates
- from $1 900
- BRIDGES fee
- 5-7 days
- Incorporation with the registry
- Territorial
- Only Hong Kong-sourced profits are taxed
- Profits tax
- 8.25% on the first tranche of assessable profits and 16.5% above it for corporations.
- Territorial principle
- Profits sourced outside Hong Kong are not taxed when the conditions are met.
- Offshore claim
- The claim is examined by the tax department and must be supported by documents.
- VAT
- There is no value added tax or sales tax.
- Audit and reporting
- Audited financial statements are mandatory for every company.
- Obligations at home
- Owning a foreign company creates obligations in the beneficiary country of residence.
Annual upkeep
- Business registration certificate
- Company secretary and registered office
- Annual return
- Audited financial statements
- Profits tax return
- Offshore claim
- Bookkeeping
- Bank compliance
Registry fees, the business registration certificate and audit fees appear as separate lines in the quote.
Bank
The bank account after incorporation
Hong Kong banks check carefully, and the interview is a genuine stage of the project.
- 01What the bank looks at
The activity, the counterparties, expected turnover, the connection to the region and the source of funds.
- 02Which documents are needed
The corporate set, beneficiary profiles, contracts and invoices from real trade.
- 03Where the account is opened
With local banks, and with payment institutions where speed matters more than status.
- 04What we do
We prepare the file, arrange the interview and run the submission through to the result.
A company with no genuine trade behind it will be refused. Real contracts and a clear supply chain are what get the account opened.
Stages1-2 weeks
How the work runs
Timelines are split by who is responsible.
- 01Consultation and structure
Activity, source of profit, audit, banking.
One meeting - 02Quote and contract
We fix the scope of work and the amount.
1-2 days - 03Compliance and documents
Provider verification and collection of the set.
3-7 days - 04Incorporation
Filing with the registry and issue of the documents.
5-7 days - 05Account and interview
Bank file, the meeting and account opening.
The institution sets the timing - 06Reporting set-up
Accounting, audit schedule and the tax calendar.
1-2 weeks
Result: The outcome is a Hong Kong company with full documents, an account, accounting in place and a defensible position on the source of profit.
ComparisonHong Kong
Hong Kong or Singapore
| Hong Kong | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Profits tax | 8.25% on the first tranche, 16.5% above it | 17% with partial exemptions |
| Taxation principle | territorial | income received in Singapore |
| Resident director | not required | required |
| Audit | mandatory for every company | above the small company thresholds |
| Upkeep cost | lower | higher |
| Access to China | the strongest | good |
| Who it suits better | trade and sourcing | headquarters and funds |
Hong Kong is cheaper and closer to China; Singapore is stronger for regional headquarters and fund structures.
TeamBRIDGES
Company team
Questions
Registration questions
What is the profits tax rate?+
8.25% on the first tranche of assessable profits and 16.5% above it for corporations.
Is it true that foreign profits are not taxed?+
Hong Kong taxes profits sourced in Hong Kong. Foreign-sourced profits are outside the charge, but the claim must be evidenced.
How is the source of profit determined?+
By where the operations that generated the profit took place: negotiation, conclusion of contracts and decision making.
How long does incorporation take?+
5-7 days with the registry once compliance is complete.
Do I need a resident director?+
No, but a company secretary resident in Hong Kong is mandatory.
Is an audit mandatory?+
Yes, every company files audited financial statements regardless of turnover.
Is there VAT?+
No, Hong Kong has no value added tax or sales tax.
How hard is it to open a bank account?+
Realistic with genuine trade and a clear supply chain; a shell company will be refused.
Is the registry public?+
Directors and shareholders are visible; beneficial ownership information is kept in the prescribed manner.
Can I trade with mainland China?+
Yes, this is one of the main reasons the jurisdiction is chosen.
Do I have to declare the company at home?+
As a rule yes: owning a foreign company creates obligations in your country of residence.
What does upkeep cost?+
Secretary, business registration certificate, accounting and the audit. We set it out three years ahead.
A company for your task
Tell us what the company will do: we will check whether the country fits and show the launch and upkeep budget before the contract.
- Other jurisdictionsA comparison of countries for company registration.
- A company in SingaporeThe alternative for regional headquarters and funds.
- Corporate accountsHow an account is opened and what the bank checks.
- CyprusRegistration: 7-14 days · from €2 200
- EstoniaRegistration: 1-5 days · from €900
- SingaporeRegistration: 3-7 days · from $3 200
Company registration
Want a company in Hong Kong?
Write to us, we will set it up. We will choose the form, calculate the launch and the annual upkeep, register the company and help open the account.
